1
到沆丘遲劉苞袁峻庾於陵弟肩吾劉昭何遜鍾嶸周興嗣吳均
Dao Hang · Qiu Chi · Liu Bao · Yuan Jun · Yu Yuling · Jianwu (brother) · Liu Zhao · He Xun · Zhong Rong · Zhou Xingsi · Wu Jun
2
昔司馬遷、班固書，並爲《司馬相如傳》，相如不預漢廷大事，蓋取其文章尤著也。 固又爲《賈鄒枚路傳》，亦取其能文傳焉。 范氏《後漢書》有《文苑傳》，所載之人，其詳已甚。 然經禮樂而緯國家，通古今而述美惡，非文莫可也。 是以君臨天下者，莫不敦悅其義，縉紳之學，咸貴尚其道，古往今來，未之能易。 高祖聰明文思，光宅區宇，旁求儒雅，詔采異人，文章之盛，煥乎俱集。 每所御幸，輒命羣臣賦詩，其文善者，賜以金帛，詣闕庭而獻賦頌者，或引見焉。 其在位者，則沈約、江淹、任昉，並以文采，妙絕當時。 至若彭城到沆、吳興丘遲、東海王僧孺、吳郡張率等，或入直文德，通讌壽光，皆後來之選也。 約、淹、昉、僧孺，率別以功跡論。 今綴到沆等文兼學者，至太清中人，爲《文學傳》云。
Long ago Sima Qian and Ban Gu each wrote a Sima Xiangru biography though Xiangru never shaped Han statecraft—they chose him for supreme literary fame. Gu also wrote the Jia–Zou–Mei–Lu group biography, again honoring men who wrote well enough to endure. Fan Ye's Later Han includes a Garden of Letters with very full notices already. Yet binding statecraft to rites and music and threading ages to judge good and evil demands writing alone. So every sovereign has cherished its doctrine; every scholar-official has honored its path—unchanged through time. Gaozu, clear-minded and literary, lit the realm, sought Confucians everywhere, and summoned odd talents until letters blazed in one place. Wherever he traveled he made ministers write poems; the best won gold and silk, and some who brought fu and hymns to court were received in audience. At court Shen Yue, Jiang Yan, and Ren Fang led in literary brilliance, unmatched then. Pengcheng's Dao Hang, Wuxing's Qiu Chi, Donghai's Wang Sengru, Wu's Zhang Shuai, and others served at Wende or Shouguang feasts—rising stars all. Yue, Yan, Fang, and Sengru appear elsewhere for their achievements. Here I collect Dao Hang and fellow writers and scholars through the Taiping period in this Biography of Men of Letters.
3
到沆字茂瀣，彭城武原人也。 曾祖彥之，宋將軍。 父撝，齊五兵尚書。
Dao Hang, styled Maoxie, came from Wuyuan in Pengcheng. His great-grandfather Yanzhi served Song as a general. His father Hui was Qi minister of the five arms.
4
沆幼聰敏，五歲時，撝於屏風抄古詩，沆請教讀一遍，便能諷誦，無所遺失。 旣長勤學，善屬文，工篆隸。 美風神，容止可悅。 齊建武中，起家後軍法曹參軍。 天監初，遷征虜主簿。 高祖初臨天下，收拔賢俊，甚愛其才。 東宮建，以爲太子洗馬。 時文德殿置學士省，召高才碩學者待詔其中，使校定墳史，詔沆通籍焉。 時高祖讌華光殿，命羣臣賦詩，獨詔沆爲二百字，三刻使成。 沆於坐立奏，其文甚美。 俄以洗馬管東宮書記、散騎省優策文。 三年，詔尚書郎在職清能或人才高妙者爲侍郎，以沆爲殿中曹侍郎。 沆從父兄溉、洽，並有才名，時皆相代爲殿中，當世榮之。 四年，遷太子中舍人。 沆爲人不自伐，不論人長短，樂安任昉、南鄉范雲皆與友善。 其年，遷丹陽尹丞，以疾不能處職事，遷北中郎諮議參軍。 五年，卒官，年三十。 高祖甚傷惜焉，詔賜錢二萬，布三十匹。 所著詩賦百餘篇。
At five Hang heard his father copy poems on a screen, asked to learn them, read once, and recited every line from memory. Grown, he studied hard, wrote well, and mastered seal and clerical script. He had fine presence and pleasing manners. Under Qi Jianwu he began as Rear Guard army adjutant. Early Tianjian he became chief clerk of the expeditionary force. Gaozu, newly ruling, sought talent and prized Hang highly. When the crown prince was named he became the prince's libationer. Wende Hall then held a scholars' office of eminent readers collating the classics; Hang received palace access. At a Huaguang feast Gaozu ordered poems but gave Hang alone two hundred characters and three quarters of an hour. He wrote seated, presented it, and the piece was excellent. Soon he managed Eastern Palace records and drafted superior memorials for the Secretariat. Year three made able Secretariat gentlemen into vice directors; Hang became vice director of the palace bureau. His cousins Gai and Qia, both famed writers, alternated in that bureau—a contemporary glory. Year four he rose to crown prince household attendant. He never boasted or gossiped about others; Ren Fang and Fan Yun were close friends. That year he became Danyang assistant magistrate, fell ill, and shifted to northern army consulting colonel. Fifth year he died in office at thirty. Gaozu mourned him and granted twenty thousand cash and thirty bolts of cloth. He left more than a hundred poems and fu.
5
丘遲字希範，吳興烏程人也。 父靈鞠，有才名，仕齊官至太中大夫。
Qiu Chi, styled Xifan, was from Wucheng in Wuxing. His father Lingju, a noted writer, reached Qi Grand Master of Palace Counsel.
6
遲八歲便屬文，靈鞠常謂氣骨似我。 黃門郎謝超宗、徵士何點並見而異之。 及長，州辟從事，舉秀才，除太學博士。 遷大司馬行參軍，遭父憂去職。 服闋，除西中郎參軍。 累遷殿中郎，以母憂去職。 服除，復爲殿中郎，遷車騎錄事參軍。 高祖平京邑，霸府開，引爲驃騎主簿，甚被禮遇。 時勸進梁王及殊禮，皆遲文也。 高祖踐阼，拜散騎侍郎，俄遷中書侍郎，領吳興邑中正，待詔文德殿。 時高祖著《連珠》，詔羣臣繼作者數十人，遲文最美。 天監三年，出爲永嘉太守，在郡不稱職，爲有司所糾，高祖愛其才，寢其奏。 四年，中軍將軍臨川王宏北伐，遲爲諮議參軍，領記室。 時陳伯之在北，與魏軍來距，遲以書喻之，伯之遂降。 還拜中書郎，遷司徒從事中郎。 七年，卒官，時年四十五。 所著詩賦行於世。
At eight Chi wrote prose; Lingju said his spirit matched his own. Xie Chaozong and He Dian both marveled at him young. Grown, he was a staff aide, nominated outstanding talent, and made imperial university erudite. He rose to grand marshal army aide, then left for mourning. After mourning he became western army aide. He rose to palace gentleman, then left for his mother's mourning. After mourning he returned as palace gentleman, then army registrar. When Gaozu took the capital he made Chi rapid cavalry chief clerk and honored him. Memorials urging Liang Wang to advance and for special rites were Chi's work. At enthronement Chi became secretariat gentleman, then vice director, Wuxing chief, and Wende attendant. Gaozu's Linked Pearls drew dozens of continuations; Chi's was best. Tianjian year three he governed Yongjia poorly and was impeached; Gaozu shelved it for love of his gift. Year four Prince Linchuan marched north; Chi was consulting colonel and chief secretary. Chen Bozhi held the north against Wei; Chi's letter persuaded him to surrender. Returning he became secretariat gentleman, then secretariat attendant. Seventh year he died in office at forty-five. His poems and fu circulated widely.
7
劉苞字孝嘗，彭城人也。 祖勔，宋司空。 父愃，齊太子中庶子。
Liu Bao, styled Xiaochang, was from Pengcheng. Grandfather Xun had been Song Minister of Works. His father Xuan was Qi crown prince vice-supervisor.
8
苞四歲而父終，及年六七歲，見諸父常泣。 時伯、叔父悛、繪等並顯貴，苞母謂其畏憚，怒之。 苞對曰：「早孤不及有識，聞諸父多相似，故心中欲悲，無有佗意。」 因而歔欷，母亦慟甚。 初，苞父母及兩兄相繼亡沒，悉假瘞焉。 苞年十六，始移墓所，經營改葬，不資諸父，未幾皆畢，繪常嘆服之。
His father died when he was four; at six or seven he wept at sight of his uncles. His uncles Juan, Hui, and others were eminent; his mother thought fear made him weep and scolded him. Bao answered: "Orphaned young I never knew them; told my uncles are much alike, I grieve from the heart only—no other motive." ; he sobbed, and his mother wept bitterly too. Parents and two elder brothers had died in turn and lain in temporary graves. At sixteen he moved and reburied them without uncles' aid; Hui marveled when all was finished.
9
少好學，能屬文。 起家爲司徒法曹行參軍，不就。 天監初，以臨川王妃弟故，自征虜主簿仍遷王中軍功曹，累遷尚書庫部侍郎、丹陽尹丞、太子太傅丞、尚書殿中侍郎、南徐州治中，以公事免。 久之，爲太子洗馬，掌書記，侍講壽光殿。 自高祖卽位，引後進文學之士，苞及從兄孝綽、從弟孺、同郡到溉、溉弟洽、從弟沆、吳郡陸倕、張率並以文藻見知，多預讌坐，雖仕進有前後，其賞賜不殊。 天監十年，卒，時年三十。 臨終，呼友人南陽劉之遴託以喪事，務從儉率。 苞居官有能名，性和而直，與人交，面折其非，退稱其美，情無所隱，士友咸以此嘆惜之。
Young he loved learning and wrote well. He was offered secretariat army aide but declined. Early Tianjian, as the Linchuan princess's brother, he rose from expeditionary clerk through treasury, Danyang, tutor, palace, and Xuzhou posts until dismissed on public grounds. Later he was crown prince libationer, kept records, and lectured at Shouguang. Since Gaozu's accession Bao, Xiaochuo, Ru, Dao Gai, Qia, Hang, Lu Chun, and Zhang Shuai shone at court feasts; ranks differed but gifts did not. Tianjian year ten he died at thirty. Dying he asked Liu Zhilin to bury him thriftily. Able in office, gentle yet frank, he criticized friends openly and praised them privately; all mourned that honesty.
10
袁峻字孝高，陳郡陽夏人，魏郎中令渙之八世孫也。 峻早孤，篤志好學，家貧無書，每從人假借，必皆抄寫，自課日五十紙，紙數不登，則不休息。 訥言語，工文辭。 義師剋京邑，鄱陽王恢東鎮破岡，峻隨王知管記事。 天監初，鄱陽國建，以峻爲侍郎，從鎮京口。 王遷郢州，兼都曹參軍。 高祖雅好辭賦，時獻文於南闕者相望焉，其藻麗可觀，或見賞擢。 六年，峻乃擬揚雄《官箴》奏之。 高祖嘉焉，賜束帛。 除員外散騎侍郎，直文德學士省，抄《史記》、《漢書》各爲二十卷。 又奉敕與陸倕各制《新闕銘》，辭多不載。
Yuan Jun, styled Xiaogao, of Chen Yangxia, eighth generation from Wei's Yuan Huan. Orphaned early, poor, bookless, he copied every loan at fifty sheets a day and would not rest short of quota. Slow-spoken, he excelled in literary phrasing. When the army took the capital Jun followed Prince Poyang Hui east and kept his records. Early Tianjian he became Poyang vice director and followed the prince to Jingkou. When the prince went to Yingzhou he was army registrar too. Gaozu loved fu; writers thronged the southern gate and the ornate sometimes won office. Year six he modeled Yang Xiong's Admonition on Offices and submitted it. Gaozu praised him and gave silk. He became supernumerary secretariat gentleman, served Wende scholars, and copied Records and Han, twenty scrolls each. Ordered with Lu Chun to write New Palace inscriptions—most text omitted here.
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庾於陵字子介，散騎常侍黔婁之弟也。 七歲能言玄理。 旣長，清警博學有才思。 齊隨王子隆爲荊州，召爲主簿，使與謝朓、宗夬抄撰羣書。 子隆代還，又以爲送故主簿。 子隆尋爲明帝所害，僚吏畏避，莫有至者，唯於陵與夬獨留，經理喪事。 始安王遙光爲撫軍，引爲行參軍，兼記室。 永元末，除東陽遂安令，爲民吏所稱。 天監初，爲建康獄平，遷尚書工部郎，待詔文德殿。 出爲湘州別駕，遷驃騎錄事參軍，兼中書通事舍人。 俄領南郡邑中正，拜太子洗馬，舍人如故。 舊事，東宮官屬，通爲清選，洗馬掌文翰，尤其清者。 近世用人，皆取甲族有才望，時於陵與周捨並擢充職，高祖曰：「官以人而清，豈限以甲族。」 時論以爲美。 俄遷散騎侍郎，改領荊州大中正。 累遷中書黃門侍郎，舍人、中正並如故。 出爲宣毅晉安王長史、廣陵太守，行府州事，以公事免。 復起爲通直郎，尋除鴻臚卿，復領荊州大中正。 卒官，時年四十八。 文集十卷。 弟肩吾。
Yu Yuling, styled Zijie, was younger brother of Regular Attendant Qianlou. At seven he could expound dark learning. Grown, he was clear, alert, learned, and inventive. Qi Prince Sui in Jingzhou made him chief clerk to collate books with Xie Tiao and Zong Que. When Zilong returned he again led the farewell staff. Mingdi soon killed Zilong; staff fled—only Yuling and Que arranged the funeral. Prince Shian Yaoguang made him army aide and chief secretary. Late Yongyuan he governed Sui'an in Dongyang and won praise from people and officials. Early Tianjian he reviewed Jiankang prison, then became works gentleman and Wende attendant. He was Xiangzhou vice governor, then rapid cavalry registrar and secretariat courier. Soon he headed the southern chief, became crown prince libationer, and kept courier duty. Eastern Palace posts were pure picks; the libationer's documents were purest of all. Lately only great clans with fame were chosen; Yuling and Zhou She were picked, and Gaozu said: "Men ennoble office—why bind it to clan?" ; the age praised it. Soon he was secretariat gentleman and Jingzhou chief. He rose to secretariat vice director while keeping courier and chief posts. He was Jin'an prince chief of staff and Guangling governor, acting prefecture, then dismissed. Reappointed palace attendant, soon minister of ceremonies and again Jingzhou chief. He died in office at forty-eight. He left collected works in ten scrolls. His younger brother Jianwu.
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肩吾字子慎。 八歲能賦詩，特爲兄於陵所友愛。 初爲晉安王國常侍，仍遷王宣惠府行參軍。 自是每王徙鎮，肩吾常隨府。 歷王府中郎、雲麾參軍，並兼記室參軍。 中大通三年，王爲皇太子，兼東宮通事舍人，除安西湘東王錄事參軍，俄以本官領荊州大中正。 累遷中錄事諮議參軍、太子率更令、中庶子。 初，太宗在籓，雅好文章士，時肩吾與東海徐摛、吳郡陸杲、彭城劉遵、劉孝儀、儀弟孝威，同被賞接。 及居東宮，又開文德省，置學士，肩吾子信、摛子陵、吳郡張長公、北地傅弘、東海鮑至等充其選。 齊永明中，文士王融、謝朓、沈約文章始用四聲，以爲新變，至是轉拘聲韻，彌尚麗靡，復逾於往時。 時太子與湘東王書論之曰：
Jianwu, styled Zishen. At eight he wrote verse and was Yuling's favorite brother. He began as Jin'an regular attendant, then prince Xuanhui army aide. Whenever the prince moved fief Jianwu followed. He was princely middle attendant, cloud-banner aide, and chief secretary. Zhongdatong year three the prince became heir; Jianwu was Eastern Palace courier and Xiangdong recorder, soon Jingzhou chief. He rose to central records consulting colonel, crown prince commissioner of seasons, and household vice-supervisor. In the fief Taizong loved writers; Jianwu, Xu Chi, Lu Guo, Liu Zun, Xiaoyi, and Xiaowei were favored. As crown prince he reopened Wende scholars—Jianwu's Xin, Chi's Ling, Zhang Changgong, Fu Hong, and Bao Zhi among them. Qi Yongming brought four-tone verse; now rhyme grew tighter and ornament surpassed the past. The crown prince then wrote Prince Xiangdong, saying:
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吾輩亦無所遊賞，止事披閱，性旣好文，時復短詠。 雖是庸音，不能閣筆，有慚伎癢，更同故態。 比見京師文體，懦鈍殊常，競學浮疏，急爲闡緩。 玄冬脩夜，思所不得，旣殊比興，正背《風》、《騷》。 若夫六典三禮，所施則有地； 吉凶嘉賓，用之則有所。 未聞吟詠情性，反擬《內則》之篇； 操筆寫志，更摹《酒誥》之作； 遲遲春日，翻學《歸藏》； 湛湛江水，遂同《大傳》。
We have no pastime but reading; nature loves letters and we sometimes write short pieces. Mediocre as they are, we cannot stop writing—ashamed of the itch, we fall back into old ways. Lately capital style is dull; all chase the shallow and slack. Winter nights yield nothing—unlike bixing, betraying the Winds and Sao. The six canons and three rites apply only where they belong; luck, rites, guest and host each have their occasion. Never heard feeling sung while imitating Neize; intent written while copying the Wine Admonition; spring days spent imitating Guicang; deep waters matched to the Great Commentary.
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吾旣拙於爲文，不敢輕有掎摭。 但以當世之作，歷方古之才人，遠則揚、馬、曹、王，近則潘、陸、顏、謝，而觀其遣辭用心，了不相似。 若以今文爲是，則古文爲非； 若昔賢可稱，則今體宜棄。 俱爲盍各，則未之敢許。 又時有效謝康樂、裴鴻臚文者，亦頗有惑焉。 何者？ 謝客吐言天拔，出於自然，時有不拘，是其糟粕； 裴氏乃是良史之才，了無篇什之美。 是爲學謝則不屆其精華，但得其冗長； 師裴則蔑絕其所長，惟得其所短。 謝故巧不可階，裴亦質不宜慕。 故胸馳臆斷之侶，好名忘實之類，方分肉於仁獸，逞郤克於邯鄲，入鮑忘臭，效尤致禍。 決羽謝生，豈三千之可及； 伏膺裴氏，懼兩唐之不傳。 故玉徽金銑，反爲拙目所嗤； 《巴人下里》，更合郢中之聽。 《陽春》高而不和，妙聲絕而不尋。 竟不精討錙銖，核量文質，有異《巧心》，終愧妍手。 是以握瑜懷玉之士，瞻鄭邦而知退； 章甫翠履之人，望閩鄉而歎息。 詩旣若此，筆又如之。 徒以煙墨不言，受其驅染； 紙札無情，任其搖襞。 甚矣哉，文之橫流，一至於此！
I am a poor writer and dare not pick faults lightly. Yet comparing today's wording and intent with Yang, Sima, Cao, Wang, Pan, Lu, Yan, and Xie—they do not resemble at all. If today is right, antiquity is wrong; if the ancients deserve praise, present style should be abandoned. Each side says "to each his own"—I cannot agree. Some imitate Xie Lingyun or Vice Minister Pei—with delusion. Why? Xie's words soar naturally; lapses are dregs; Pei was a historian's mind, not a poet's gift. Study Xie and you miss essence, keep length; Take Pei and you scorn strengths, keep flaws. Xie's craft cannot be climbed; Pei's plainness is not to be copied. Name-chasers split flesh on a benevolent beast, play Xi Ke at Handan, enter brine and forget stink, imitate ugliness and invite harm. Break feathers before Xie—can three thousand match? Bow to Pei—fearing the two Tang histories will not pass down. Jade pipes are laughed at by dull eyes; Ba songs and lower village better please Ying's ear. Yangchun is too high to harmonize; fine sound dies unheeded. They never weigh ounce or scruple or text and substance; unlike the Clever Heart, they shame the skilled hand. Men with jade see Zheng and withdraw; Men in caps look to Min and sigh. Poetry being so, prose is the same. Ink does not speak yet drives them; Paper has no feeling yet is folded at will. Alas! letters have flooded to this!
15
至如近世謝朓、沈約之詩，任昉、陸倕之筆，斯實文章之冠冕，述作之楷模。 張士簡之賦，周升逸之辯，亦成佳手，難可復遇。 文章未墜，必有英絕； 領袖之者，非弟而誰。 每欲論之，無可與語，思言子建，一共商榷。 辯茲清濁，使如涇、渭； 論茲月旦，類彼汝南。 朱丹旣定，雌黃有別，使夫懷鼠知慚，濫竽自恥。 譬斯袁紹，畏見子將； 同彼盜牛，遙羞王烈。 相思不見，我勞如何。
Recent Xie Tiao and Shen Yue in poetry, Ren Fang and Lu Chun in prose—are the cap and belt of letters. Zhang Shijian's fu and Zhou Shengyi's debate are fine hands rarely seen again. Letters have not fallen—outstanding ones must exist; to lead—who but you, brother? I want to discuss but have no partner; I think of you, Zijian, to judge together. Sort clear from muddy like Jing and Wei; judge like Ru'nan on the first of the month. Once red and yellow are fixed, let frauds in the bosom feel shame. Like Yuan Shao fearing Zi'ang; like the cattle thief ashamed before Wang Lie. "Longing, yet not seeing—how I toil!"
16
太清中，侯景寇陷京都； 及太宗卽位，以肩吾爲度支尚書。 時上流諸蕃，並據州拒景，景矯詔遣肩吾使江州，喻當陽公大心，大心尋舉州降賊。 肩吾因逃入建昌界，久之，方得赴江陵，未幾卒。 文集行於世。
In Taiping Hou Jing took the capital; When Taizong reigned he made Jianwu Minister of Revenue. Princes on the upper Yangtze resisted Jing; Jing forged an edict sending Jianwu to persuade Daxin, who surrendered Jiangzhou. Jianwu fled into Jianchang, later reached Jiangling, and soon died. His works circulated.
17
劉昭字宣卿，平原高唐人，晉太尉實九世孫也。 祖伯龍，居父憂以孝聞，宋武帝敕皇太子諸王並往吊慰，官至少府卿。 父彪，齊征虜晉安王記室。
Liu Zhao, styled Xuanqing, of Pingyuan Gaotang, ninth generation from Jin's Liu Shi. Grandfather Bolong was famed for mourning filial piety; Wudi sent princes to condole; he reached vice director of the palace bureau. His father Biao was Qi Jin'an prince chief secretary.
18
昭幼清警，七歲通《老》、《莊》義。 旣長，勤學善屬文，外兄江淹早相稱賞。 天監初，起家奉朝請，累遷征北行參軍、尚書倉部郎，尋除無錫令。 曆爲宣惠豫章王、中軍臨川王記室。 初，昭伯父肜集衆家《晉書》注干寶《晉紀》爲四十卷，至昭又集《後漢》同異以注范曄書，世稱博悉。 遷通直郎，出爲剡令，卒官。 《集注後漢》一百八十卷，《幼童傳》十卷，文集十卷。
Young Zhao was alert; at seven he mastered Laozi and Zhuangzi. Grown he studied and wrote; uncle Jiang Yan praised him early. Early Tianjian he was court gentleman, northern expedition aide, treasury gentleman, then Wuxi magistrate. He was chief secretary to Yuzhang Xuanhui and Linchuan center army princes. Uncle Yin had compiled Jin history; Zhao annotated Fan Ye's Later Han with variants—the age called him thorough. He became palace attendant, governed Shan, and died in office. He left Annotated Later Han in 180 scrolls, Young Children in 10, and collected works in 10.
19
子縚，字言明。 亦好學，通《三禮》。 大同中，爲尚書祠部郎，尋去職，不復仕。
His son Chao, styled Yanming. Chao loved learning and mastered the three rites. Datong era he was rites gentleman, then left and never served again.
20
縚弟緩，字含度，少知名。 歷官安西湘東王記室，時西府盛集文學，緩居其首。 除通直郎，俄遷鎮南湘東王中錄事，復隨府江州，卒。
Younger brother Huan, styled Handu, was known young. He was Xiangdong chief secretary when the western staff brimmed with letters and he led them. Made palace attendant, then Xiangdong central records, followed Jiangzhou, and died.
21
何遜字仲言，東海郯人也。 曾祖承天，宋御史中丞。 祖翼，員外郎。 父詢，齊太尉中兵參軍。
He Xun, styled Zhongyan, was from Tan in Donghai. Great-grandfather Chengtian was Song censor-in-chief. Grandfather Yi was supernumerary gentleman. Father Xun was Qi grand marshal center army staff officer.
22
遜八歲能賦詩，弱冠，州舉秀才。 南鄉范雲見其對策，大相稱賞，因結忘年交好。 自是一文一詠，雲輒嗟賞，謂所親曰：「頃觀文人，質則過儒，麗則傷俗； 其能含清濁，中今古，見之何生矣。」 沈約亦愛其文，嘗謂遜曰：「吾每讀卿詩，一日三復，猶不能已。」 其爲名流所稱如此。
At eight he wrote poetry; at weak adulthood the province nominated him outstanding talent. Fan Yun saw his examination answers, praised him, and they became friends ignoring age. Thereafter Yun praised every piece and told intimates: "Writers lately are too plain for Ru or too ornate for the vulgar; those who hold clear and muddy and balance past and present—seeing this, what is He Sheng!" ; Shen Yue loved him too and said: "I read your poems thrice daily and cannot stop." ; such was fame's praise.
23
天監中，起家奉朝請，遷中衛建安王水曹行參軍，兼記室。 王愛文學之士，日與遊讌，及遷江州，遜猶掌書記。 還爲安西安成王參軍事，兼尚書水部郎，母憂去職。 服闋，除仁威廬陵王記室，復隨府江州，未幾卒。 東海王僧孺集其文爲八卷。 初，遜文章與劉孝綽並見重於世，世謂之「何劉」。 世祖著論論之云：「詩多而能者沈約，少而能者謝朓、何遜。」
Tianjian era he was court gentleman, then Jian'an guard water bureau aide and chief secretary. The prince loved writers and feasted daily; moving to Jiangzhou Xun still kept records. Returning he was Cheng of Anxi staff officer and works water gentleman, then mourned his mother. After mourning he was Luling chief secretary, followed Jiangzhou, and soon died. Wang Sengru collected his work in eight scrolls. Xun and Liu Xiaochuo were both famed as "He–Liu." Shizu wrote: "Many poems, able—Shen Yue; few, able—Xie Tiao and He Xun."
24
時有會稽虞騫，工爲五言詩，名與遜相埒，官至王國侍郎。 其後又有會稽孔翁歸、濟陽江避，並爲南平王大司馬府記室。 翁歸亦工爲詩，避博學有思理，更注《論語》、《孝經》。 二人並有文集。
Kuaiji's Yu Xie wrote pentasyllabic verse rivaling Xun and reached princedom vice director. Later Kuaiji's Kong Wengui and Jiyang's Jiang Bi were Nanping grand marshal chief secretaries. Wengui wrote verse well; Bi was learned and reannotated the Analects and Filial Classic. Both had literary collections.
25
鍾嶸字仲偉，潁川長社人，晉侍中雅七世孫也。 父蹈，齊中軍參軍。
Zhong Rong, styled Zhongwei, was from Changshe in Yingchuan, a seventh-generation descendant of Jin Palace Attendant Zhong Ya. His father Tao was a Central Army staff officer under Qi.
26
嶸與兄岏、弟嶼並好學，有思理。 嶸，齊永明中爲國子生，明《周易》，衛軍王儉領祭酒，頗賞接之。 舉本州秀才。 起家王國侍郎，遷撫軍行參軍，出爲安國令。 永元末，除司徒行參軍。 天監初，制度雖革，而日不暇給，嶸乃言曰：「永元肇亂，坐弄天爵，勳非卽戎，官以賄就。 揮一金而取九列，寄片札以招六校； 騎都塞市，郎將填街。 服旣纓組，尚爲臧獲之事； 職唯黃散，猶躬胥徒之役。 名實淆紊，茲焉莫甚。 臣愚謂軍官是素族士人，自有清貫，而因斯受爵，一宜削除，以懲僥競。 若吏姓寒人，聽極其門品，不當因軍，遂濫清級。 若僑雜傖楚，應在綏撫，正宜嚴斷祿力，絕其妨正，直乞虛號而已。 謹竭愚忠，不恤衆口。」 敕付尚書行之。 遷中軍臨川王行參軍。 衡陽王元簡出守會稽，引爲寧朔記室，專掌文翰。 時居士何胤築室若邪山，山發洪水，漂拔樹石，此室獨存。 元簡命嶸作《瑞室頌》以旌表之，辭甚典麗，選西中郎晉安王記室。
Rong, his elder brother Wan, and younger brother Yu all loved study and thought deeply. In Qi's Yongming reign Rong studied at the National University and mastered the Changes; Wang Jian as Defender-General and Directorate head greatly favored him. The commandery recommended him as Outstanding Talent. He began as a princely Gentleman, became Pacification Army staff officer, then magistrate of An'guo. At Yongyuan's end he joined the Secretariat staff. Early in Tianjian, though institutions changed, days allowed no rest; Rong said: "When Yongyuan's chaos began, men took heaven's ranks while sitting idle; merit came not from war, office from bribes. One gold piece bought nine ranks; one slip of paper summoned six colonels; Horse commandants clogged the markets and gentleman-generals the streets. Robed and ribboned, they still did bondsmen's tasks; though posts were only yellow-gate cadets, they still ran errands themselves. Names and facts were confused—nothing worse. I hold that military officers of plain gentry have their own pedigree and should not gain rank this way—all such rewards should be cut off to check reckless competition. Clerks of poor houses may reach their clan's limit but must not, through army service, flood the clear grades. Migrant Chu riffraff should be soothed: cut salaries and levies, stop their harming government, and grant empty titles only. I offer this loyal counsel, heedless of the crowd." The edict was sent to the Ministry of Personnel to carry out. He became staff officer on Prince Linchuan's central army. When Prince Hengyang Yuan Jian guarded Kuaiji, Rong became his Pacifying-the-North recorder, in sole charge of documents. Layman He Yin built on Mt Ruoye; a mountain flood swept trees and stone away, yet his house alone stood. Yuan Jian had Rong write "Ode on the Auspicious Chamber" to honor it—very classical. He was chosen recorder to Prince Jin'an of the Western Army.
27
嶸嘗品古今五言詩，論其優劣，名爲《詩評》。 其序曰：
Rong once ranked ancient and modern five-character verse and titled the work Critique of Poetry. Its preface reads:
28
氣之動物，物之感人，故搖盪性情，形諸舞詠。 欲以照燭三才，輝麗萬有，靈祇待之以致饗，幽微藉之以昭告。 動天地，感鬼神，莫近於詩。 昔《南風》之辭，《卿雲》之頌，厥義夐矣。 《夏歌》曰「郁陶乎予心」，楚謠云「名余曰正則」，雖詩體未全，然略是五言之濫觴也。 逮漢李陵，始著五言之目。 古詩眇邈，人代難詳，推其文體，固是炎漢之制，非衰周之倡也。 自王、揚、枚、馬之徒，辭賦競爽，而吟詠靡聞。 從李都尉訖班婕妤，將百年間，有婦人焉，一人而已。 詩人之風，頓已缺喪。 東京二百載中，唯有班固《詠史》，質木無文致。 降及建安，曹公父子，篤好斯文； 平原兄弟，鬱爲文棟； 劉楨、王粲，爲其羽冀。 次有攀龍託鳳，自致於屬車者，蓋將百計。 彬彬之盛，大備於時矣！ 爾後陵遲衰微，訖於有晉。 太康中，三張二陸，兩潘一左，勃爾復興，踵武前王，風流未沫，亦文章之中興也。 永嘉時，貴黃、老，尚虛談，于時篇什，理過其辭，淡乎寡味。 爰及江表，微波尚傳，孫綽、許詢、桓、庾諸公，皆平典似《道德論》，建安之風盡矣。 先是郭景純用俊上之才，創變其體； 劉越石仗清剛之氣，贊成厥美。 然彼衆我寡，未能動俗。 逮義熙中，謝益壽斐然繼作； 元嘉初，有謝靈運，才高辭盛，富豔難蹤，固已含跨劉、郭，陵轢潘、左。 故知陳思爲建安之傑，公幹、仲宣爲輔； 陸機爲太康之英，安仁、景陽爲輔； 謝客爲元嘉之雄，顏延年爲輔：此皆五言之冠冕，文辭之命世。
Qi moves things; things move people—so feeling stirs and finds form in dance and song. It lights the three powers and adorns the myriad; spirits wait on it for sacrifice, the hidden use it to declare. To move Heaven and Earth and touch gods and ghosts, nothing nears poetry. Of old Southern Winds and Cloud-Coach—their meaning was already vast. Xia Songs have "deeply troubled in heart"; Chu songs name "Zhengze"—verse form was incomplete, yet these were the springs of five-character poetry. By Han, Li Ling first established five-character verse as a category. Ancient poems are distant and ages obscure; by form they belong to Han, not late Zhou. From Wang Bao, Yang Xiong, Mei Cheng, and Sima Xiangru on, fu competed in brilliance while lyric verse was rarely heard. From Li Ling to Lady Ban, nearly a century held one woman poet—and only one. The poets' wind had suddenly died away. Eastern Han's two centuries held only Ban Gu's Ode on History—plain and without literary grace. By Jian'an, the Cao lord and his sons deeply loved letters; the Pingyuan brothers rose as literary pillars; Liu Zhen and Wang Can were their wings. Next came nearly a hundred who clung to dragons and phoenixes and joined the train. Such abundant flowering was complete in that age! Afterward it declined to Jin. Taikang saw the three Zhangs, two Lus, two Pans, and Zuo Zuo revive the art—wind not yet spent, a literary revival. Yongjia honored Huang-Lao and pure talk; verse reasoned past its words—thin and flavorless. South of the river slight ripples remained; Sun Chuo, Xu Xun, Huan, and Yu wrote level pieces like the Dao De Lun—Jian'an's wind was gone. Earlier Guo Jingchun, with lofty talent, changed the form; Liu Yueshi, with pure firm spirit, helped perfect that beauty. Yet the many outweighed the few and could not shift custom. By Yixi Xie Lingyun flourished and continued writing; Early Yuanjia brought Xie Lingyun—great talent, rich diction, splendor hard to follow; he spanned Liu and Guo and towered over Pan and Zuo. Thus Prince Si was Jian'an's crown, Gonggan and Zhongxuan his aides; Lu Ji was Taikang's hero, Anren and Jingyang his aides; Guest Xie was Yuanjia's champion, Yan Yannian his aide—these crown five-character verse and master an age of letters.
29
夫四言文約意廣，取效《風》、《騷》，便可多得，每苦文煩而意少，故世罕習焉。 五言居文辭之要，是衆作之有滋味者也，故云會於流俗。 豈不以指事遣形，窮情寫物，最爲詳切者邪！ 故《詩》有六義焉，一曰興，二曰賦，三曰比。 文已盡而意有餘，興也； 因物喻志，比也； 直書其事，寓言寫物，賦也。 弘斯三義，酌而用之，幹之以風力，潤之以丹采，使味之者無極，聞之者動心，是詩之至也。 若專用比、興，則患在意深，意深則辭躓。 若但用賦體，則患在意浮，意浮則文散。 嬉成流移，文無止泊，有蕪漫之累矣。 若乃春風春鳥，秋月秋蟬，夏雲暑雨，冬月祁寒，斯四候之感諸詩者也。 嘉會寄詩以親，離羣托詩以怨。 至於楚臣去境，漢妾辭宮； 或骨橫朔野，或魂逐飛蓬； 或負戈外戍，或殺氣雄邊； 塞客衣單，霜閨淚盡。 又士有解佩出朝，一去忘反； 女有揚蛾入寵，再盼傾國。 凡斯種種，感蕩心靈，非陳詩何以展其義，非長歌何以釋其情？ 故曰：「《詩》可以羣，可以怨。」 使窮賤易安，幽居靡悶，莫尚於詩矣。 故辭人作者，罔不愛好。 今之士俗，斯風熾矣。 裁能勝衣，甫就小學，必甘心而馳騖焉。 於是庸音雜體，各爲家法。 至於膏腴子弟，恥文不逮，終朝點綴，分夜呻吟，獨觀謂爲警策，衆視終淪平鈍。 次有輕蕩之徒，笑曹、劉爲古拙，謂鮑昭羲皇上人，謝朓今古獨步； 而師鮑昭終不及「日中市朝滿」，學謝朓劣得「黃鳥度青枝」。 徒自棄於高聽，無涉於文流矣。
Four-character verse is brief and broad, modeled on Airs and Elegies, yet words crowd and meaning thins—so the age rarely uses it. Five-character verse holds the key in letters—it flavors all writing and meets the popular current. Does it not point at things, release form, exhaust feeling, and depict objects most closely! The Odes have six meanings: xing, fu, and bi. Words end yet meaning lingers—that is xing; using things to symbolize intent—that is bi; stating the matter directly and entrusting words to things—that is fu. Deploy the three with measure, stiffen with wind-power, moisten with color, so tasters find no end and hearers are moved—that is poetry's height. Bi and xing alone make meaning too deep; deep meaning makes words stumble. Fu alone makes meaning too light; light meaning scatters the text. Play becomes drift; writing lacks mooring—rank luxuriance follows. Spring birds, autumn insects, summer rain, winter cold—the four seasons' impressions in verse. Feasts lodge feeling in verse for kinship; parting entrusts verse for grievance. Chu ministers leave their land; Han palace women leave the court; bones lie on northern wastes; souls chase thistle down; they shoulder spears on distant guard; killing air swells on the border; frontier guests' coats are thin; frost chambers' tears are spent. Gentlemen unfasten pendants and leave court, never to return; women raise moth brows and win favor; a second glance overturns a realm. All such stir the heart—without verse how show meaning, without long song how release feeling? Thus: "The Odes unite and voice grievance." They ease poverty and lighten seclusion—nothing surpasses poetry. Writers of words all love it. Today gentry and commoners fan this wind hotly. Barely clothed, just out of primary school, they gallop in it gladly. Mediocre tones and mixed forms each become a school. Pampered sons, shamed their writing falls short, polish all day and groan all night—alone they call it brilliant; the crowd finds it flat. Next come frivolous men who mock Cao and Liu as crude, call Bao Zhao above Fuxi, and Xie Tiao alone pacing all time; studying Bao they never reach "At noon the market fills"; studying Xie they only get "Yellow birds cross green boughs." They abandon refined hearing and never join the current of letters.
30
嶸觀王公搢紳之士，每博論之餘，何嘗不以詩爲口實，隨其嗜欲，商榷不同。 淄澠並泛，朱紫相奪，喧嘩競起，准的無依。 近彭城劉士章，俊賞之士，疾其淆亂，欲爲當世詩品，口陳標榜，其文未遂，嶸感而作焉。 昔九品論人，《七略》裁士，校以賓實，誠多未值； 至若詩之爲技，較爾可知，以類推之，殆同博弈。 方今皇帝資生知之上才，體沈鬱之幽思，文麗日月，學究天人，昔在貴遊，已爲稱首； 況八紘旣掩，風靡雲蒸，抱玉者連肩，握珠者踵武。 固以睨漢、魏而弗顧，吞晉、宋於胸中。 諒非農歌轅議，敢致流別。 嶸之今錄，庶周遊於閭里，均之於談笑耳。
Rong saw that princes and gentry, in broad talk, always made poetry their topic; tastes differed in judgment. Zi and Ying mingled, red and purple clashed; clamor rose with no mark to aim at. Liu Shizhang of Pengcheng, keen in taste, hated the confusion and wished to grade contemporary verse orally but never finished—Rong, moved, wrote it. Nine ranks judged men and the Seven Summaries cut scholars—comparing substance, much was missed; poetry as craft is fairly known by comparison; by category it is like chess. The Emperor has inborn genius, deep brooding thought, writing that rivals sun and moon, learning that exhausts Heaven and man; among the nobility he was already foremost; now the realm is covered, wind and cloud rise; jade-bearers shoulder to shoulder, pearl-graspers follow in step. He glances past Han and Wei and holds Jin and Song in his breast. This is no farm song or carriage debate—I dare only sort flowing ranks. What Rong records now is only for wandering lanes and balancing in talk.
31
頃之，卒官。
Soon after he died in office.
32
岏，字長岳，官至府參軍、建康平。 著《良吏傳》十卷。 嶼字季望，永嘉郡丞。 天監十五年，敕學士撰《徧略》，嶼亦預焉。 兄弟並有文集。
Wan, styled Changyue, became staff officer and Jiankang magistrate. He wrote Biographies of Good Officials in ten juan. Yu, styled Jiwang, was Yongjia assistant administrator. Tianjian year fifteen ordered scholars to compile the Comprehensive Digest; Yu took part. The brothers all had literary collections.
33
周興嗣字思纂，陳郡項人，漢太子太傅堪後也。 高祖凝，晉征西府參軍、宜都太守。
Zhou Xingsi, styled Sizuan, was from Xiang in Chen, descendant of Han Heir Apparent Grand Tutor Zhou Kan. Ancestor Ning was Jin western-campaign staff officer and Yidu grand administrator.
34
興嗣世居姑孰。 年十三，遊學京師，積十餘載，遂博通記傳，善屬文。 嘗步自姑孰，投宿逆旅，夜有人謂之曰：「子才學邁世，初當見識貴臣，卒被知英主。」 言終，不測所之。 齊隆昌中，侍中謝朏爲吳興太守，唯與興嗣談文史而已。 及罷郡還，因大相稱薦。 本州舉秀才，除桂陽郡丞，太守王嶸素相賞好，禮之甚厚。 高祖革命，興嗣奏《休平賦》，其文甚美，高祖嘉之。 拜安成王國侍郎，直華林省。 其年，河南獻儛馬，詔興嗣與待詔到沆、張率爲賦，高祖以興嗣爲工。 擢員外散騎侍郎，進直文德、壽光省。 是時，高祖以三橋舊宅爲光宅寺，敕興嗣與陸倕各制寺碑。 及成俱奏，高祖用興嗣所制者。 自是《銅表銘》、《柵塘碣》、《北伐檄》、《次韻王羲之書千字》，並使興嗣爲文； 每奏，高祖輒稱善，加賜金帛。 九年，除新安郡丞，秩滿，復爲員外散騎侍郎，佐撰國史。 十二年，遷給事中，撰文如故。 興嗣兩手先患風疽，是年又染癘疾，左目盲，高祖撫其手，嗟曰：「斯人也而有斯疾也！」 手疏治疽方以賜之。 其見惜如此。 任昉又愛其才，常言曰：「周興嗣若無疾，旬日當至御史中丞。」 十四年，除臨川郡丞。 十七年，復爲給事中，直西省。 左衛率周捨奉敕注高祖所制歷代賦，啓興嗣助焉。 普通二年，卒。 所撰《皇帝實錄》、《皇德記》、《起居注》、《職儀》等百餘卷，文集十卷。
The Xingsi clan lived at Gushu for generations. At thirteen he studied in the capital; after ten-plus years he mastered records and wrote well. Walking from Gushu he lodged at an inn; at night a voice said: "Your learning surpasses the age; first eminent ministers will know you, then an outstanding lord." When it ended he could not tell where the man went. In Qi's Longchang, Xie Tiao as Wuxing grand administrator discussed only literature and history with Xingsi. Leaving office he greatly praised and recommended him. Recommended as Outstanding Talent, he became Guiyang assistant; Grand Administrator Wang Rong long admired him and treated him generously. When Gaozu took power, Xingsi submitted "Ode on Rest and Peace"—very fine, and Gaozu praised it. He became Prince Ancheng's gentleman and served straight at Hualin. That year Henan sent tribute horses; Gaozu had Xingsi, Dao Hong, and Zhang Shuai compose fu and judged Xingsi best. He rose to cadet-attendant emeritus and served straight in Wende and Shouguang. Gaozu made the Three Bridges old residence Guangzai Temple and ordered Xingsi and Lu Yan each to write a stele. Both were submitted; Gaozu used Xingsi's. Thence the bronze-column inscription, barrier-pond stele, northern expedition proclamation, and verse matching Wang Xizhi's Thousand Characters all went to Xingsi; each submission won praise and gifts of gold and silk. Year nine he became Xin'an assistant; after his term he again became cadet-attendant emeritus and helped compile national history. Year twelve he became supervisor of attendants, writing as before. Xingsi long had wind sores in both hands; that year plague came and his left eye went blind; Gaozu stroked his hand: "That such a man should have such illness!" Gaozu drafted a sore-treatment prescription by hand and gave it him. He was cherished thus. Ren Fang loved his talent and said: "Without Zhou Xingsi's illness, within ten days he would reach vice censor-in-chief." Year fourteen he became Linchuan assistant. Year seventeen he again became supervisor of attendants, serving straight in the Western Office. Zhou She of the Left Guard received an edict to annotate imperial fu and asked Xingsi to assist. In Putong year two he died. He compiled Imperial Veritable Records, Record of Imperial Virtue, Daily Records, Rites of Office, and more—over a hundred juan—and ten juan of collected writings.
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先是，有廣陵高爽、濟陽江洪、會稽虞騫，並工屬文。 爽，齊永明中贈衛軍王儉詩，爲儉所賞，及領丹陽尹，舉爽郡孝廉。 天監初，歷官中軍臨川王參軍。 出爲晉陵令，坐事繫冶，作《鑊魚賦》以自況，其文甚工。 後遇赦獲免，頃之，卒。 洪爲建陽令，坐事死。 騫官至王國侍郎。 並有文集。 [1]
Earlier Gao Shuang of Guangling, Jiang Hong of Jiyang, and Yu Qian of Kuaiji all wrote well. Shuang in Yongming presented verse to Wang Jian, won his esteem, and when Jian governed Danyang recommended him as filial and incorrupt. Early Tianjian he served as Prince Linchuan's central-army staff officer. As Jinling magistrate he was imprisoned in the foundry for an offense and wrote "Rhapsody on the Cauldron-Fish" to depict his plight—very accomplished. Later an amnesty freed him; soon after he died. Hong was Jianyang magistrate and was executed for an offense. Qian rose to a princely gentleman. All had literary collections. Editorial footnote marker in the source text.
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全文以中華書局、一九七三年五月版《梁書》爲本校。
The full text has been collated against the Zhonghua Shuju edition of the Book of Liang, May 1973.