1
张升字彦真，陈留尉氏人，富平侯放之孙也。 升少好学，多关览，而任情不羁。 其意相合者，则倾身交结，不问穷贱； 如乖真志好者，虽王公大人，终不屈从。 常叹曰：“死生有命，富贵在天。 其有知我，虽胡越可亲； 苟不相识，从物何益？”
Zhang Sheng, styled Yanzhen, came from Weishi in Chenliu and was the grandson of Fang, Marquis of Fuping. As a boy he devoured books and wandered wherever impulse led him. Kindred spirits won his whole heart—rank never entered the reckoning. Where conscience pointed elsewhere he would not yield even to royalty. He often sighed, "Life and death are fated; wealth and honor rest with Heaven. If someone knows me, then even Hu and Yue can be kin. If we do not understand one another, what use is being together with things?"
2
仕郡为纲纪，以能出守外黄令。 吏有受賕者，即論殺之。 或譏：「升守領一時，何足趨明威戮乎？」 對曰：「昔仲尼暫相，誅齊之侏儒，手足異門而出，故能威震強國，反其侵地。 君子仕不爲己，職思其憂，豈以久近而異其度哉？」 遇黨錮去官，後竟見誅，年四十九。
From commandery registrar his talent earned him the magistracy of Waihuang. Bribe-taking clerks went straight from trial to execution. Someone criticized him: "Sheng has held the office only briefly; why hurry to display stern executions?" He replied, "Formerly, when Zhongni served briefly as minister, he executed the dwarfs of Qi, with their hands and feet leaving by different gates, and so his awe shook a strong state and recovered its seized land. A gentleman does not serve for himself. In office he thinks of its anxieties; how could length or brevity change his standard?" The faction purge stripped him of rank; he was killed later at forty-nine.
3
著賊、誄、頌、碑、書，凡六十篇。
Sixty works survive: fu, laments, songs, inscriptions, and letters.
4
赵壹字元叔，汉阳西县人也。 體貌魁梧，身長九尺，美須豪眉，望之甚偉。
Zhao Yi, called Yuanshu, hailed from Xixian in Hanyang commandery. He stood nine chi, broad-shouldered, with a splendid beard and stern brows—every inch the hero.
5
而恃才倨傲，爲鄉黨所擯，乃作《解擯》。
Talent made him proud; his neighbors shunned him, so he wrote “Dispelling Ostracism.”
6
後屢抵罪，幾至死，友人救，得免。
Further brushes with the courts nearly cost his life until friends paid him free.
7
壹乃貽書謝恩曰：昔原大夫贖桑下絶氣，傳稱其仁；
Yi wrote back in thanks: “Long ago, the grandee Yuan ransomed a dying man beneath a mulberry, and tradition praised his kindness.”
8
秦越人還虢太子結脈，世著其神。 設曩之二人不遭仁遇神，則結絶之氣竭矣。
The physician Bian Que revived Guo's heir—the world marveled at his touch. Without such mercy and healing the last breath would have fled.
9
然而糒脯出乎車軨，針石運乎手爪。
Yet aid came as dried provisions from a carriage box and healing needles guided by human hands.
10
今所賴者，非直車軨之糒脯，手爪之針石也。 乃收之於斗極，還之於司命，使乾皮復含血，枯骨復被肉，允所謂遭仁遇神，眞所宜傳而著之。 餘畏禁，不敢班班顯言，竊爲《窮鳥賦》一篇。
My debt today is no mere snack from a cart or prick of a needle. You pulled me from the Pole Star's vault and handed me back to the Lord of Fate until parchment skin bled again and bare bones wore flesh—such rescue deserves songs. Forbidden to speak plainly, I hid my thanks inside 《Fu on the Destitute Bird》.
11
其辭曰：有一窮鳥，戢翼原野。 畢網加上，機穽在下，前見蒼隼，後見驅者，繳彈張右，羿子彀左，飛丸激矢，交集於我。 思飛不得，欲鳴不可，舉頭畏觸，搖足恐墮。
It began: “A trapped bird folded its wings in the wilds.” Nets closed overhead and hidden traps waited below; hawks were before me, beaters behind me, slings to the right and bows to the left, until stones and arrows converged from every side. Flight was impossible and song forbidden; every lift of the head risked collision, every shift of the feet a fall.
12
内独怖急，乍冰乍火。 幸賴大賢，我矜我憐，昔濟我南，今振我西。
Inside it shivered and burned by turns. Great men pitied the creature—first shelter to the south, now rescue in the west.
13
鳥也雖頑，猶識密思。
Dull as the bird is, it still knows hidden grace.
14
內以書心，外用告天。
It sets thanks within lines and calls Heaven to witness without.
15
天乎祚賢，歸賢永年，且公且侯，子子孫孫。
May Heaven bless the worthy with long life, noble rank, and descendants generation after generation.
16
又作《刺世疾邪賦》，以舒其怨憤。
He wrote 《Fu Assailing the Age's Evil》 to purge his rage.
17
曰：伊五帝之不同禮，三王亦又不同樂，數極自然變化，非是故相反駁。
Five Emperors, three kings—each age reshapes ritual and music when patterns run their course.
18
德政不能救世混亂，賞罰豈足懲時清濁？
If good government cannot save a world in chaos, how can rewards and punishments sort the clean from the corrupt?
19
春秋時禍敗之始，戰國愈復增其荼毒。 秦、汉无以相逾越，乃更加其怨酷。 宁计生民之命，唯利己而自足。
The Spring and Autumn annals opened ruin; the Warring States poured on venom. Qin and Han traded blows yet only stacked cruelty higher. They weighed common lives at nothing and chased selfish gain.
20
於茲迄今，情僞萬方。 佞諂日熾，剛克消亡。 舐痔結駟，正色徒行。
Since then, sham and sincerity have tangled in countless ways. Sycophants flare while backbone withers. Toadies ride matched teams while honest men walk.
21
嫗𡟥名勢，撫拍豪強。
The fawning chase reputation and power, soothing and flattering the mighty.
22
偃蹇反俗，立致咎殃。 捷懾逐物，日富月昌。 渾然同惑，孰温孰凉？ 邪夫顯進，直士幽藏。
Stand aloof from fashion and ruin arrives overnight. Those who chase profit with nimble compliance wax wealthy monthly. The crowd shares one stupor—who still tells heat from chill? Villains vault into view while the upright vanish into shadow.
23
原斯瘼之攸興，實執政之匪賢。 女谒掩其视听兮，近习秉其威权。 所好則鑽皮出其毛羽，所惡則洗垢求其瘢痕。 雖欲謁誠而盡忠，路絶嶮而靡緣。 九重既不可启，又群吠之狺狺。 安危于于旦夕，肆嗜欲于目前。 奚異涉海之失舵，積薪而待燃？
This sickness stems from unworthy men on the throne. Female petitions blind him; attendants clutch terrible leverage. Even loyal words cannot cross that cliff; there is no path. Even loyal words cannot cross that cliff; there is no path. Palace gates stay barred while kennel voices snarl. They gamble the realm between meals and feed lust while it lasts. That is sailing rudderless or stacking kindling for the spark.
24
榮納由於閃揄，孰知辯其蚩姸？ 故法禁屈撓干勢族，恩澤不逮於單門。 寧飢寒於堯、舜之荒歲兮，不飽暖於當今之豐年。
Promotion rides on smirking praise; who can still tell beauty from ugliness? The law bends before great houses, while mercy never reaches poor doors. Better to starve in a sage-king’s famine than feast in the plenty of this age.
25
乘理雖死而非亡，違義雖生而匪存。
Stand on right—death cannot erase you; betray right—life is a walking corpse.
26
有秦客者，乃为诗曰：“河清不可俟，人命不可延。 順風激靡草，富貴者稱賢。 文籍雖滿腹，不如一囊錢。
There was a traveler from Qin, who made a poem: "One cannot wait for the Yellow River to run clear; human life cannot be lengthened. Wind bows the bending grass, and the wealthy pass for wise. Though books fill the belly, they are not as good as one pouch of money.
27
伊優北堂上，抗臟倚門邊。
Buffoons rule the high hall while the blunt-spoken wait by the door.
28
魯生聞此辭，繫而作歌曰：勢家多所宜，咳唾自成珠。 被褐懷金玉，蘭蕙化爲芻。 贤者虽独悟，所困在群愚。 且各守爾分，勿復空馳驅。 哀哉復哀哉，此是命矣夫！”
Master Lu heard these words and tied on another song: The powerful find many things suitable; their coughs and spittle turn into pearls. One wears coarse cloth while holding gold and jade; orchids and thoroughwort turn into hay. Though the worthy alone awaken, what traps them is the crowd of fools. Stay within your allotted place, and stop racing after emptiness. Alas, and again alas; this is fate!"
29
光和元年，舉郡上計，到京師。 是时，司徒袁逢受计，计吏数百人，皆拜伏庭中，莫敢仰视。 壹独长揖而已。 逢望而异之，令左右往让之，曰：“下郡计吏而揖三公，何也？” 对曰：“昔郦食其长揖汉王，今揖三公，何遽怪哉？” 逢则敛衽下堂，执其手，延置上坐，因问西方事，大悦，顾谓坐中曰：“此人汉阳赵元叔也。 朝臣莫有过之者，吾请为诸君分坐。” 坐者皆属观。 既出，往造河南尹羊陟，不得见。 壹以公卿中非陟無足以託名者，乃日往到門，陟自強許通，尙臥未起。 壹徑入上堂，遂前臨之，曰：「竊伏西州，承高風舊矣。 乃今方遇而忽然，奈何命也！” 因举声哭，门下惊，皆奔入满侧。 陟知其非常人，乃起，延与语，大奇之。 谓曰：“子出矣。” 陟明旦大从车骑，奉谒造壹。 时，诸计吏多盛饬车马帷幕，而壹独柴车草屏，露宿其傍，延陟前坐于车下，左右莫不叹愕。 陟遂与言谈，至熏夕，极欢而去，执其手曰：“良璞不剖，必有泣血以相明者矣！” 陟乃与袁逢共称荐之。 名动京师，士大夫想望其风采。
Stay within your allotted place, and stop racing after emptiness. Minister Yuan Feng tallied registers while hundreds of clerks kowtowed and stared at the stones. Zhao Yi alone offered a long bow without kneeling. Yuan Feng saw this as strange and sent attendants to rebuke him, saying, "You are a clerk from a lower commandery, yet you bow to the Three Excellencies. Why?" He replied, "Formerly Li Yiji bowed at length to the Han king. Now I bow to the Three Excellencies; why should this be strange?" Feng gathered his lapels, came down from the hall, took his hand, led him to the upper seat, then asked about western affairs and was greatly pleased. Looking back to those seated, he said, "This man is Zhao Yuanshu of Hanyang. No court minister surpasses him. I ask to divide my seat for you gentlemen." Everyone twisted to stare. He called on Governor Yang Zhi of Henan and was turned away. Believing only Yang Zhi worthy of patronage he returned daily until Yang agreed yet stayed in bed. Yi went straight into the upper hall, advanced to stand over him, and said, "I have lain low in the western province and long heard of your lofty manner. Only now have I met you, and suddenly it is like this. What can be done about fate!" He wailed aloud until servants poured in. Yang Zhi realized genius, rose, and talked until admiration overcame him. He said to him, "You may go out." At dawn Yang arrived with a grand cavalcade to call on Zhao Yi. Peer clerks paraded silk drapes while Zhao slept under a reed screen beside a lumber wagon and seated Yang under the axle—stunning onlookers. Yang Zhi then talked with him until dusk, and they parted in great delight. Holding his hand, Yang said, "If fine jade is not cut open, there must be someone who weeps blood to make it known!" Yang Zhi and Yuan Feng recommended him together. Luoyang buzzed with his name; scholars dreamed of meeting him.
30
及西还，道经弘农，过侯太守皇甫规，门者不即通，壹遂遁去。 门吏惧，以白之，规闻壹名大惊，乃追书谢曰：“蹉跌不面，企德怀风，虚心委质，为日久矣。 侧闻仁者愍其区区，冀承清诲，以释遥悚。 今旦，外白有一尉两计吏，不道屈尊门下，更启乃知已去。 如印绶可投，夜岂待旦。 惟君明睿，平其夙心。 寧當慢慠，加於所天。 事在悖惑，不足具責。 倘可原察，追修前好，则何福如之！ 謹遣主簿奉書。 下筆氣結，汗流竟趾。」 壹報曰：「君學成師範，縉紳歸慕，仰高希驥，歷年滋多。 旋轅兼道，渴於言侍，沐浴晨興，昧旦守門，實望仁君，昭其懸遲。 以貴下賤，握發垂接。 高可敷玩墳典，起發聖意； 下則抗論當世，消弭時災。 豈悟君子，自生怠倦，失恂恂善誘之德，同亡國驕惰之志！ 蓋見機而作，不俟終日，是以夙退自引，畏使君勞。 昔人或歷説而不遇，或思士而無從，皆歸之於天，不尤於物。 今壹自譴而已，豈敢有猜！ 仁君忽一匹夫，於德何損？ 而遠辱手筆，追路相尋，誠足愧也。 壹之區區，曷云量己？ 其嗟可去，謝也可食，誠則頑薄，實識其趣。 但關節疢動，膝炙壞潰，請俟他日，乃奉其情。 輒誦來貺，永以自慰。」 遂去不顾。
Heading home through Hongnong he called on Huangfu Gui; slow admission made him slip away. The gate clerks were afraid and reported it. When Huangfu Gui heard Yi's name, he was greatly startled and pursued him with a letter of apology, saying, "Because of my stumble I did not meet you face to face. I have looked up to your virtue and cherished your manner, humbly committing myself to you, for many days now. I had privately heard that you, benevolent sir, pitied my smallness, and I hoped to receive your clear instruction, to relieve my distant alarm. This morning the outer office reported that there was one commandant and two accounting clerks; they did not say that you had lowered your dignity to my gate, and only when I asked again did I learn that you had already gone. If seals and ribbons could be thrown away, why would I have waited for dawn? I only ask your bright wisdom to settle my long-standing heart. How could I be negligent and arrogant toward the one I revere as Heaven? The matter came from confusion and is not worth assigning full blame. If perhaps you can forgive and examine it, and repair the former friendship, what blessing could compare with that! I have sent my chief clerk to deliver this letter with my respects. As I set down the brush, my breath knots; sweat flows all the way to my feet." Zhao Yi replied, "Your learning has become a model for teachers, and robed officials admire and return to you; for many years I have looked up to your height and hoped for your steed. You hurried back along both roads, longing for conversation, rose bathed before light, and waited at his gate hoping kindness would end the strain. You stooped from high rank to meet a nobody—the courtesy of a ruler who interrupts his shampoo. At best you could unpack canonical texts and stir sagely purpose. At least you could argue policy and lift today's disasters. Instead you slid into sloth like a doomed dynasty—where was the gentle persuasion? So I left before the day was out rather than burden you further. Old tales blame Heaven when persuasion fails—not the world itself. I fault only myself—no shadow of doubt toward you. Ignoring one nobody cannot stain your virtue. Yet your letter chasing me down the road humbles me past bearing. How should a nobody like me weigh his own worth? Your sighs can be set aside, and your apology can be accepted; although I am truly stubborn and shallow, I do understand its meaning. It is only that my joints are stirred by illness, and the cautery wounds on my knees have broken open. I ask to wait for another day, and then I will receive your feeling. I repeatedly recite the gift that has come from you, and forever use it to comfort myself." He walked away and never looked back.
31
州郡争致礼命，十辟公府，并不就，终于家。 初袁逢使善相者相壹，云“仕不过郡吏”，竟如其言。
Every province courted him; ten grand offices summoned him—he refused all and died at home. Yuan Feng once had his face read: ‘No higher than commandery clerk’—it came true.
32
著賦、頌、箴、誄、書、論及雜文十六篇。
Sixteen pieces survive: fu, songs, warnings, laments, essays, and scraps.
33
刘梁字曼山，一名岑，东平宁阳人也。 梁宗室子孫，而少孤貧，賣書於市以自資。
Liu Liang, styled Manshan—also known as Cen—hailed from Ningyang in Dongping. Of royal blood but fatherless and poor, he peddled books for rice.
34
常疾世多利交，以邪曲相党，乃著《破群论》。 时之览者以为：“仲尼作《春秋》，乱臣知惧。 今此论之作，俗士岂不愧心！” 其文不存。
He despised mercenary cliques and wrote 《Breaking Cliques》. Readers of the time thought, "When Zhongni composed the Spring and Autumn, disorderly ministers knew fear. Now that this essay has been written, how could vulgar scholars not feel shame in their hearts!" That work is lost.
35
又著《辩和同之论》。 其辞曰：
He also wrote 《Discourse on Harmonizing Same and Different》. It begins:
36
夫事有违而得道，有顺而失义，有爱而为害，有恶而为美。 其故何乎？ 盖明智之所得，暗伪之所失也。 是以君子之于事也，无适无莫，必考之以义焉。
Some roads look wrong yet lead right; some smooth paths betray justice; affection harms; hatred heals. Why? Insight wins what folly forfeits. The nobleman weighs each case by righteousness, not reflex.
37
得由和兴，失由同起，故以可济否谓之和，好恶不殊谓之同。 《春秋传》曰：“和如羹焉，酸苦以剂其味，君子食之以平其心。 同如水焉，若以水济水，谁能食之？ 琴瑟之专一，谁能听之？” 是以君子之行，周而不比，和而不同； 以救过为正，以匡恶为忠。 經曰：「將順其美，匡救其惡，則上下和睦能相親也。」
Harmony mixes unlike tones to save disorder; uniformity means everyone liking the same. The Spring and Autumn Tradition says, "Harmony is like soup: sour and bitter season its flavor, and the gentleman eats it to settle his heart. Sameness is like water; if water is used to mix water, who can eat it? With the zithers and lutes playing one single note, who can listen to it?" So the gentleman encompasses many voices without cliques—harmony without conformity. Naming fault is honesty; naming evil is loyalty. The classic says, "Help bring along his good points, correct and rescue his bad ones; then superior and inferior are harmonious and can be close to one another."
38
昔楚恭王有疾，召其大夫曰：「不穀不德，少主社稷。 失先君之緒，覆楚國之師，不穀之罪也。
Formerly, when King Gong of Chu was ill, he summoned his grandees and said, "I, the unworthy one, lack virtue and was young when I took charge of the altars of soil and grain. I lost the thread of the former lords and overturned the army of Chu; this is my crime.
39
若以宗廟之靈，得保首領以歿，請爲靈若厲。」
If the ancestral spirits let me die with my head intact, give me the posthumous name Ling or Li."
40
大夫許諸。 及其卒也，子囊曰：“不然。 夫事君者，從其善，不從其過。 赫赫楚國，而君臨之，撫正南海，訓及諸夏，其寵大矣。 有是寵也，而知其過，可不謂恭乎！」 大夫众之。 此諱而得道者也。 及靈王驕淫，暴虐無度，芋尹申亥從王之欲，以殯於乾溪，殉之二女。 此順而失義者也。 鄢陵之役，晉楚對戰，陽穀獻酒，子反以斃。 此爱而害之者也。 臧武仲曰：“孟孙之恶我，药石也； 季孙之爱我，美疢也。 疢毒滋厚，石犹生我。” 此恶而为美者也。 孔子曰：「智之難也！ 有臧武仲之智，而不容於魯國，抑有由也。 作不順而施不恕也。」
The grandees agreed to this. When he died, Zinang said, "Not so. One who serves his ruler follows his good and does not follow his faults. Brilliant Chu was ruled by him; he pacified the far south and instructed the Central States. His favor was great. Having such favor and yet knowing his fault, can he not be called Gong?" The ministers acclaimed him. This is one who avoided the taboo and obtained the Way. When King Ling became arrogant and licentious, violent and cruel beyond measure, Yuyin Shenhui followed the king's desire, buried him at Ganxi, and sacrificed two women with him. That is obedience at the cost of righteousness. In the battle of Yanling, Jin and Chu faced each other; Yanggu presented wine, and Zifan died because of it. This is loving him and harming him. Zang Wuzhong said, "Mengsun's hatred of me is medicine and stone; Jisun's love for me is a beautiful illness. As the illness and poison grow thick, the stone still gives me life." That is how a curse can wear beauty's mask. Confucius said, "How difficult wisdom is! Even with Zang Wuzhong's wisdom, he could not be tolerated in Lu; there was surely a reason. He acted contrary to order and applied no forgiveness."
41
蓋善其知義，譏其違道也。 夫知而違之，僞也；
The comment praises his sense of duty but faults him for leaving the Way. Knowing what is right and doing otherwise is hypocrisy;
42
不知而失之，暗也。 暗爲僞焉，其患一也。 患之所在，非徒在智之不及，又在及而違這者矣。 故曰“智及之，仁不能守之，虽得之，必失之”也。 《夏書》曰：「念茲在茲，庶事恕施。」 忠智之謂矣。
Ignorance that misses the mark is blindness. Blindness and deceit injure alike. Calamity comes from stupidity and from intellect betrayed. So the Analects: wisdom without humanity cannot hold what it seizes. The Book of Xia says, "Keep this in mind here; apply forgiveness to the various affairs." That is faithful insight.
43
故君子之行，動則思義，不爲利回，不爲義疚，進退周旋，唯道是務。 苟失其道，则兄弟不阿； 苟得其義，雖仇讎不廢。 故解狐蒙祁奚之薦，二叔被周公之害，勃鞮以逆文爲成，傅瑕以順厲爲敗，管蘇以憎忤取進，申侯以愛從見退：考之以義也。 故曰：「不在逆順，以義爲斷； 不在憎爱，以道为贵。” 《礼记》曰：“爱而知其恶，憎而知其善。” 考义之谓也。
So the nobleman acts from principle—never bought by gain or cowed from right. Lose the Way and kin will not bend the rule for you. When right conduct is present, even an enemy should not be cast aside. Therefore Xie Hu received Qi Xi's recommendation, the two uncles suffered harm from the Duke of Zhou, Boti completed Duke Wen by opposing him, Fu Xia defeated Duke Li by obeying him, Guan Su advanced by hateful opposition, and Marquis Shen was dismissed through loving compliance: these were examined according to righteousness. Therefore it is said, "It does not lie in opposition or obedience; righteousness makes the judgment. It does not lie in hatred or love; the Way is what is honored." The Book of Rites says, "Love him and know his faults; hate him and know his good points." That is judging by moral weight.
44
桓帝时，举孝廉，除北新城长。 告县人曰：“昔文翁在蜀，道著巴汉； 庚桑瑣隸，風移碨磥。 吾雖小宰，猶有社稷，苟赴期會，理文墨，豈本志乎！」 乃更大作講舍，延聚生徙數百人，朝夕自往勸誡，身執經卷，試策殿最，儒化大行。 此邑至後猶稱其教焉。
Emperor Huan raised him filial-incorrupt and made him magistrate of northern Xincheng. He told the people of the county, "Formerly Wen Weng was in Shu, and his Way was manifest in Ba and Han; Even lowly Gengsang transformed Weilei's ways. Though I am a petty steward, I still have altars of soil and grain. If I merely attend deadlines and manage documents, how would that be my original intent!" He therefore greatly expanded the lecture hall, invited and gathered several hundred students, personally went morning and evening to encourage and admonish them, held the classics in his own hands, tested their policies, and ranked their merits; Confucian transformation flourished greatly. Down to later times, this town still praised his teaching.
45
特召入拜尙書郎。 累遷，後爲野王令，未行。 光和中，病卒。
He was specially summoned to court and appointed Gentleman of the Secretariat. After repeated promotions, he later became magistrate of Yewang, but had not yet departed for the post. He died of illness during mid-Guanghe.
46
孫楨，亦以文才知名。
Sun Zhen was also known for literary talent.
47
邊讓字文禮，除留浚儀人也。 少辯博，能屬文。 作《章華賦》，雖多淫麗之辭，而終之以正，亦如相如之諷也。
Bian Rang, styled Wenli, was from Junyi in Chenliu. In youth he was skilled in debate and broadly learned, and could compose literary pieces. He wrote the Rhapsody on Zhanghua; although it had many ornate and licentious phrases, it ended in correctness, also like Sima Xiangru's remonstrance.
48
其辭曰：楚靈王旣遊雲夢之澤，息於荆臺之上。
Before him ran the Huai; Dongting surged to the left, Pengli’s inlets opened to the right, and Wushan rose to the south.
49
前方淮之水，左洞庭之波，右顧彭蠡之隩，南眺巫山之阿。 延目廣望，聘觀終日。 顧謂左史倚相曰：「盛哉斯樂，可以遺老而忘死也！」 於是遂作章華之臺，築乾谿之室，窮木土之技，單珍府之實。 举国营之，数年乃成。 設長夜之淫宴，作北裏之新聲。 於是伍舉知夫陳、蔡之將生謀也。
Ahead lay the waters of the Huai; to the left, the waves of Dongting; to the right he looked toward the recesses of Pengli; to the south he gazed at the slopes of Wushan. He extended his gaze broadly and watched all day. He looked back and said to Left Scribe Yixiang, "Magnificent is this pleasure; it can make one leave old age behind and forget death!" Thereupon he built the Zhanghua Tower and constructed the chambers of Ganxi, exhausting the skill of wood and earth and depleting the stores of precious treasuries. The whole kingdom toiled for years before it stood complete. He set out licentious banquets through the long night and made new music of the Northern Ward. So he wrote this rhapsody to warn him: born of Gaoyang's line, you inherited your sacred ancestor's great grace.
50
乃作斯賦以諷之：胄高陽之苗胤兮，承聖祖之洪澤。
So he wrote this rhapsody to warn him: born of Gaoyang's line, you inherited your sacred ancestor's great grace.
51
建列籓于南楚兮，等威灵于二伯。 超有商之大彭兮，越隆周之兩虢。 達皇佐之高勛兮，馳仁聲之顯赫。 惠風春施，神武電斷，華夏肅清，五服攸亂。 旦垂精於萬機兮，夕回輦於門館。 設長夜之歡飲兮，展中情之嬿婉。 竭四海之妙珍兮，尽生人之秘玩。
He planted kings across southern Chu and rivaled the Two Regents in dread majesty. He outdid Great Peng of Shang and the paired Guo lords of high Zhou. He matched the great achievements of royal counselors, and his bright name for benevolence sped through the realm. Grace moved like spring wind and force struck like lightning; the heartland was cleared, and every tribute zone fell into order. At dawn he gave himself to the affairs of state; by dusk his carriage turned back to the palace lodges. He staged all-night banquets, letting his private affection unfold in tender ease. He exhausted the empire's treasures and every secret delight of the living.
52
爾乃攜窈窕，從好仇，徑肉林，登糟丘，蘭肴山竦，椒酒淵流。 激玄醴于清池兮，靡微风而行舟。 登瑤臺以回望兮，冀彌日而消憂。 於是招宓妃，命湘娥，齊倡列，鄭女羅。 揚《激楚》之清宮兮，展新聲而長歌。 繁手超於北裏，妙舞麗於《陽阿》。 金石類聚，絲竹群分。 神輕袿，曳華文，羅衣飄颻，組綺繽紛。 縱輕軀以迅赴，若孤鵠之失群； 振華袂以逶迤，若遊龍之登雲。 於是歡嬿旣洽，長夜向半，琴瑟易調，繁手改彈。 清聲發而響激，微音逝而流散。 振弱支而紆繞兮，若綠繁之垂干； 忽飄颻以輕逝兮，似鸞飛於天漢。 舞無常態，鼓無定節，尋聲響應，修短靡跌。 長袖奮而生風，清氣激而繞結。 爾乃姸媚遞進，巧弄相加，俯仰異容，忽兮神化。 體迅輕鴻，榮曜春華，進如浮雲，退如激波。 雖復柳惠，能不咨嗟！ 於是天河旣回，淫樂未終，清籥發徵，《激楚》揚風。 於是音氣發於絲竹兮，飛響軼於雲中。 比目應節而雙躍兮，孤雌感聲而鳴雄。 美繁手之輕妙兮，嘉新聲之彌隆。 于是众变已尽，群乐既考。 歸乎生風之廣夏兮，修黃軒之要道。 攜西子之弱腕兮，援毛嬪之素肘。 形便娟以嬋媛兮，若流風之靡草。 美儀操之姣麗兮，忽遺生而忘老。
Then came slender girls and worthy companions, paths through flesh and lees, orchid viands mountain-high and peppered wine deep as a gorge. They beat sweet wine in glass pools and drifted boats on the lightest wind. From the jade terrace they gazed wide, wishing daylight could wash sorrow away. They called Fu Fei and the Xiang maidens, ranked Qi choruses and Zheng dancers in silken files. They lifted the clear notes of "Ji Chu" and spun fresh melodies in drawn-out song. Fingerwork surpassed Beili's tricks; the dance matched "Yang E" in grace. Metal and stone chimed in chorus; strings and winds traded phrases. In airy gowns and trailing brocade, gauze fluttered and bright sashes flashed. Light bodies darted forward like a lone swan cut off from the flock; Sleeves opened in long curves like dragons mounting mist. Delight had peaked toward midnight; they retuned zithers and changed to new finger-songs. Bright notes cracked like ice; soft phrases melted away. Slender arms coiled like vine heavy on a branch. Then they lifted away as lightly as a luan in the River of Heaven. Dance and drum refused fixed patterns; every phrase was answered, long or short, without a missed step. Long sleeves whipped a gale; pure tone twisted and held. Grace stacked trick on trick; each gesture turned a new mask—then sudden as gods changing form. Bodies flashed like light geese and spring flowers, advancing like clouds and drawing back like breaking waves. Even Liu Xiaohui could not choke down a sigh! The sky turned on; revel continued—the reed piped zhi and "Ji Chu" rode the wind. Sound welled from silk and bamboo and flew past the clouds. Paired fish jumped in time, and a lone female bird, stirred by the music, called for her mate. They marveled at nimble hands and the rising new refrains. Every variation was spent; the suite had played through. They withdrew to the breezy hall and took up the Yellow Emperor's high road. He clasped West Beauty's wrists and Mao Concubine's moon-white elbows. Grace brushed him like wind combing grass. Such beauty made him forget life itself and forget growing old.
53
爾乃清夜晨，妙技單，收尊俎，徹鼓盤。
As dawn neared they struck the show, cleared goblets and platters, pulled away the drums.
54
惘焉若酲，撫劍而嘆。 慮理國之須才，悟稼穡之艱難。
He came to himself as if after wine, touched his sword, and sighed. He remembered that government needs able men and that farming is hard labor.
55
美呂尙之佐周，善管仲之輔桓。 將超世而作理，焉沈湎於此歡！
He praised Lü Wang for Zhou and Guan Zhong for Duke Huan. He meant to lift the realm with good rule—how wallow in delight!
56
於是罷女樂，墮瑤臺。
So he sent the dancers away and tore down the jade terrace.
57
思夏禹之卑官，慕有虞之土階。 舉英奇於仄陋，拔髦秀於蓬萊。 君明哲以知人，官隨任而處能。 百揆時敍，庶績咸熙。 诸侯慕义，不召同期。 繼高陽之絶軌，崇成、莊之洪基。 雖齊醒之一匡，豈足方於大持？ 尔乃育之以仁，临之以明。 致虔報於鬼神，盡肅恭乎上京。 馳淳化於黎元，永歷世而太平。
He remembered Yu's low halls and Shun's packed-earth stairs. He drew genius from the gutter and culled worth from Penglai's isles. The lord read men truly and set each post where talent fit. All government aligned; every deed succeeded. Lords rallied to duty without waiting to be called. He followed Gaoyang's unmatched path and raised high the foundation laid by Cheng and Zhuang. He followed Gaoyang's unmatched path and raised high the foundation laid by Cheng and Zhuang. Then he reared the people in kindness and ruled them with clear sight. When Bian Rang arrived, He Jin named him clerk and received him with full courtesy. When Bian Rang arrived, He Jin named him clerk and received him with full courtesy.
58
大將軍何進聞讓才名，欲辟命之。 恐不至，詭以軍事徵召。
When Bian Rang arrived, He Jin named him clerk and received him with full courtesy. When Bian Rang arrived, He Jin named him clerk and received him with full courtesy.
59
旣到，署令史，進以禮見之。
When Bian Rang arrived, He Jin named him clerk and received him with full courtesy.
60
让善占射，能辞对。 时，宾客满堂，莫不羡其风。 府掾孔融、王朗并修刺候焉。
Rang shone at guessing games and quick answers. Guests packed the room and envied his bearing. Staff aides Kong Rong and Wang Lang sent visiting cards and paid their respects.
61
议郎蔡邕深敬之，以为让宜处高任，乃荐于何进曰：
Gentleman Cai Yong esteemed him, held that Rang deserved rank, and wrote He Jin:
62
伏惟幕府初开，博选清英，华发旧德，并为元鬼。 虽振鹭之集西雍，济济之在周庭，无以或加。 窃见令史陈留边让，天授逸才，聪明贤智。 髫齓夙孤，不盡家訓。 及就学庐，便受大典。 初涉诸经，见本知义。 授者不能对其问，章句不能逮其意。 心通性達，口辯辭長。 非禮不動，非法不言。 若處狐疑之論，定嫌審之分，經典交至，撿括參合，眾夫寂焉，莫之能奪也。 使讓生在唐、虞，則元、凱之次，運値仲尼，則顔、冉之亞，豈徒俗之凡偶近器而已者哉！ 階級名位，亦宜超然。 若復隨輩而進，非所以章瑰偉之高價，昭知人之絶明也。 傳曰：「函牛之鼎以亨雞，多汁則淡而不可食，少計則熬而不可熟。」 此言大器之于小用，固有所不宜也。 邕竊悁邑，怪此寶鼎未受犧牛大羹之和，久在煎熬臠割之間。 願明將軍回謀垂慮，裁加少納，貢之機密，展之力用。 若以年齒爲嫌，則顔回不得貫德行之首，子奇終無理阿之功。 苟堪其事，古今一也。
Your new command gathers brilliant men; hoary worthies serve as your council of sages. Like herons flocking to the western pond or the throng in Zhou's hall—none finer. Your clerk Bian Rang of Chenliu bears Heaven's genius—lucid, good, wise. Orphaned as a child, he never received his family's full training. Once in school he mastered the great classics. At first touch of each classic he saw root meaning. Tutors could not meet his questions; chapter glosses could not catch his sense. His mind was penetrating and his nature perceptive; his mouth was eloquent and his phrases long. He did not move unless it accorded with ritual, and did not speak unless it accorded with law. If he dealt with doubtful arguments or settled divisions of suspicion and scrutiny, classics arrived together, checks and comparisons matched, and the multitude fell silent, unable to take anything from him. Had Rang been born in the age of Tang and Yu, he would have ranked next to Yuan and Kai; had his fortune met Zhongni, he would have been after Yan and Ran. How could he merely have been a common vulgar companion or a nearby vessel? His rank, grade, name, and position likewise should have stood apart. If he again advances along with his peers, that is not the way to make manifest the high price of his extraordinary worth or display your unmatched brilliance in knowing men. The tradition says, "When a cauldron that can hold an ox is used to cook a chicken, with too much juice it is bland and cannot be eaten, while with too little calculation it scorches and cannot be cooked." That is great gear forced to small jobs—some fits will always fail. I am pained that such a precious vessel has never been put to grand sacrificial use, but has long languished among petty boiling and carving. I hope the enlightened general will turn back his plans and lower his consideration, grant a little acceptance, offer him to confidential service, and stretch out his strength for use. If age is the objection, then Yan Hui would not have stood at the head of virtuous conduct, and Ziqi would never have had the achievement of governing E. If he can do the work, old rule and new are the same.
63
讓後以高才擢進，屢遷，出爲九江太守，不以爲能也。
Rang rose on talent through many posts and became Jiujiang governor—yet still doubted his worth.
64
初平中，王室大亂，讓去官還家。 恃才氣，不屈曹操，多輕侮之言。 建安中，其乡人有构让于操，操告郡就杀之。 文多遗失。
When Chuping broke the court he resigned and went home. He leaned on his wit, refused Cao Cao, and often mocked him. In Jian'an a townsman slandered him; Cao ordered the commandery to execute him there. Most of his writings are gone.
65
酈炎字文勝，范陽人，酈食其之後也。 炎有文才，解音律，言論給捷，多服其能理。 灵帝时，州郡辟命，皆不就，有志气。 作诗二篇曰：
Li Yan, styled Wensheng, from Fanyang, line of Li Yiji. Yan wrote well, knew music, spoke with wit, and men praised his sense. Lingdi's era brought offers from every office—all refused—he had spine. He wrote two poems:
66
大道夷且长，窘路狭且促。 修冀无卑栖，远趾不步局。 舒吾陵霄羽，奋此千里足。 超邁絶塵驅，倏忽誰能逐。 賢愚豈常類，稟性在清濁。 富貴有人籍，貧賤無天錄。 通塞苟由已，志士不相卜。 陳平敖里社，韓信釣河曲。
The broad road runs smooth and far; the trapdoor track is narrow and short. Great wings do not perch low; wide steps do not pace a pen. I spread wings to vault heaven; I spur these thousand-mile legs. I race beyond the dust; in a flash no one can catch me. Worth and folly are not fixed castes; they depend on the clarity or murk of one's nature. Ranks of wealth are written by men; poverty has no warrant from Heaven. Success lies with the self—the steadfast do not augur each other. Chen Ping strutted at the village altar; Han Xin fished the river curve.
67
終居天下宰，食此萬鍾祿。
In the end they governed the empire on ten-thousand-measure stipends.
68
德音流千載，功名重山岳。
Their names echo forever; their deeds outweigh mountains.
69
靈芝生河洲，動搖因洪波。
Spirit fungus on the midstream bar shivers in the surge.
70
蘭榮一何晚，嚴霜瘁其柯。
The orchid bloomed too late, and bitter frost withered its stem.
71
哀哉二芳草，不植太山阿。 文質道所貴，遭時用有嘉。 絳、灌臨衡宰，謂誼崇浮華。 贤才抑不用，远投荆南沙。 抱玉乘龙骥，不逢乐与和。 安得孔仲尼，为世陈四科。
Alas—two sweet orchids never took root on Tai's shoulder. When Zhou Bo and Guan Ying held power, they dismissed Jia Yi as a lover of hollow brilliance. When Zhou Bo and Guan Ying held power, they dismissed Jia Yi as a lover of hollow brilliance. The worthy were blocked and banished to the southern waste. He bore his gem astride a swift mount yet heard no tune that fit. Where is a Confucius to set the four classes for this age?
72
炎後風病慌忽。 性至孝，遭母憂，病甚發動。
His wife was frightened to death just after childbirth; her family sued, and he was jailed. His wife was frightened to death just after childbirth; her family sued, and he was jailed.
73
妻始産而驚死，妻家訟之，收繫獄。
His wife was frightened to death just after childbirth; her family sued, and he was jailed.
74
炎病不能理对，嘉平六年，遂死狱中，时年二十八。 尙書盧植爲之誄贊，以昭其懿德。
Too sick to speak in court, he perished in jail in Jiaping 6 at twenty-eight. Minister Lu Zhi wrote his elegy to publish his fine conduct.
75
侯瑾字子瑜，敦煌人也。 少孤贫，依宗人居。 性篤學，恆傭作爲資，暮還輒燃柴以讀書。 常以礼自牧，独处一房，如对严宾焉。 州郡累召，公車有道徵，幷稱疾不到。 作《矯世論》以譏切當時，而徙入山中，覃思著述。 以莫知於世，故作《應賓難》以自寄。 又案《漢記》撰中興以後行事，爲《皇德傳》三十篇，行於世。 餘所作雜文數十篇，多亡失。 河西人敬其才而不敢名之，皆稱爲侯君雲。
Hou Jin, styled Ziyu, came from Dunhuang. Fatherless and poor as a boy, he lodged with relatives. He studied with fierce zeal, hired himself out by day, and by night burned kindling to read. He kept ritual discipline alone in his room as though honored guests sat with him. The province and commandery repeatedly summoned him, and the court carriage summoned him as a man possessing the Way, but in each case he claimed illness and did not go. He wrote the Essay Correcting the Age to criticize the time sharply, then moved into the mountains and devoted deep thought to writing. Because no one in the age knew him, he wrote Answering the Guest's Challenge to lodge his own feelings. He also examined the Han Records and compiled thirty chapters of Biographies of Imperial Virtue on events after the Restoration, which circulated in the world. Of the several dozen miscellaneous writings he composed, many were lost. The people of Hexi respected his talent and did not dare call him by name; all called him Lord Hou.
76
高彪字義方，吳郡無錫人也。 家本單寒，至彪爲諸生，遊太學。 有雅才而訥於言。
Gao Biao, styled Yifang, was from Wuxi in Wu commandery. His family was originally poor and humble; when Biao became a student, he traveled to the Imperial Academy. He had refined talent but was slow in speech.
77
嘗從馬融欲訪大義，融疾，不獲見，乃復剌遺融書曰：「承服風問，從來有年，故不待介者而謁大君子之門，冀一見龍光，以敍腹心之願。
He once went to Ma Rong wishing to inquire into the great meanings, but Rong was ill and he could not obtain an audience; he therefore sent in a calling card and left Rong a letter, saying, "I have received and admired your reputation for many years, so I did not wait for an intermediary before calling at the gate of a great gentleman, hoping once to see your dragon-brightness and set forth the wish in my heart.
78
不图遭疾，幽闭莫启。 昔周公旦父文兄武，九命作伯，以尹華夏，猶揮沐吐餐，垂接白屋，故周道以隆，天下歸德。 公今養疴傲士，故其宜也。」
I did not expect to encounter illness, with you shut away in seclusion and no opening available. Formerly the Duke of Zhou Dan had King Wen as father and King Wu as elder brother; with nine mandates he served as hegemon and governed the Chinese realm, yet he still wrung out his hair and spat out his food to receive men from humble houses, and so the Way of Zhou flourished and All Under Heaven returned to virtue. Now, sir, you nurse illness and are arrogant toward scholars; therefore this is fitting for you."
79
融省書慚，追謝還之，彪逝而不顧。
Ma Rong read the letter in shame and hurried after him to apologize, but Biao left without looking back.
80
後郡舉孝廉，試經第一。
The commandery nominated him filial-incorrupt; he topped the classics test.
81
除郎中，校書東觀。 數奏賦、頌、奇文，因事諷諫，靈帝異之。
He was made Gentleman Attendant and set to collating texts in the Eastern Pavilion. Again and again he submitted rhapsodies and essays that used current events for indirect remonstrance, and Emperor Ling took notice.
82
時，京兆第五永爲督軍御史，使督幽州。
Diwu Yong of the capital served as army censor over Youzhou.
83
百官大會，祖餞於長樂觀。
The officials gathered in force to send him off with a farewell banquet at Changle Lodge.
84
議郎葵邑等皆賦詩，彪乃獨作箴曰：「文武將墜，乃俾俊臣。 整我皇纲，董此不虔。 古之君子，即戎忘身。 明其果毅，尚其桓桓。 呂尙七十，氣冠三軍，詩人作歌，如鷹如鸇。 天有太一，五將三門； 地有九变，丘陵山川； 人有计策，六奇五间。 總茲三事，謀則咨詢。 無曰己能，務在求賢，淮陰之勇，廣野是尊。 周公大聖，石碏純臣，以威克愛，以義滅親。 勿謂時險，不正其身。 勿謂無人，莫識己眞。 忘富遺貴，福祿乃存。 枉道依合，復無所觀。 先公高节，越可永遵。 佩藏斯戒，以厲終身。」 邕等甚美其文，以为莫尚也。
Advisory Gentleman Kui Yi and the others all composed poems, but Biao alone made an admonition, saying, "Civil and martial order are about to fall, so let a worthy minister be sent. Set our imperial cords in order and oversee these irreverent men. The gentlemen of old forgot themselves when they went to war. Make clear their resolve and valor; esteem their martial force. Lü Shang at seventy had spirit that crowned the three armies; the poets made a song, like hawks and sparrowhawks. Heaven has Taiyi, five generals, and three gates; Earth has nine transformations, hills and mountains and rivers; Men have plans and strategies, the six marvels and five agents. Gather these three matters together; for planning, consult and ask. Do not say that you yourself are able; make it your task to seek the worthy. The courage of Huaiyin was honored in Guangye. The Duke of Zhou was a great sage and Shi Que a pure minister; by awe they conquered love, and by righteousness destroyed kinship. Do not say the times are dangerous and fail to rectify yourself. Do not say there are no people and no one knows your truth. Forget wealth and leave rank behind, and fortune and emolument will then remain. Bend the Way and conform, and again there will be nothing to observe. Your late father's lofty integrity is still more to be followed forever. Wear and keep this warning, to spur yourself for life." Cai Yong and company praised the piece above all others.
85
後遷外黃令，帝敕同僚臨送，祖於上東門，詔東觀畫彪像以勸學者。 彪到官，有德政，上書薦縣人申徒蟠等。 病卒于官，文章多亡。
When he was later moved to Waihuang, the emperor ordered his colleagues to see him off at the Upper East Gate and had the Eastern Pavilion paint his portrait as an example for students. When he was later moved to Waihuang, the emperor ordered his colleagues to see him off at the Upper East Gate and had the Eastern Pavilion paint his portrait as an example for students. He died in harness; most of his works vanished.
86
子岱，亦知名。
His son Dai won renown too.
87
張超字子幷，河間鄚人也，留侯良之後也。 有文才。 靈帝時，從車騎將軍朱雋徵黃巾，爲別部司馬。 著賦、頌、碑文、薦、檄、箋、書、謁文、嘲，凡十九篇。 超又善於草書，妙絶時人，世共傳之。
Zhang Chao, styled Zibing, from Mo in Hejian, line of Marquis Zhang Liang. He wrote with skill. Under Lingdi he rode with Zhu Jun against the turbans as an independent major. Nineteen pieces survive: rhapsodies, eulogies, steles, recommendations, calls, notes, letters, cards, and lampoons. His grass script was unmatched and copied everywhere.
88
禰衡字正平，平原般人也。 少有才辯，而尙氣剛傲，好矯時慢物。 興平中，避難荆州。 建安初，來遊許下。 始達潁川，乃陰懷一剌，旣而無所之適，至於刺字漫滅。 是時，許都新建，賢士大夫，四方來集。 或問衡曰：「盍從陳長文、司馬伯達乎？」 對曰：「吾焉能從屠沽兒耶！」 又问：“荀文若、赵稚长云何？” 衡曰：“文若可借面吊丧，稚长可使监厨请客。” 唯善鲁国孔融及弘农杨脩。 常称曰：“大兒孔文举，小兒杨德祖。 余子碌碌，莫足数也。” 融亦深爱其才。
Mi Heng, styled Zhengping, came from Ban in Pingyuan. Young, sharp-tongued and proud, he delighted in defying fashion and sneering at the great. In Xingping he fled turmoil to Jingzhou. Early Jian'an brought him to the court at Xu. In Yingchuan he hid a name card until no door took him and the ink rubbed bare. Xu was new then; talent flooded in from every quarter. They asked, "Why not follow Chen Ji or Sima Lang?" He shot back, "Why would I trail tavern louts and butchers' sons!" They pressed, "What of Xun Yu and Zhao Zhi then?" He sneered that Xun Yu had only a face fit for funerals and Zhao Zhi for catering. He granted only Kong Rong and Yang Xiu. He often said, "The elder child is Kong Wenju; the younger child is Yang Dezu. The rest are ordinary and not worth counting." Kong Rong adored his gift.
89
衡始弱冠，而融年四十，遂与为交友。 上疏薦之曰：「臣聞洪水橫流，帝思俾乂，旁求四方，以招賢俊。 昔孝武繼統，將弘祖業，疇咨熙載，群士響臻。
Heng was barely twenty when forty-year-old Rong befriended him. He submitted a memorial recommending him: "I have heard that when the floods spread, the emperor sought order by searching the realm for worthy men. When Emperor Wu took up the line and enlarged his ancestors' work, he sought counsel, and scholars flocked to him.
90
陛下睿聖，纂承基緒，遭遇厄運，勞謙日昃。 惟岳降神，異人幷出。
You are keen of mind yet inherit crisis and toil past sundown. The sacred peak sends spirits—talents rise together.
91
竊見處士平原禰衡，年二十四，字正平，淑質貞亮，英才卓礫。
I have observed Mi Heng of Pingyuan, a private scholar of twenty-four styled Zhengping: his nature is pure and bright, his talent extraordinary.
92
初涉藝文，昇堂睹奧。
Touching the classics he reached their inner rooms.
93
目所一見，輒誦於口；
Whatever he sees once, he can recite at once;
94
耳所瞥闻，不忘于心。 性与道合，思若有神。 弘羊潛計，安世默識，以衡準之，誠不足怪。 忠果正直，志怀霜雪。 見善若驚，疾惡若仇。 任座抗行，史魚厲節，殆無以過也。 鷙鳥累伯，不如一鶚。 使衡立朝，必有可觀。 飛辯騁辭，溢氣坌涌，解疑釋結，臨敵有餘。 昔賈誼求試屬國，詭繫單於； 終軍欲以長纓，牽致勁越。 弱冠慷慨，前世美之。 近日路粹、嚴象，亦用異才，擢拜臺郎，衡宜與爲比。 如得龍躍天衢，振翼雲漢，揚聲紫微，垂光虹蜺，足以昭近署之多士，增四門之穆穆。 鈞天廣樂，必有奇麗之觀； 帝室皇居，必蓄非常之宝。 若衡等輩，不可多得。 《激楚》、《楊阿》，至妙之容，臺牧者之所貪； 飛兔、騕褭，絶足奔放，良、樂之所急。 臣等區區，敢不以聞。」
One whisper lodged in memory. His nature meets the Way—thought moves like spirit. Against Sang Hongyang's sums or Zhang Anshi's memory he is no marvel less. Loyal and blunt—his will is frost. Good startles him; evil he treats as a sworn enemy. He rivals Ren Zuo's blunt truth and the historian's steel. A hundred raptors are worth less than one osprey. Set him in court and the realm would see. His words scatter fog and cut knots—enough for any foe. Jia Yi once sought a frontier post to snare the Chanyu by stratagem; Zhong Jun wanted to bring fierce Yue in on a long cord. Youth that bold—history praised. Recently Lu Cui and Yan Xiang have also been used for unusual talent and promoted to gentlemen of the terrace; Heng should be compared with them. If he could leap like a dragon on the avenue of Heaven, shake his wings in the Milky Way, raise his voice at the Purple Tenuity, and cast down light like a rainbow, he would be enough to display the many scholars of the nearby offices and increase the solemnity of the four gates. In the broad music of Juntian, there must be sights of strange beauty; The throne hoards gems beyond the common. Talent like Mi Heng rarely appears twice in an age. The airs "Ji Chu" and "Yang E" hold the finest charm—exactly what idle hosts hoard. Steeds like Flying Hare and Yaoniao—fleet beyond measure—the mounts Bo Le prized. Your servants, in our smallness, dare not fail to report this."
95
融旣愛衡才，數稱述於曹操。 操欲見之，而衡素相輕疾，自稱狂病，不肯往，而數有恣言。 操怀忿，而以其才名，不欲杀之。 聞衡善擊鼓，乃召爲鼓史，因大會賓客，閲試音節。 諸史過者，皆令脫其故衣，更著岑牟、單絞之服。 次至衡，衡方爲《漁陽》參撾，蹀𨄌而前，容態有異，聲節悲壯，聽者莫不慷慨。 衡進至操前而止，吏呵之曰：「鼓史何不改裝，而輕敢進乎？」 衡曰：「諾。」 於是先解衵衣，次釋餘服，裸身而立，徐取岑牟、單絞而著之，畢，復參撾而去，顔色不怍。 操笑曰：“本欲辱衡，衡反辱孤。”
Because Kong Rong prized Mi Heng he spoke of him again and again to Cao Cao. Cao wanted an audience; Mi Heng loathed him, feigned madness, stayed away, and kept firing insults. Cao burned with anger yet spared him for the sake of his reputation. Learning Mi Heng's skill on the drum, Cao named him drum clerk and threw a banquet to hear him. Every drummer had to shed his clothes for the uniform cap and jacket. When Mi Heng’s turn came, he struck the “Yuyang” triple beat and stepped forward, his bearing strange and the rhythm fierce with grief; everyone listening was moved. Mi Heng walked up to Cao Cao and halted; a clerk barked, "Why keep your old clothes—how dare you step up like that?" Heng said, "Yes." Then he stripped his undershirt, shed the rest, stood bare, slowly pulled on cap and jacket, finished the triple roll, and walked off without a blush. Cao laughed. "I meant to humiliate him—he humiliated me."
96
孔融退而数之曰：“正平大雅，固当尔邪？” 因宣操区区之意。 衡许往。 融复见操，说衡狂疾，今求得自谢。 操喜，敕门者有客便通，待之极晏。 衡乃着布单衣、疏巾，手持三尺棁杖，坐大营门，以杖捶地大骂。 吏曰：“外有狂生，坐于营门，言语悖逆，请收案罪。” 操怒，谓融曰：“祢衡竖子，孤杀之犹雀鼠耳。 顾此人素有虚名，远近将谓孤不能容之，今送与刘表，视当何如。” 于是遣人骑送之。 临发，众人为之祖道，先供设于城南，乃更相戒曰：“祢衡勃虐无礼，今因其后到，咸当以不起折之也。” 及衡至，众人莫肯兴，衡坐而大号。 众问其故，衡曰：“坐者为冢，卧者为尸。 尸冢之间，能不悲乎！”
Kong Rong pulled him aside: "You call yourself refined—is this what you call fitting?" Then he relayed Cao Cao's conciliatory message. Mi Heng agreed to call. Kong Rong told Cao the madness had passed and Mi Heng wished to apologize in person. Cao was delighted and told the gate to admit anyone at once; he waited deep into the evening. Mi Heng came in plain cloth and loose scarf, gripped a three-foot rod, sat at the camp gate, drummed the ground with it, and roared abuse. An aide reported, "A madman sits at the gate hurling treason—arrest him." Cao Cao was angry and said to Rong, "Mi Heng is a petty boy; for me to kill him would be like killing sparrows and rats. But this man has always had an empty reputation, and people far and near would say that I cannot tolerate him. Now I will send him to Liu Biao and see what happens." So Cao had horsemen escort him away. They staged a send-off south of the city and agreed that because Mi Heng was crude and late they would all stay seated to humble him. When he came nobody stood; Mi Heng sat down and howled. The crowd asked why. Heng said, "Those sitting are tomb mounds; those lying down are corpses. Between corpses and tomb mounds, how could one not grieve!"
97
刘表及荆州士大夫，先服其才名，甚宾礼之，文章言议，非衡不定。 表尝与诸文人共草章奏，并极其才思。 时衡出，还见之，开省未周，因毁以抵地。 表怃然为骇。 衡乃从求笔札，须臾立成，辞义可观。 表大悦，益重之。
Liu Biao and the Jingzhou elite already respected his name; they honored him as a guest and let him settle every draft and debate. Liu Biao once joined scholars drafting memorials and poured out every clever phrase. Mi Heng walked in, skimmed their pile before they finished reading, and tore it to the floor. Liu Biao sat thunderstruck. Mi Heng demanded ink and slips and in moments produced a polished draft. Liu Biao rejoiced and prized him even more.
98
后复侮慢于表，表耻，不能容，以江夏太守黄祖性急，故送衡与之，祖亦善待焉。 衡为作书记，轻重疏密，各得体宜。 祖持其手曰：“处士，此正得祖意，如祖腹中之所欲言也。”
Later Mi Heng insulted Liu Biao again; shamed and unable to endure him, Liu sent him to the short-tempered Jiangxia governor Huang Zu, who still treated him kindly. Mi Heng penned Huang Zu's correspondence—every tone and spacing hit the mark. Huang Zu clasped his hand: "Sir, this is exactly what I meant—words drawn straight from my gut."
99
祖长子射，为章陵太守，尤善于衡。 嘗與衡俱遊，共讀蔡邕所作碑文，射愛其辭，還恨不繕寫。 衡曰：「吾雖一覽，猶能識之，唯其中石缺二字，爲不明耳。」
Huang Zu's eldest son She governed Zhangling and favored Mi Heng above others. They once toured together and read Cai Yong's inscription; She loved the text but regretted having no copy. Mi Heng said, "One reading fixes it in memory—only two characters are missing on the stone."
100
因書出之，躬馳使寫碑，還校，如衡所書，莫不嘆伏。 射時大會賓客，人有獻鸚鵡者，射舉巵於衡曰：「願先生賦之，以娛嘉賓。」 衡攬筆而作，文無加點，辭采甚麗。
Mi Heng wrote the inscription out; Huang She personally sent someone racing back to copy the stele, and when the copy was checked it matched Heng's text exactly, leaving everyone amazed. At a large banquet, someone presented a parrot. Huang She raised a cup to Mi Heng and said, "Please, sir, compose a fu on it to entertain our guests." Mi Heng took up the brush and wrote it in one pass, without a single correction; the language was dazzling.
101
後黃祖在蒙衝船上，大會賓客，而衡言不遜順，祖慚，乃呵之。 衡更熟视曰：“死公！ 云等道？” 祖大怒，令五百将出，欲加箠。 衡方大骂，祖恚，遂令杀之。 祖主簿素疾衡，即时杀焉。 射徒跣来救，不及。 祖亦悔之，乃厚加棺敛。 衡时年二十六，其文章多亡云。
Later, aboard a war-boat, Huang Zu feasted guests; Mi Heng spoke harshly, shaming Zu until he snapped. Mi Heng glared: "Corpse of an old official! What kind of talk is that?" Huang Zu roared for guards to drag him out for a beating. Mi Heng kept shouting until Zu, furious, ordered him executed. Huang Zu's registrar, who long despised Mi Heng, killed him on the spot. She ran barefoot to intervene—too late. Huang Zu repented and buried him with honor. Mi Heng was twenty-six; most of his writings vanished.
102
赞曰：情志既动，篇辞为贵。 抽心呈貌，非雕非蔚。 殊狀共體，同聲異氣。 言觀麗則，永監淫費。
The summation runs: once feeling moves, the text becomes the prize. It lays heart bare without carving ornament or piling gloss. Many shapes share one body; one tune may carry different breath. Many shapes share one body; one tune may carry different breath.