Original text and translation
Original text
I was fond of studying when I was young. The family was poor and had no way to read the books, so every time they borrowed them from a book collector, they would write them down by hand and count the days to return them. The weather is extremely cold, the inkstone is very hard, and the fingers cannot be bent or stretched, so there is no need to be lazy. After recording, I went to see him off, not daring to exceed the appointment. Therefore, many people spend more time reading books, and Yu Yin has to read all the books. With the crown (guān), I admire the way of the sages. Also worried about the lack of masters and famous people, he often went hundreds of miles away to consult the ancient masters from his hometown. The first Dade, Long Wangzun, had his disciples fill his room, and his words did not even drop. Yu Li waited on the left and right, leaning down to ask questions; or when he heard someone yelling at him, he would become more respectful and courteous, and would not dare to say a word; If you are happy, please come again. Therefore, although I am stupid, I have learned something. When Yu Zhi followed his teacher, he carried his sack (qiè) and dragged his (yè) gait (xǐ) while walking in the deep mountains and huge valleys. In the harsh winter, the wind is strong, the snow is several feet deep, and the skin of the feet is chapped and you don't know it. At the end of the body (shè), the four branches of jìng (polyphonetic character) cannot move. The 媵 (yìng) person holds the soup and fertilizes it, and covers it with quilt (qīn). After a long time, it becomes harmonious. Living in the reverse direction, the owner eats every day (sì) and does not enjoy the taste of fresh fat. All the students in the same house are embroidered with Qi (qǐ), wearing a hat decorated with Zhu Ying (yīng) treasures, a white jade ring around the waist, a sword on the left, and a smelly face (xiù) on the right. Ye (yè) looks like a god. ; Yu Zeyan's (yùn) robe is in ruins (bì) and the clothes are in the middle (chǔ), and there is no hint of admiration. Those who are satisfied with it don't know that the worship of words and bodies is not as good as others. Gai Yu's diligence is as difficult as this. Although he is old and has not accomplished much, he is fortunate enough to be regarded as a gentleman. He has been favored by the emperor and has become a minister. Is it true that the talent is too much? Today, all students are studying in Taixue. The county magistrate has a little (shāo) offering (gòng) every day, his parents have a Qiuge (gé) legacy (wèi) every year, and there is no danger of being cold and discouraged (něi); sit down. Reciting "Poems" and "Books" under the building is no longer a labor of running around; there are teachers and doctors who are teachers, but they don't ask without asking, and they don't get what they ask for; all the books that are suitable to have are collected here , It is not necessary to record it by hand, just to pretend that others will see it later. If one's work is not refined and one's virtues are not perfect, it is not because of his inferior nature, but his mind is not as sharp as my ears. Is it anyone else's fault? Ma Shengjun of Dongyang has been studying at Taixue for two years and is highly praised by his peers as a wise man. In the capital of the Yu Dynasty, he was born as a native of the country and paid a visit to Yu. He wrote a long book called Zhi (zhì), and his words were very eloquent. He said that he devoted himself to learning when he was young and worked hard, so he can be said to be a good scholar! He will return to see his relatives, and it is difficult for him to learn the old ways. It is said that people from Yu Mian's hometown are scholars, which is Yu's ambition; those who slander [dǐ] me by praising my prosperity and being proud of my fellow villagers, how can I know that I am a scholar! - Selected from "The Collected Works of Scholars of the Song Dynasty" (also known as the Collection of Wen Xian)
Translation
I loved reading when I was young. Because my family was poor, I couldn't buy books to read. I often borrowed them from people who collected books, copied them by hand, and calculated the dates to return them on time. The weather is very cold in winter, and the ink in the inkstone turns into hard ice. My fingers (are too cold) cannot bend or straighten, and I dare not relax. After copying, hurry to return the book, not daring to exceed the agreed deadline. Therefore, many people are willing to lend me books, and I can read a lot of books widely. When I reached adulthood, I admired the teachings of ancient sages even more, and I was worried that I would not have the knowledge of knowledgeable teachers to seek advice from. I once traveled hundreds of miles away and took scriptures to consult with moral and knowledgeable seniors in the village. The senior had high morals and reputation, and his room was filled with disciples. He never softened his words and expression. I stood by his side, asking questions, asking for explanations, bending down and asking for advice. Sometimes when he scolded me loudly, (my) face became more submissive, my etiquette became more thoughtful, and I didn't dare to say a word to explain; when he waited When he was happy, he went to ask for advice again. So although I was stupid, I eventually gained knowledge. When I was studying with my teacher, I was carrying a bookcase on my back and dragging my shoes while walking in the deep mountains and valleys. There was a biting cold wind in the middle of winter, and the snow was several feet deep. I didn’t know that the skin on my feet was cracked due to the cold and dryness. When I arrived at the school building, my limbs were so frozen that I couldn't move. The servants washed my hands and feet with hot water and covered me with a quilt. It took a long time for them to warm up. Living in a hotel, the host only provides two meals a day, and there is no fresh and rich food to enjoy. My classmates in the same room all wore embroidered silk clothes, hats decorated with red tassels and precious stones, and white jade rings around their waists. They carried a sword on the left and a sachet on the right. They were as radiant as a god; but I was living in shabby clothes. Among them, there was no envy at all, because they had enough happiness in their hearts that they did not feel that their food and clothing were not as good as others. Maybe my hard work and hard work are like this.
Although I am old now and have not achieved much, I am fortunate enough to still be in the ranks of gentlemen, receiving the favor and glory of the emperor. I follow the ministers, accompany the emperor every day, listen to inquiries, and receive undue praise from all over the world. My own name, let alone someone who can surpass me? Now these students are studying in Taixue. The government provides meals every day, and their parents send winter and summer clothes every year. (This way) they don’t have to worry about freezing or starving; they sit under the tall and spacious houses and read "Poetry" and "Books". 》, there is no fatigue of running around; there are businessmen and doctors as their teachers, there is no asking but not telling, no seeking for knowledge but not getting; all the necessary books are gathered here, (this) there is no need to be like me Copy it by hand, borrow it from someone else and then read it. (If) they are not proficient in their studies and lack of virtue, (then) it is either (his) intelligence is low, or his intentions are not as focused as mine. Is it someone else's fault? Ma Shengjun of Dongyang has been studying at Taixue for two years, and his peers praise him for his talents. After he resigned from office, he went to Beijing to see the emperor. He paid homage to me as a junior fellow countryman. I wrote a long letter as a greeting, and the words were very fluent and accessible. When arguing with him, his language is tactful and his expression is pleasant. He claims that he studied hard and worked hard when he was a child, and he can be called a person who loves learning. He was going home to visit his parents, so I told him about my difficulties in school. If you say that I encourage my fellow villagers to study hard, that is my will; if you criticize me for boasting about my good fortune and being proud in front of my fellow villagers, do you really understand me?
Notes
[1] Selected from "Collected Works of Song Scholars" (Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1985 edition). Dongyang, place name, in present-day Dongyang, Zhejiang Province. 生, the name the elders call the younger ones. Preface: Style name, this is a preface. [2] Song Lian: (1310-1381) named Jing Lian, nicknamed Qianxi, from Pujiang (now northwest of Yiwu, Zhejiang), a writer in the early Ming Dynasty. [2]Yu: Me. [3] Hobby: like, hobby. [4] No way: There is no way. [5] To a letter: Get a book. To: get. [6] Every time I borrowed it from the book collection house, I wrote it down by hand: Every time: often. Borrowing: synonymous compound word. borrow. Fake, borrowed. Yu: Xiang. pen: noun used as an adverbial, use pen. [7] Fu Zhi Lao (dài): That is, Fu Zhi Lao, do not slack off, do not relax in reading. F: No. It: refers to copying books. [8] Walk: run, go quickly. [9] Overdue: exceeding the agreed time limit. [10] Therefore: Therefore. [11] Crowning (guān): In ancient times, a crowning ceremony was held when a man was twenty years old, indicating that he had become an adult. Later generations often use "Crown" or "Crown" to express that they are twenty years old. [12] Suffer: Worry. . [13] Master teacher: a knowledgeable teacher. Shuo, big. [14] You: communication. [15] Taste: once. [16] Trend: rush. [17] From the ancestors of the village, hold the scriptures and inquire: take the scriptures and ask the local moral and knowledgeable seniors for advice. Xianda: A moral and knowledgeable senior. Knock, ask for advice. [18] Delong Wangzun: High moral reputation. Also said to be highly virtuous and highly respected. Hope, prestige, fame. Long: High. [19] Disciples filled his room: students crowded his room. Disciple, disciple, student. Fill, fill. This means crowded. [20] Tone down your rhetoric a little: make your words more tactful and your expression gentler. Rhetoric, words and expressions. [21] Questioning and questioning: raising questions and asking for reasons. Aid, put forward. Question, ask. [22] Lean over and ask for advice: bend down and ask for advice (showing respect and concentration). [23] Or: sometimes. [24] 叱(chì)Duō(duō): reprimand, scold. [25] To: thoughtful. [26]Re: This refers to justification. [27]俟(sì): Waiting. [28] Negative suitcase (qiè) and dragging clothes (yè xǐ): Carrying a bookcase and dragging shoes (meaning that the shoes are worn). 箧: book box. 壣: Shoes. [29] Poor winter: midwinter. [30] Chapped (jūn): The skin cracks due to cold and dryness. [31] House: refers to the school house and library. [32] Branch: leads to "limb", limb. [33]媵(yìng): maidservant. [34]Soup: hot water. [35] Woguan: watering and washing. Wo, water and wash. [36] Quilt (qīn): quilt. [37] Support: covered. [38] And: table undertakes. [39] Nai: Talent. [40] Yu Ni Lv: Sojourn in a hotel. Apartment, sojourn. To go against, to welcome. Reverse travel, hotel. [41] Being (pī) Qi (qǐ) embroidered: wearing beautiful silk clothes. Quilt means to "drape" or wear. [42] Zhu Ying: Red hatband. [43] Waist: hanging around the waist. Waist, noun as verb. [44] Rongxi (xiù): sachet. Stink, smell, here refers to aroma. [45] Ye (yè) Ran: radiant appearance. [46]犊(yùn) robe杝(bì)衣: shabby clothes. 犊, old catkins. Dilapidated, dilapidated [47] Not admiringly: not envious at all. Absolutely nothing: nothing at all. Admiration, admiration, envy. [48] ??Those who have enough happiness in it do not know that the food and clothing are not as good as others: because they have enough happiness in their hearts (referring to reading), they do not feel that the food and clothing are not as good as others. 中：心. Oral and physical support: refers to food and clothing. Feng: make offerings. [49]Gai: Probably. [50]Tao: Talk, talk. [55] Zhusheng: refers to the students of Taipei University. [56] Taixue: A school established by the central government of the Ming Dynasty to educate scholars, called Taixue or Imperial College.
[57] County official: This refers to the imperial court. [58] Lin (lǐn) a little: food given by officials. At that time, the salary provided by the government for free was called "廪" or "小". [59] Qiu (qiú): leather coat. [60] Ge: Gebu refers to clothes worn in summer. [61] Yi (wèi): gift, give, here refers to aid. [62] Si Ye and Doctor: they are the deputy chief and professor of Taixue respectively. Refers to a knowledgeable person. [63] Not inferior by nature: If it is not due to low talent. [64]Liushi: peers. Flow: flat. [65] Chao: In the old days, ministers went to court to meet the monarch. When Song Lian wrote this article, he was traveling from his hometown to the capital Yingtian (Nanjing) to meet Zhu Yuanzhang. [66] Yixiangrenzi: As a son of a fellow countryman. [67] Ye (yè): See you. [68] Zhuan (zhuàn): Same as "Zhuan", write. [69] Long book: long letter. [70]载 (zhì sounds to): A gift given as a token of respect when we first met. [71] Yi: Peace.