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卷八十七上揚雄傳第五十七上
Book 87a—the fifty-seventh memoir, first part: Yang Xiong.
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揚雄字子雲，蜀郡成都人也。 其先出自有周伯僑者，以支庶初食采於晉之揚，因氏焉，不知伯僑周何別也。 揚在河、汾之間，周衰而揚氏或稱侯，號曰揚侯。 會晉六卿爭權、韓、魏、趙興而范中行、知伯弊。 當是時，逼揚侯，揚侯逃於楚巫山，因家焉。 楚漢之興也，揚氏溯江上，處巴江州。 而揚季官至廬江太守。 漢元鼎間避仇復溯江上，處岷山之陽曰郫，有田一廛，有宅一區，世世以農桑為業。 自季至雄，五世而傳一子，故雄亡它揚於蜀。
Yang Xiong, courtesy name Ziyun, was a native of Chengdu in the Shu commandery. His line descended from Bo Qiao of the Zhou royal house; a younger branch first held its fief at Yang in Jin and took that place name as their surname—Bo Qiao's exact relation within the Zhou kin is no longer known. Their fief lay between the Yellow and Fen rivers; as the Zhou waned the clan was ennobled as marquises of Yang. Then came the struggle of the six ministerial houses of Jin: Han, Wei, and Zhao rose to power while the houses of Fan, Zhonghang, and Zhi were destroyed. Under that pressure the marquis of Yang fled to the Wu mountains of Chu and settled there. When Chu and Han contended for the empire, the Yangs moved up the Yangzi and settled in the Ba river country. Yang Ji rose to be grand administrator of Lujiang. During Yuanding they fled a blood feud, moved again upriver, and settled south of Mount Min at Pi—one homestead, one plot of land—where for generations they lived by farming and silk. From Ji to Xiong each generation had only a single male heir, so in Shu there were no other branches of the Yang clan.
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雄少而好學，不為章句，訓詁通而已，博覽無所不見。 為人簡易佚蕩，口吃不能劇談，默而好深湛之思，清靜亡為，少耆欲，不汲汲於富貴，不戚戚於貧賤，不修廉隅以徼名當世。 家產不過十金，乏無儋石之儲，晏如也。 自有下度：非聖哲之書不好也； 非其意，雖富貴不事也。 顧嘗好辭賦。
From boyhood he loved books but scorned pedantic glossing: he mastered glosses only far enough to grasp the sense, then read widely in every field. He was easygoing and unbuttoned, hampered by a stammer so that he spoke little, but his mind ran deep; he lived quietly, cared little for appetite or display, neither scrambled after rank nor brooded on poverty, and would not polish a reputation among his contemporaries. His whole estate was worth less than ten pounds of gold, and he often lacked even a peck of grain in the jar—yet he remained unruffled. He set his own standard: nothing pleased him but the writings of sages; and what ran against his conscience he would not do even for wealth and rank. All the while he loved belles lettres and fu poetry.
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先是時，蜀有司馬相如，作賦甚弘麗溫雅，雄心壯之，每作賦，常擬之以為式。 又怪屈原文過相如，至不容，作《離騷》，自投江而死，悲其文，讀之未嘗不流涕也。 以為君子得時則大行，不得時則龍蛇，遇不遇命也，何必湛身哉！ 乃作書，往往摭《離騷》文而反之，自岷山投諸江流以吊屈原，名曰《反離騷》； 又旁《離騷》作重一篇，名曰《廣騷》； 又旁《惜誦》以下至《懷沙》一卷，名曰《畔牢愁》。 《畔牢愁》、《廣騷》文多，不載，獨載《反離騷》，其辭曰：
Earlier, Shu had produced Sima Xiangru, whose fu were magnificent yet refined; Xiong admired him and took his style as the model for his own verse. He also marveled that Qu Yuan's gifts outshone even Xiangru's, yet the court would not tolerate him—so he wrote Encountering Sorrow and drowned himself in the river. Xiong mourned that work and wept whenever he read it. He held that when the times favor a gentleman he may act on a grand scale, and when they do not he may coil like a dragon—success or obscurity is Heaven's decree, and no man need destroy himself for it. So he composed a piece that took phrases from Encountering Sorrow and turned their sense, intending to cast it into the river from Mount Min as an offering to Qu Yuan; he titled it Contrary Lisao. He also wrote a companion piece expanding on Lisao, called Broadening Sao. Another suite, from "Bitter Remembrance" through "Embracing the Sands," he entitled Sorrow in Captivity. Sorrow in Captivity and Broadening Sao are too long to quote here; only Contrary Lisao is given in full. It begins:
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有周氏之蟬嫣兮，或鼻祖於汾隅，靈宗初諜伯僑兮，流於末之揚侯。 淑周楚之豐烈兮，超既離乎皇波，因江潭而水往托兮，欽吊楚之湘累。
The house of Zhou stretches in long descent: some say our forebear stood at Fen's shore; the spirit-line began with Bo Qiao and flowed on to the marquises of Yang. I summon the high renown of Zhou and Chu, I have left the emperor's tide behind; borne on the streams I offer this lament for Qu Yuan, the exile of the Xiang.
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惟天軌之不辟兮，何純潔而離紛！ 紛累以其淟涊兮，暗累以其繽紛。
Heaven's course does not run true— why must unstained purity be tangled in turmoil? Muddy troubles rise in reeking swirls, and murk in motley clouds hides the light.
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漢十世之陽朔兮，招搖紀於周正，正皇天之清則兮，度后土之方貞。 圖累承彼洪族兮，又覽累之昌辭，帶鉤矩而佩衡兮，履欃槍以為綦。 素初貯厥麗服兮，何文肆而質Ε！ 資娵、娃炎珍鬄兮，鬻九戎而索賴。
In the tenth age of Han, under Yangshuo's star, in the month the Zhou calendar fixed— I take Heaven's bright standard as my rule, I pace the square truth of the soil below. I share that noble blood, I ponder its splendid phrases; square and plumb hang at my belt, I walk the comet's path as laced-up shoes. From the ancient wardrobe I take those gorgeous gowns— why such display of weave when the weave of the heart is wanting? They barter Ju and Wa beauties for trinkets, they peddle the nine Yi for a meal.
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鳳皇翔於蓬陼兮，豈駕鵝之能捷！ 騁驊騮以曲艱兮，驢騾連蹇而齊足。 枳棘之榛榛兮，蝯□穴擬而不敢下，靈修既信椒、蘭之唼佞兮，吾累忽焉而不蚤睹？
The phoenix wheels above the sacred isle— could a barnyard goose outfly that wing? The thoroughbred strains on crooked lanes; mules and donkeys hobble abreast. Zizhi grows dense; apes peer from dens and dare not drop; the king believed the sweet talk of pepper and orchid— should I not have seen it sooner?
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衿芰茄之綠衣兮，被夫容之硃裳，芳酷烈而莫聞兮，不如襞而幽之離房。 閨中容競淖約兮，相態以麗佳，知眾ㄥ之嫉妒兮，何必揚累之蛾眉？
Lotus coat and crimson skirt— fierce perfume none will smell; better fold them in the inner room alone. In the inner chambers each vies in slender grace; knowing how the many grudge beauty— why must I arch these moth eyebrows still higher?
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懿神龍之淵潛，俟慶雲而將舉，亡春風之被離兮，孰焉知龍之所處？ 愍吾累之眾芬兮，揚燁燁之芳苓，遭季夏之凝霜兮，慶夭悴而喪榮。
The holy dragon lurks in the pool, waiting for lucky clouds before it climbs; without spring wind to lift him, who can tell where the dragon lies? I mourn my many perfumes, I lift bright calamus and orchid; yet summer's killing frost strikes— the tender bloom is blasted and its honor lost.
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橫江、湘以南水往兮，雲走乎彼蒼吾，馳江潭之泛溢兮，將折衷乎重華。 舒中情之煩或兮，恐重華之不累與，陵陽侯之素波兮，豈吾累之獨見許？
South of the Yangzi and Xiang I ride the flood; clouds race under the blue vault; I speed the river's swells to seek judgment from Shun the double-pupiled. I pour out my troubled heart, yet fear Shun will not heed me; I ride the pale waves of the river god— would he single me out for trust?
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精瓊靡與秋菊兮，將以延夫天年； 臨汩羅而自隕兮，恐日薄於西山。 解扶桑之總轡兮，縱令之遂奔馳，鸞皇騰而不屬兮，豈獨飛廉與雲師！
Fine elixir and autumn chrysanthemum were meant to lengthen your years; You stood by the Miluo and leapt to your death— the sun was already sinking toward the western hill. You slipped the reins at the eastern tree and let the team bolt; the phoenix car rises and none can follow— not wind-god nor cloud-driver alone.
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卷薜芷與若蕙兮，臨湘淵而投之； 棍申椒與菌桂兮，赴江湖而漚之。 費椒稰以要神兮，又勤索彼瓊茅，違靈氛而不從兮，反湛身於江皋！
I bundle river iris and sweet rush and cast them into the Xiang pool; I tie pepper and cassia and sink them in the great streams to steep their virtue. You squandered grain to move the gods, you pried with reed stalks for omens; you spurned the spirit's warning— and threw your life into the shallows!
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累既攀夫傅說兮，奚不信而遂行？ 徒恐鷤圭□之將鳴兮，顧先百草為不芳！
Once you had climbed to Fu Yue in dream— why not trust the sign and press on? I fear the cuckoo's cry is near— every fragrant plant will wither before you wake!
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初累棄彼虙妃兮，更思瑤台之逸女，抨雄鴆以作媒兮，何百離而曾不一耦！ 乘雲蜺之旖柅兮，，望崑崙以樛流，覽四荒而顧懷兮，奚必雲女彼高丘？
First you cast off the river goddess, then you pined for the girl on the jade tower; you took the osprey as matchmaker— yet never won a single union through a hundred griefs! I ride the rainbow's curve and gaze toward winding Kunlun; I scan the world's four quarters— need I seek that goddess on the high hill?
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既亡鸞車之幽藹兮，駕八龍之委蛇？ 臨江瀕而掩涕兮，何有《九招》與《九歌》？ 夫聖哲之遭兮，固時命之所有； 雖增欷以於邑兮，吾恐靈修之不累改。 昔仲尼之去魯兮，婓□遲遲而周邁，終回復於舊都兮，何必湘淵與濤瀨！ 混漁父之餔歠兮，潔沐浴之振衣，棄由、聃之所珍兮，□庶彭鹹之所遺！
With no phoenix car veiled in mist— shall I harness eight dragons in serried line? You wept by the river's edge— what use then were the Nine Shao and the Nine Songs? For the wise man in his fortune— the times and Heaven's decree hold all; Though I sigh till my throat aches— I fear the king will never mend his ways. When Confucius left Lu he lingered and wandered the circuit of states, yet at last he came home to his city— he did not need the Xiang's depths and boiling rapids! Share the fisherman's coarse fare, then bathe and beat the dust from your coat; leave what the hermits prized— take up the path Peng and Xian bequeathed!
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孝成帝時，客有薦雄文似相如者，上方郊祠甘泉泰畤、汾陰后土，以求繼嗣，召雄待詔承明之庭。 正月，從上甘泉，還奏《甘泉賦》以風。 其辭曰：
Under Emperor Cheng a visitor praised Xiong's prose as rivaling Sima Xiangru's. The emperor was preparing suburban sacrifices at the Grand Altar of Sweet Springs and at the earth shrine of Fenyin to win a successor, and summoned Xiong as expectant scholar in the Chenming hall. In the first month he accompanied the court to Sweet Springs and afterward presented his Sweet Springs Rhapsody as veiled criticism. The text reads:
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惟漢十世，將郊上玄，定泰畤，雍神休，尊明號，同符三皇，錄功五帝，恤胤錫羨，拓跡開統。 於是乃命群僚，歷吉日，協靈辰，星陳而天行。 詔招搖與泰陰兮，伏鉤陳使當兵，屬堪輿以壁壘兮，梢夔、□而抶□狂。 八神奔而警蹕兮，振殷轔而軍裝，蚩尤之倫帶干將而秉玉戚兮，飛蒙茸而走陸梁。 齊總總撙撙，其相膠葛兮，□駭雲訊，奮以方攘； 駢羅列布，鱗以雜沓兮，柴□參差，魚頡而鳥□行； 翕赫□霍，霧集蒙合兮，半散照爛，粲以成章。
In the tenth reign of Han the emperor will sacrifice to High Heaven, establish the Grand Altar, draw down divine favor, proclaim a glorious title, align his merit with the Three Sovereigns and the Five Thearchs, pity the heir and shower blessing, and extend the founding enterprise. Then he charges his ministers, picks a lucky day and a propitious hour, and the host moves like stars across the sky. He calls the Dipper and the northern yin, sets the Curved Array to guard the line, rings the camp with the geomancer's chart, and drives off demons with blows. Eight gods race ahead while outriders clear the road; harnesses clang in war array; Chiyou's train gird on long swords and jade halberds, plumes streaming as they march with swagger. They crowd in dense confusion, tangled like twisted rope; banners of cloud rear and wheel as the host sweeps the field. They stand paired in rows like layered scales; staggered like fish and birds in flight. Flame and lightning merge; mist rolls and closes; then light scatters into jeweled patterns.
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於是乘輿乃登夫鳳皇兮翳華芝，駟蒼螭兮六素□，蠖略蕤綏，漓乎幓絲麗。 帥爾陰閉，□然陽開，騰清霄而軼浮景兮，夫何□旐郅偈之旖□也！ 流星□以電燭兮，鹹翠蓋而鸞旗。 敦萬騎於中營兮，方玉車之千乘。 聲駍隱以陸離兮，輕先疾雷而馺遺風。 陵高衍之□嵷兮，超紆譎之清澄。 登椽欒而□天門兮，馳閶闔而入凌兢。
The chariot mounts the phoenix canopy veined with magic fungus; four azure dragons pull six pale horses; gemmed reins trail, colored pennons stream in the wind. Shadows close, then light bursts forth; the car springs through azure heaven past the drifting sun— how the great banners dip and stream! Shooting stars flash like lightning; riders dip the jade-green awning and phoenix standards. Ten thousand riders mass at the central camp; jade-decked chariots stand in squares a thousand strong. The rumble spreads vast and broken; the train outraces thunder and leaves the gale astern. They climb the long slope's rugged crest; they ford the winding shallows' limpid flow. They mount the sky ladder toward the celestial gate; they race through the gate of heaven and enter the dizzying height.
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是時未輳夫甘泉也，乃望通天之繹繹。 下陰潛以慘凜兮，上洪紛而相錯； 直嶢嶢以造天兮，厥高慶而不可乎疆度。 平原唐其壇曼兮，列新雉於林薄； 攢並閭與□{艸舌}兮，紛被麗其亡鄂。 崇丘陵之□□兮，深溝嶔巖而為谷； □離宮般以相燭兮，封巒石關施靡乎延屬。
Before they reached Sweet Springs they saw the tower that threads the sky stretch endlessly on. Below spreads shadow and biting cold; above, great billows tangle and cross. Peak thrusts on peak straight toward heaven; its height defeats every measure. The plain rolls wide and far; new-planted thickets line the forest's edge. Torreya and fragrant herbs crowd thick; lush growth runs on without a bound. They pile hills in towering stairs; they carve gorges steep as cliffs into valleys. Detached palaces flash light to each other; Stone Pass and Seal Peak run on in endless line.
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於是大夏雲譎波詭，□而成觀，仰撟首以高視兮，目冥□而亡見。 正瀏濫以弘惝兮，指東西之漫漫，徒回回以徨徨兮，魂固眇眇而昏亂。 據軨軒而周流兮，忽□夾軋而亡垠。 翠玉樹之青蔥兮，壁馬犀之瞵□。 金人仡仡其承鐘□兮，嵌巖巖其龍鱗，揚光曜之燎燭兮，乘景炎之□□，配帝居之縣圃兮，像泰壹之威神。 洪台掘其獨出兮，□北極之□，列宿乃施於上榮兮，日月才經於□，雷鬱律而巖突兮，電倏忽於牆籓。 鬼魅不能自還兮，半長途而下顛。 歷倒景而絕飛梁兮，浮蔑蠓而撇天。
Then the great hall shifts like clouds and surging waves, a sight to marvel at; they tilt their heads until their eyes dim in the gloom. They steady their gaze on the endless reach; east and west run on without limit; they turn and wander; the spirit floats lost and dazed. They lean from the carved rail and wheel about; suddenly the narrow pass leaves no margin. Jade trees stand green and fresh; horses of jade and rhinoceros shine in ranks. Bronze giants shoulder the bells, scaled like dragons on a cliff; torches blaze; they ride rolling fire; they match the Hanging Garden of the celestial court; they image the awesome god Grand Unity. The great tower shoots upward alone; it brushes the pole star; constellations deck its crest; sun and moon cross its beams; thunder rolls in its recesses; lightning darts along its parapets. Ghosts and goblins cannot find their way back; halfway up the long climb they tumble headlong. They cross the bridge of light and span the flying arch; they drift like midges skimming heaven.
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左□槍右玄冥兮，前□闕後應門； 陰西海與幽都兮，湧醴汩以生川。 蛟龍連蜷於東崖兮，白虎敦圉虖崑崙。 覽樛流於高光兮，溶方皇於西清。 前殿崔巍兮，和氏瓏玲，炕浮柱之飛榱兮，神莫莫而扶傾，閌閬閬其寥廓兮，似紫宮之崢嶸。 駢交錯而曼衍兮，□妥□虖其相嬰。 乘雲閣而上下兮，紛蒙籠以□成。 曳紅采之流離兮，颺翠氣之冤延。 襲□室與傾宮兮，若登高妙遠，肅乎臨淵。
Comet left, Dark North right; sacred towers before, the answering gate behind; They veil the western sea and the land of shades; sweet springs bubble up and turn to rivers. Dragons coil along the eastern cliff; the white tiger stands sentry at Kunlun. They watch the winding current from the terrace of light; broad pennons gather in the western court. The forward hall rises sheer; He-family jade chimes tinkle; flying rafters spring from floating posts; unseen spirits steady the leaning pile; the gate opens on immensity like the Purple Palace in the sky. Beams interlace in endless weave; carved brackets knit and cling. They ride the cloud pavilion up and down; misty curtains fold into shape. They trail shimmering red silk; they raise long coils of green mist. They pass halls like tilted jade towers; it feels like climbing high to gaze afar, solemn as standing on a precipice.
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回飆肆其碭駭兮，翍桂椒，郁栘楊。 香芬茀以窮隆兮，擊薄櫨而將榮。 薌□肸以掍根兮，聲駍隱而歷鐘，排玉戶而揚金舖兮，發蘭惠與穹窮。 惟弸彋其拂汩兮，稍暗暗而靚深。 陰陽清濁穆羽相和兮，若夔、牙之調琴。 般、倕棄其剞厥兮，王爾投其鉤繩。 雖方征僑與偓佺兮，猶彷彿其若夢。
The whirlwind rises with a shock; it strips cassia and pepper, bends the supple willows. Perfume floods the high vault; it strikes the lattice and climbs toward the rafters. Incense seeps to the deepest root; the rumble rolls past the bells; jade doors swing wide and golden knockers lift; orchid fragrance floods the endless hall. Vast winds sweep and swirl; little by little all grows dim and sinks into depth. Clear and turbid, high and low notes answer one another like masters tuning a flawless lute. The ancient master-builders lay down their tools; the surveyor drops his cord and square. Even immortal companions seemed phantoms; the whole sight floated like a dream.
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於是事變物化，目駭耳回，蓋天子穆然珍台閒館璇題玉英□蜎蠖濩之中，惟夫所以澄心清魂，儲精垂思，感動天地，逆釐三神者。 乃搜逑索耦皋、伊之徒，冠倫魁能，函甘棠之惠，挾東征之意，相與齊乎陽靈之宮。 靡薜荔而為席兮，折瓊技以為芳，吸清雲之流瑕兮，飲若木之露英，集虖禮神之囿，登乎頌祇之堂。 建光耀之長旓兮，昭華覆之威威，攀璇璣而下視兮，行遊目乎三危，陳眾車於東坑兮，肆玉釱而下馳，漂龍淵而還九垠兮，窺地底而上回。 風傱□而扶轄兮，鸞鳳紛其御蕤，梁弱水之濎濴兮，躡不周之逶蛇，想西王母欣然而上壽兮，屏玉女而卻虙妃。 玉女無所眺其清盧兮，虙妃曾不得施其蛾眉。 方攬道德之精剛兮，侔神明與之為資。
Things shifted and the senses reeled; the emperor sat withdrawn in jade-decked halls, purifying mind and soul, gathering spirit in meditation, to move Heaven and earth and draw down the favor of the Three Powers. He gathered men worthy to stand beside Gao and Yi, the best of their generation, mindful of old kindness and eastern expeditions, and together they entered the Yang Spirit shrine. They spread rushes for a seat and broke jade sprigs for incense; they drew pure mist and drank immortal dew; they entered the sacred park and the hall of praise to the earth. Long streamers of light rose; jeweled canopies spread wide; from on high they gazed toward Sanwei; chariots massed in the eastern hollow then charged with loosened reins; they circled the sacred pool and scanned the nine regions, then swept back toward the sky. Wind steadied the wheels; phoenix attendants flocked; they crossed the weak stream and trod the winding crest of Buzhou; they imagined the Queen Mother of the West offering the cup of long life— while jade girls and river goddesses were waved away. The jade maid might not flash her bright eyes; the river goddess might not raise her painted brows. He embraces the adamantine core of the Way; he makes the spirits his companions and support.
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於是欽祡宗祈。 燎熏皇天，招繇泰壹。 舉洪頤，樹靈旗。 樵蒸□昆上，配藜四施，東燭倉海，西耀流沙，北爌幽都，南煬丹崖。 玄瓚觩，秬鬯泔淡，肸向豐融，懿懿芬芬。 炎感黃龍兮，熛訛碩麟，選巫咸兮叫帝閽，開天庭兮延群神。 儐暗藹兮降清壇，瑞穰穰兮委如山。
Then came the solemn winter sacrifice to the royal ancestor. The offering flame rises to High Heaven; Grand Unity is summoned to approach. He lifts the great jaw-shaped shield and raises the sacred banners. Piled fuel sends flame toward the sky; light shoots east to the sea, west to the deserts, north to the shadowed pole, south to the vermilion cliffs. The dark sacrificial ladle gleams; black millet wine pours clear; fragrance spreads rich and full. Fire moves the yellow dragon; prodigies blaze; Wu Xian calls at Heaven's gate; the court of heaven opens and the gods descend. Shadowy ministers throng down to the pure altar; lucky grain heaps like a hill.
26
於是事畢功弘，回車而歸，度三巒兮偈棠梨。 天閫決兮地垠開，八荒協兮萬國諧。 登長平兮雷鼓磕，天聲趣兮勇士厲，雲飛揚兮雨滂沛，於胥德兮麗萬世。
When the rite was finished they wheeled for home, crossed the triple ridges, and rested at Tangli. The celestial gate swings open; the rim of earth unfolds; the eight wastes are in harmony; all kingdoms join the song. On Changping the war drums thunder like heaven's voice; clouds lift, rain sweeps down in torrents— O virtue to shine through endless ages!
27
亂曰：崇崇圜丘，隆隱天兮，登降峛崺，單埢坦兮。 增宮□差，駢嵯峨兮，嶺□菅嶙峋，洞亡崖兮。 上天之縡，杳旭卉兮，聖皇穆穆，信厥對兮。 徠祗效禋，神所依兮，徘徊招搖，靈遲□兮。 輝光炫耀，隆厥福兮，子子孫孫，長亡極兮。
Envoi: The round altar towers, lost in the sky; slopes rise and fall, then level on the plain. Tier on tier the palaces climb; peaks and crags link on; gorges open without end. Heaven's binding thread runs faint and high; the holy emperor, grave and still, truly answers its charge. Come, spirits, accept the sacrifice— here the gods dwell; the Dipper turns; the bright spirits tarry. Glory blazes; blessing piles high; sons and grandsons without end.
28
甘泉本因秦離宮，既奢泰，而武帝復增通天、高光、迎風。 宮外近則洪崖、旁皇、儲胥、弩阹，遠則石關、封巒、枝鵲、露寒、棠梨、師得，遊觀屈奇瑰瑋，非木摩而不雕，牆塗而不畫，周宣所考，般庚所遷，夏卑宮室，唐、虞棌椽三等之制也。 且其為已久矣，非成帝所造，欲諫則非時，欲默則不能已，故遂推而隆之，乃上比於帝室紫宮，若曰此非人力之所為，黨鬼神可也。 又是時趙昭儀方大幸，每上甘泉，常法從，在屬車間豹尾中。 故雄聊盛言車騎之眾，參麗之駕，非所以感動天地，逆釐三神。 又言「屏玉女，卻慮妃」，以微戒齊肅之事。 賦成，奏之，天子異焉。
Sweet Springs was first a Qin summer palace; already lavish, Emperor Wu added the Access to Heaven, Height of Light, and Wind-Meeting towers. Nearby stood Hongya, Panhuang, and the rest; farther off Stone Pass, Seal Peak, and other lodges— marvels of touring architecture, yet meant to recall King Xuan's scrutiny, Pan Geng's migration, Xia's humble halls, and the three grades of unadorned rafters of Tang and Yu. The complex was old, not Cheng's creation— ill-timed to attack, impossible to ignore— so Xiong praised it as rival to the celestial Purple Palace, hinting it was beyond mortal craft, almost demonic in scale. Lady Zhao then held the emperor's favor; each visit to Sweet Springs she rode in the regulated escort among the leopard-tail guard. So Xiong lavished words on chariots and outriders— not to glorify the sacrifice but with another purpose. The lines about sending away the jade maid and Fu fey were a subtle warning to keep the ritual chaste. When he submitted the piece the emperor was struck with wonder.
29
其三月，將祭后土，上乃帥群臣橫大河，湊汾陰。 既祭，行遊介山，回安邑，顧龍門，覽鹽池，登歷觀，陟西嶽以望八荒，跡殷、周之虛，眇然以思唐、虞之風。 雄以為，臨川羨魚不如歸而結網，還，上《河東賦》以勸。 其辭曰：
In the third month came the earth sacrifice; the emperor led the court across the Yellow River to Fenyin. Afterward they toured Mount Jie, Anyi, Dragon Gate, the salt ponds, and the western peak, scanning the eight directions and pondering the vanished manners of Yao and Shun. Xiong judged it better to mend policy at home than to sigh at the riverbank; he presented the Hedong Rhapsody as remonstrance. The text reads:
30
伊年暮春，將瘞后土，禮靈祇，謁汾陰於東郊，因茲以勒崇垂鴻，發祥隤祉，飲若神明者，盛哉鑠乎，越不可載已！ 於是命群臣，齊法服，整靈輿，乃撫翠鳳之駕，六先景之乘，掉奔星之流旃，□天狼之威弧。 張耀日之玄旄，揚左纛，被雲梢。 奮電鞭，驂雷輜，鳴洪鐘，建五旗。 羲和司日，顏倫奉輿，風發飆拂，神騰鬼□； 千乘霆亂，萬騎屈橋，嘻嘻旭旭，天地稠{山敖}。 簸丘跳巒，湧渭躍涇。 秦神下讋，跖魂負沴； 河靈矍踢，掌華蹈衰。 遂臻陰宮，穆穆肅肅，蹲蹲如也。
In late spring they bury the earth offering at Fenyin's eastern suburb, heaping praise and praying blessing from the powers— O splendor beyond telling! He ordered the ministers, set court dress in order, mounted the sacred car— phoenix team, six horses swifter than sunbeams, banners like meteors, bow like the star Wolf. Black plumes of the high standard rose; the left great streamer flew; cloud-pointed pennons streamed. Lightning for a whip, thunder for outriders, the great bell sounding, five banners aloft. Xihe guides the day; the groom holds the reins; winds lash; spirits seem to race alongside. Thousands of chariots thunder, myriads of riders rear; clamor fills heaven and earth. Hills tremble and ridges leap; the Wei and Jing rivers boil. The Qin deity cowers; wandering souls bear ill luck away. The river god quakes; he treads glory and tramples decay. So they come to the dark shrine, grave and still, bowed in reverence.
31
靈祇既鄉，五位時敘，絪□玄黃，將紹厥後。 於是靈輿安步，周流容與，以覽乎介山。 嗟文公而愍推兮，勤大禹於龍門，灑沈災於豁瀆兮，播九河於東瀕。 登歷觀而遙望兮，聊浮游以經營。 樂往昔之遺風兮，喜虞氏之所耕。 瞰帝唐之嵩高兮，□隆周之大寧。 汨低回而不能去兮，行睨陔下與彭城。 穢南巢之坎坷兮，易豳岐之夷平。 乘翠龍而超河兮，陟西嶽之嶢崝。 雲霏霏而來迎兮，澤滲漓而下降，郁蕭條其幽藹兮，滃泛沛以豐隆。 叱風伯於南北兮，呵雨師於西東，參天地而獨立兮，廓蕩蕩其亡雙。
The powers have inclined; the five agents align; dark essence of heaven and earth will bless the heir. The sacred car moves at a walk, wandering at leisure, to view Mount Jie. They mourn Lord Wen's wanderings, praise Yu at Dragon Gate, drown old flood sorrow in dredged channels, spread the nine rivers toward the eastern sea. They mount the Outlook of Ages and let the mind roam. They savor the ancient wind; they joy in the soil Shun once tilled. They look up to lofty Yao-Tang; they ponder the great calm of Zhou. The flood swirls; they cannot tear away; the gaze drifts to Haixia and Pengcheng. They scorn the cruel crags of southern Nest; they prefer the gentle plain of Bin and Qi. On an azure dragon car they cross the river; they ascend the towering western peak. Clouds mass to welcome them; soft rain falls; mist gathers thick; vapor rolls immense. They command wind and rain in the four quarters; they stand sole between heaven and earth, boundless, unmatched.
32
遵逝乎歸來，以函夏之大漢兮，彼曾何足與比功？ 建《乾》、《坤》之貞兆兮，將悉總之以群龍。 麗鉤芒與驂蓐收兮，服玄冥及祝觸。 敦眾神使式道兮，奮《六經》以攄頌。 □於穆之緝熙兮，過《清廟》之雍雍； 軼五帝之遐跡兮，躡三皇之高蹤。 既發軔於平盈兮，誰謂路遠而不能從？
Turn homeward through the moment— within the vast Han realm, what achievement can rival this? They fix the true hexagrams of Qian and Kun; all dragons shall be gathered under them. Gou Mang flanks the left; Ru Shou the right; Xuan Ming and Zhu Rong draw the traces. They bid the gods open the way; they wake the Six Classics to loose their song. O that radiant peace— beyond the stately murmur of the Clear Temple hymn; They overtake the Five Thearchs' distant tracks; they follow the Three Sovereigns' lofty prints. The chariot has left the level court— who says the way is too long to ride?
33
其十二月羽獵，雄從。 以為昔在二帝、三王，宮館、台榭、沼池、苑囿、林麓、藪澤，財足以奉郊廟、御賓客、充庖廚而已，不奪百姓膏腴谷土桑柘之地。 女有餘布，男有餘粟，國家殷富，上下交足，故甘露零其庭，醴泉流其唐，鳳皇巢其樹，黃龍游其沼，麒麟臻其囿，神爵棲其林。 昔者禹任益虞而上下和，草木茂； 成湯好田而天下用足； 文王囿百里，民以為尚小； 齊宣王囿四十里，民以為大； 裕民之與奪民也。 武帝廣開上林，南至宜春、鼎胡、御宿、昆吾，旁南山而西，至長楊、五柞，北繞黃山，瀕渭而東，周袤數百里，穿昆明池象滇河，營建章、鳳闕、神明、馺娑，漸台、泰液象海水周流方丈、瀛洲、蓬萊。 遊觀侈靡，窮妙極麗。 雖頗割其三垂以贍齊民，然至羽獵、田車、戎馬、器械、儲偫、禁御所營，尚泰奢麗誇詡，非堯、舜、成湯、文王三驅之意也。 又恐後世復修前好，不折中以泉台，故聊因《校獵賦》以風，其辭曰：
In the twelfth month the emperor held the great feather hunt; Xiong went along. Under the ancient sage-kings parks served only the suburban sacrifices, guests, and kitchens— they never seized the people's best farmland. Then women had extra cloth and men extra grain; the realm prospered— dew fell, springs flowed, phoenix and dragon, qilin and sacred birds appeared. When Yu put Yi in charge of the wilds, harmony reigned and vegetation flourished. Tang of Shang loved hunting and still the realm wanted for nothing. King Wen's park measured a hundred li; the people still thought it small. King Xuan of Qi's forty-li park the people thought too large. The difference is enriching the people or robbing them. Emperor Wu stretched Shanglin from the southern lodges to the northern hills, dug Kunming to mirror the Dian pool, and raised Jianzhang and the tiered terraces to mimic the fairy isles in the sea. Excursions grew wasteful, wonder and splendor pushed to the extreme. Some outer parkland was cut back for the people, yet the hunt itself—chariots, horses, gear—still swaggered in luxury, far from the restrained three-sided chase of the sages. Lest posterity revive old excesses without the lesson of moderation, he framed the School Hunt Rhapsody as criticism. It begins:
34
或稱戲、農，豈或帝王之彌文哉？ 論者雲否，各亦並時而得宜，奚必同條而共貫？ 則泰山之封，烏得七十而有二儀？ 是以創業垂統者俱不見其爽，遐邇五三孰知其是非？ 遂作頌曰：麗哉神聖，處於玄宮，富既與地乎侔訾，貴正與天乎比崇。 齊桓曾不足使扶轂，楚嚴未足以為驂乘； □三王之厄薜，嶠高舉而大興； 歷五帝之寥郭，涉三皇之登閎； 建道德以為師，友仁義與為朋。
Some exalt Shennong and the like— are they the final model for emperors? Critics divide; each time suits its own measure— need all ages share one yardstick? How then could Mount Tai's seventy-two forms of Feng have been one single pattern? Founders who establish a dynasty do not cling to one mold; who across the ages can fix their blame or praise? He sings: "Splendid the sacred ruler in his dark hall; rich as the soil, noble as the sky." Qi's Duke Huan could scarcely steady the axle; Chu's King Zhuang not worth a seat as outrider. He crosses the Three Kings' peril passes and lifts a new beginning on high; He ranges the Five Thearchs' empty vastness, passes the Three Sovereigns' lofty gates; He makes the Way his teacher and benevolence and right his companions.
35
於是玄冬季月，天地隆烈，萬物權輿於內，徂落於外，帝將惟田於靈之囿，開北垠，受不周之制，以終始顓頊、玄冥之統。 乃詔虞人典澤，東延昆鄰，西馳□闔。 儲積共偫，戍卒夾道，斬叢棘，夷野草，御自汧、渭，經營□、鎬，章皇周流，出入日月，天與地杳。 爾乃虎路三□以為司馬，圍經百里而為殿門。 外則正南極海，邪界虞淵，鴻□沆茫，碣以崇山。 營合圍會，然後先置乎白楊之南，昆明靈沼之東。 賁、育之倫，蒙盾負羽，杖鏌邪而羅者以萬計，其餘荷垂天之畢，張竟野之罘，靡日月之誅竿，曳彗星之飛旗。 青雲為紛，紅蜺為繯，屬之乎崑崙之虛，渙若天星之羅，浩如濤水之波，淫淫與與，前後要遮。 □槍為□，明月為候，熒惑司命，天弧發射，鮮扁陸離，駢衍佖路。 徽車輕武，鴻絧□獵，殷殷軫軫，被陵緣阪，窮冥極遠者，相與□乎高原之上； 羽騎營營，昈分殊事，繽紛往來，□轤不絕，若光若滅者，布乎青林之下。
In deep winter, when life hides within and dies without, the emperor will hunt the sacred park, open the north, and complete the cycle ruled by Zhuanxu and the dark god. He charges the park warden, extends the line east to Kun's border, races west to heaven's gate. Supplies heap up, soldiers flank the road; brush is cleared from Qian and Wei to Haojing; the work swallows sun and moon till sky and earth blur. On triple tiger paths they set marshals; a hundred-li cord rings the inner gate. South to the sea, west to the twilight abyss, boundless water checked by mountains. The encirclement joins; the line is first drawn south of White Poplar, east of Kunming Pool. Champions like Ben and Yu, shields and plumes, Mo Ye swords—myriads; others spread heaven-wide nets and comet banners. Rainbow rings and cloud ropes bind at Kunlun; the line glitters like stars, rolls like surf, thick before and behind. Comet for picket, moon for sentinel; Mars rules fate; the sky bow shoots; glittering files choke every track. Swift cars and light troops, silken nets, thunder up slopes; the farthest scouts mass on the plateau; Cavalry hive, tasks divide, wheels hum without cease under the greenwood.
36
於是天子乃以陽□始出乎玄宮，撞鴻鐘，建九旒，六白虎，載靈輿，蚩尤並轂，蒙公先驅。 立歷天之旂，曳捎星之旃，辟歷列缺，吐火施鞭。 萃傱允溶，淋離廓落，戲八鎮而開關； 飛廉、雲師，吸嗅潚率，鱗羅布列，攢以龍翰。 秋秋蹌蹌，入西園，切神光； 望平樂，逕竹林，蹂蕙圃，踐蘭唐。 舉烽烈火，轡者施披，方馳千駟，校騎萬師。 □虎之陳，從橫膠輵，□泣雷厲，驞□平駖磕，洶洶旭旭，天動地岋。 羨漫半散，蕭條數千萬里外。
Then the emperor, yang force leaving the dark hall, strikes the great bell, raises nine banners, six white tigers pull the sacred car, Chiyou at the hub, Meng Tian as forerunner. A sky-scraping flag rises; star pennons trail; thunder cracks; lightning lashes like whips. The host masses, pours, spreads wide— the eight marchmounts seem to swing their gates; Wind god and rain master hurry; squadrons spread like dragon scales. They sway and stride into the western park, brushing the sacred gleam; They sight Pingle, cut through bamboo, crush orchid plots, pound thoroughwort lanes. Flames leap; grooms stream pennons; a thousand four-horse teams charge, ten thousand horsemen wheel. Tiger squadrons weave; thunder rolls; hooves hammer; the world trembles. The tide of riders thins and spreads to the horizon.
37
若夫壯士慷慨，殊鄉別趣，東西南北，聘耆奔欲。 拖蒼豨，跋犀□，蹶浮麋。 □巨□，捕玄□，騰空虛，距連捲。 □夭蟜，□澗門，莫莫紛紛，山谷為之風飆，林叢為之生塵。 及至獲夷之徒，蹶松柏，掌疾梨； 獵蒙蘢，轔輕飛； 履般首，帶修蛇； 鉤赤豹，牽象犀； □巒坑，超唐陂。 車騎雲會，登降暗藹，泰華為旒，熊耳為綴。 木僕山還，漫若天外，儲與乎大溥，聊浪乎宇內。
Bold men, fired in heart, ride every quarter, each passion loosed. They haul blue boar, trample rhino, fell the river elk. They strike great game, seize shadowy prey, vault hollows and rolling banks. They swarm the passes; valleys howl with wind, woods choke with dust. Border guards trample pines, seize wild pear in passing; They tear through thickets, crush birds on the wing; They tread serpent heads, belt great snakes; They leash red leopard, drag elephant and rhino; They vault steep pits, ford the Tang pools. Hosts mass like clouds; Taihua serves as banner, Bear-Ear as pendant. Forest and hill fall away until the hunt seems lost beyond heaven, roaming the boundless world.
38
於是天清日晏。 逢蒙列訾，羿氏控弦，皇車幽輵，光純天地，望舒彌轡，翼乎徐至於上蘭。 移圍徙陳，浸淫蹴部，曲隊堅重，各按行伍。 壁壘天旋，神手失電擊，逢之則碎，近之則破，鳥不及飛，獸不得過，軍驚師駭，刮野掃地。 乃至□車飛揚，武騎聿皇； 蹈飛豹，絹嘄陽； 追天寶，出一方； 應駍聲，擊流光。 野盡山窮，囊括其雌雄，沈沈容容，遙噱乎□中。 三軍芒然，窮□閼與，但觀夫票禽之紲□，犀□之抵觸，熊羆之□攫，虎豹之凌遽，徒角搶題注，□戚竦讋怖，魂亡魄失，觸輻關脰。 妄發期中，進退履獲，創淫輪夷，丘累陵聚。
Then the sky clears and noon sun softens. Peng Meng arrays the targets, Yi's line bends the bow; the royal car glows; the moon-charioteer checks rein until they reach Shanglan. The cordon slides, companies wade deep; curved ranks lock, each file in place. The wall of hunters wheels; lightning strikes— bird and beast are sealed; armies reel as the plain is swept clean. Light cars leap, armored riders charge; They tread the flying leopard, net the roaring beast; They pursue the prize, erupt from one flank; Hooves answer thunder; blows chase the glint. Hill and plain are emptied; buck and doe are bagged; laughter rolls through the hollow. The army halts, stunned in the defile— only watching bound game, horned beasts goring, bears and tigers leaping; brutes lock horns; men stare witless, throats against the axle. Shafts strike home; advance and retreat trample the slain; the slain pile ridge on ridge.
39
於是禽殫中衰，相與集於靖冥之館，以臨珍池。 灌以岐梁，溢以江河，東瞰目盡，西暢亡崖，隨珠和氏，□爍其陂。 玉石□，炫耀青熒，漢女水潛，怪物暗冥，不可殫形。 玄鸞孔雀，翡翠垂榮，王雎關關，鴻雁嚶嚶，群□乎其中，□□昆鳴； 鳧鷖振鷺，上下砰磕，聲若雷霆。 乃使文身之技，水格鱗蟲，凌堅冰，犯嚴淵，探巖排□，薄索蛟螭，蹈猵獺，據黿鼉，□靈□。 入洞穴，出蒼梧，乘巨鱗，騎京魚。 浮彭蠡，目有虞，方椎夜光之流離，剖明月之珠胎，鞭洛水之虙妃，餉屈原與彭胥。
When the kill flags, they gather at the Quiet-dark hall above the jeweled pool. Streams from Qi and Liang feed it; east the view ends, west has no bank— pearls gleam on its banks. Jade glints green in the depths; divers and dim shapes move— forms past counting. Peacock and simurgh, kingfisher in splendor; ospreys and geese call; flocks clamor within the reed beds. Wildfowl beat wings up and down; the noise is thunder. Tattooed swimmers seize dragons in icy deeps, rake caves for horned serpents, tread otters, grapple turtles and crocodiles. They dive caverns, surface at Cangwu, ride leviathans of the deep. They drift Pengli, gaze toward Shun's land, tally night-shining pearls, split moon-pearls, summon river goddesses, feast the drowned poets' shades.
40
於茲乎鴻生巨儒，俄軒冕，雜衣裳，修唐典，匡《雅》、《頌》，揖讓於前。 昭光振耀，蠁□如神，仁聲惠於北狄，武義動於南鄰。 是以旃裘之王，胡貉之長，移珍來享，抗手稱臣。 前入圍口，後陳盧山。 群公常伯楊硃、墨翟之徒喟然稱曰：「崇哉乎德，雖有唐、虞、大廈、成周之隆，何以侈茲！ 太古之覲東嶽，禪梁基，捨此世也，其誰與哉？」
Then great ru in court dress, revising Tang models and the Odes, bow in ritual before him. Radiance streams like gods; humane fame reaches the Di; martial awe shakes the south. So Xiongnu lords bring tribute, raise hands, and call themselves vassals. They enter the hunt's mouth in front, with Mount Lu massed behind. Ministers and philosophers cry: "Such virtue surpasses Yao, Shun, and Zhou at its height!" "Who since the ancient Feng on Tai and Shan on Liang could rival this?"
41
上猶謙讓而未俞也，方將上獵三靈之流，下決醴泉之滋，發黃龍之穴，窺鳳皇之巢，臨麒麟之囿，幸神雀之林； 奢雲夢，侈孟諸，非章華，是靈台，罕徂離宮而輟觀游，土事不飾，木功不雕，承民乎農桑，勸之以弗迨，儕男女使莫違； 恐貧窮者不遍被洋溢之饒，開禁苑，散公儲，創道德之囿，弘仁惠之虞，馳弋乎神明之囿，覽觀乎群臣之有亡； 放雉菟，收□罘，麋鹿芻蕘與百姓共之，蓋所以臻茲也。 於是醇洪□之德，豐茂世之規，加勞三皇，勖勤五帝，不亦至乎！ 乃祗莊雍穆之徒，立君臣之節，崇賢聖之業，未皇苑囿之麗，遊獵之靡也，因回軫還衡，背阿房，反未央。
The emperor still refused self-praise: he would trace the Three Lights above, tap sweet springs below, open the dragon's den, seek phoenix nest and qilin park— reject vain parks like Yunmeng, prefer the Spirit Terrace, spare detached palaces, leave timber plain, bind the people to plow and weave, and keep households in moral order; fear the poor miss the surplus— open the imperial preserve, empty granaries for them, fence a park of virtue, widen mercy, hunt only where ritual allows, scan ministers' want or plenty; turn hares free, furl nets, share deer and brushwood with the people— that is how to reach true perfection. Then virtue runs deep and wide, the age's pattern grows rich— outdoing the Three Augusts and Five Thearchs in care for the people! So the grave ministers fix ruler and subject, honor the sages' task, and set no store by park splendor or hunting show— the car turns home from Epang to Weiyang.