Original text
Zhibai: Ji Zhong’s step. Even though the day before yesterday was due to frequent adjustments [1], it was necessary to sit in close proximity, and even though the swallows drank for a long time [2], they would be thinner when they were far away, but they still did not use up their hard work [3]. If the husband is drinking wine in front of him [4], the flute is playing in the back, the eagle is raising his body with his feet, the phoenix is ??sighing and the tiger is looking at him [5], it is said that Xiao Cao is not enough for his wife (ㄔㄡˊshou), and Wei and Huo are not enough for his husband (ㄇㄡˊ Conspiracy) also [6]. Looking left and right (ㄇㄧㄢˇ无)[7], if there is no one, wouldn’t it be my son’s great ambition! Passing through the butcher's door and chewing [8], although you don't get the meat, it is expensive and satisfying. At this time, I would like to lift up Mount Tai to make meat, pour out the East China Sea to make wine, cut down the bamboos of Yunmeng to make flutes, chop the catalpas from Si Bin to make zithers, eat like filling a giant gully, and drink like filling a leaking 卮 (ㄓ branch) [9 ], its joy is hard to measure, isn’t it the joy of a man! However, the sun is not with me, the sun is in a hurry [10], and the face has the speed of enjoying the scenery, but there is no broadness in participating in business [11]. Thoughts want to suppress the head of the six dragons, pause the bridle of Xihe [12], break the flower like a tree [13], and close the valley of Mengsi (ㄙˋ四) [14]. The road to heaven is arduous, we haven’t met each other for a long time, and we are nostalgic [15], so what!
Notes
[1] Changdiao: It means that the officials who guard the land report their duties to the ruler in a certain period of time.
[2] Mi Ri: All day long.
[3] Laoji: Labor and worry.
[4] 觞, Zhuo: refers to a wine cup. Lingbo: that is, riding the waves.
[5] The phoenix sighs and the tiger looks at: Li's note: "The phoenix is ??a metaphor for writing, and the tiger is a metaphor for martial arts. The sigh is like a song, which means beauty and majesty."
[ 6] Xiao Cao does not have enough men, Wei Huo does not have enough men: Xiao Cao: Xiao He, Cao Shen. Wei Huo: Wei Qing, Huo Qubing. "俦" and "侔" mean rivalry and equality.
[7]Xiao: Looking aside, it is called Xiao.
[8] Chewing after passing through the butcher’s gate: Li’s note: “Huanzi’s “New Treatise” says: When people hear about Chang’an’s happiness, they go out and smile to the west; they know that the meat tastes delicious, and they eat big at the butcher’s gate. Chew. ”
[9] 卮: 卮 (also known as 巵): an ancient vessel for holding wine. Li's note: ""Huainanzi" said: Today, the water you slip is enough to overflow the pot, but the river cannot really leak."
[10] Yao Ling Jie: It is a metaphor that time passes very quickly. Yao Ling: the sun. "Chu Ci." Qu Yuan. "Tianwen": "Spica has not yet come to an end, and the zodiac spirit is hiding?"
[11] Shen Shang: Shen Xing and Shang Xing, the two appear and disappear in the starry sky, and each other disappears and disappears. This is a metaphor for relatives and friends being isolated and unable to see each other.
[12] Suppress the head of the six dragons, Dun Xihe’s bridle: suppress: press it. Six Dragons: The six dragons that drive the sun. Dayton: Give up. Xihe: The person who drives the sun in myths and legends. "Guangya. "Shi Tian": "The emperor of the sun calls it Xihe, and the emperor of the moon calls it Wangshu."
[13] Folding the flowers like a tree: Li's note: ""Chu Ci" says: Folding like a tree to brush the sun. Come, talk about Xiaoyao and pretend to be together. Wang Yi said: If the tree is in Kunlun, it is said to be broken and used to block the sun, so that it can be returned. The legendary sunset place. "Chu Ci." Qu Yuan. "Tianwen": "Comes from Tanggu, second to Mengsi."
[15] Opposite: uneasy.
Original text
After receiving the news, the literary talent is awkward[16], Ye (ㄧㄝˋ夜) is like a spring blossom[17], and the browsing is like a breeze[18], Shen Yong repeats it [19], Kuang Ruomian [20]. The articles written by the sages want to repay the governance [21], and they can be recited and recited in a satirical manner. The difficulty of writing is not unique to today. The gentlemen of ancient times also suffered from various diseases [23]. A family is thousands of miles away, but it is not precious; a person's heart is full of feet [24], and the He family is not noble. If a gentleman does not know music, the ancient saying goes that it is clear and obscure [25]. If Mo Zhai is not good at tricks, why should he return to the carriage after singing songs for passing the court [26]? A single step is a good trick, and it was just when Mo Zhai was returning to Che County, so he wanted to help me open my eyes with a single step.
Comments
[16] Wei Qu: Just like "Wei Tuo", the language comes from "Er Ya. "Shi Xun". good.
[17] Ye Ruochunrong: The beauty of metaphorical rhetoric. Ye: lush. Chunrong: spring flowers.
[18] Browsing like a breeze: a metaphor for excellent content. Liu: Qingye.
[19] Shen Yong repeated: Shen: heavy. Chanting, singing.
[20] Kuang: "Shuowen": Mingye.
[21]Government: It is called Chaoge. At that time, Wu Zhi was the chief of Chaoge.
[22] 憙事: Good things, like many things.
[23] Diseases: "Disease" is still difficult, "Zhu" is the consonant sound of the two characters.
[24] Yingchi: It is called the jade of Yingchi.
[25] Clear and concealed: It means that he does not know the text.
[26] Ji: Female musician. Chaoge: Northeast of present-day Qi County, Henan Province.
Original text
I also heard that if you are there, you will have good governance. There are people who ask for something but don't get it, but there are no people who get it without asking for it. Moreover, it is easy to change the direction (ㄔㄜˋwithdraw), but it is not the rule of good people [27]; to change the people and govern, it is not the rule of Chu and Zheng [28], it is just a matter of encouragement. Suitable for guests, not dictating [29]. We hear from each other. Cao Zhibai.
Notes
[27] Liang Le: Li's note: ""Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals" said: Those who were good at looking at horses in ancient times were like Wang Liang of Zhao and Bole of Qin, especially It's the best thing to do."
[28] Changing the people and governing is not the policy of Chu and Zheng: Li's note: ""Warring States Policy" said: Zhao Gao said to the king of Zhao: I heard that a sage will not change the people. Teach, the wise will not change their desires and advise. "Historical Records" said: "Xun Li, Chu has Sun Shu'ao, Zheng has Zichan, and the two countries are governed together, which is not easy for the people."
[29] Dictation: It is said. Spoken and written. Not aware, meaning not detailed.
The annotation says: The person who pledged the pledge was the chief of Chao Ge, and the Marquis of Linzi signed the pledge letter.
Author
Cao Zhi (192-232), courtesy name Zijian, was born in Pei Guoqiao (now Bozhou City, Anhui Province). A famous writer from Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms and a representative figure of Jian'an literature. The son of Emperor Wu of Wei Cao Cao and the younger brother of Emperor Wen of Wei Cao Pi, he was King Chen during his lifetime and was given the posthumous title "Si" after his death, so he was also called King Chen Si. Later generations referred to him, Cao Cao and Cao Pi as the "Three Caos" because of his literary attainments. Xie Lingyun, a writer in the Southern Song Dynasty, even commented that "there is only one stone in the world, and Cao Zijian has eight fights". Wang Shizhen said that Cao Zhi, Li Bai and Su Shi were among the poets who could be called "immortal talents" in the two thousand years since the Han and Wei dynasties. "Cao Zhi's Works", "Cao Zhi's Complete Works", "Cao Zijian's Collection - Hanchuan Thatched Cottage"
Translation
Cao Zhijing said: Ji Zhongzuo, when I came to explain the work situation not long ago, I had to talk to him. You sit on our knees, and even though we feast together all day long, I still feel that the days of separation are too long and the time of seeing each other is too short, so I still can't eliminate the depression in my chest. Just like the last banquet, we let the wine glasses flow in front of the guests, let the flutes and eggplants sound behind the guests, raised our bodies like eagles, chanted like phoenixes, looked like tigers, thinking that Xiao He and Cao Shen were not enough to compete with us. Wei Qing and Huo Qubing are not enough to compete with him. Looking left and right, as if there is no one around, isn't this the noble ambition of a gentleman? It's like taking a big bite while passing by a butcher's shop. Although you don't actually eat the meat, it makes you feel happy. At this time, I really wish I could move the entire Mount Tai for meat, pour out all the water from the East China Sea for wine, cut down the long bamboos in Yunmeng to make flutes, and cut the catalpa trees on the shore of Surabaya to make zithers; eat the food, It's like filling up a huge ravine; drinking wine is like filling a leaky wine glass. The joy is truly incomparable! Isn’t this just like a man who enjoys life? However, time flies by, the sun moves forward quickly, the time of gathering escapes as quickly as the shadow of clouds, and the parting is as far away as the two stars. My heart wants to hold down the heads of the six dragons, let Xi and Rang take off the reins of the sun's chariot, break off the Ruomu flowers to block the sun, and block the deep valley. But the road to heaven is high and there is really no way to climb it. I have such a nostalgic feeling in my heart that I have trouble sleeping, not knowing what to do!
I received your letter. The writing is brilliant, as beautiful as the flowers in March, and as clear as the breeze. I read it over and over again, as if I were seeing you again. You can read the articles written by the sages again when you return to Chaoge, or you can let those nosy little officials recite them satirically. The difficulty of writing articles does not only exist today. Gentlemen in ancient times also found it difficult when they wrote articles. If every family has a thousand-mile horse, then the horse will no longer be precious; everyone has a jade of many feet, how can Heshi's jade be a rare treasure? If a gentleman is not proficient in music, the ancient theory of proficiency will think that he only knows practicality and does not understand ritual and music. But if Mozi really didn't understand music, how would he know to turn around and not want to pass by Chaoge? I love music, and I happen to be an official in Chaoge County, where Mozi turned around. I sincerely hope that I can help me broaden my horizons!
I also heard that Shisama has made good political achievements in Chaoge County. There are always things in the world that are sought but not obtained, but there is never anything that can be obtained without effort without pursuing. If we change the direction, it will not be the way of Wang Liang and Bole; if we change the people's sentiments and govern, it will not be the way of Sun Shuao and Zheng Zichan. I hope you can use this to encourage yourself. As I am receiving guests, this letter was dictated by me and ghostwritten by others. Hope to see each other often to say hello. Cao Zhijingbai.