Translation of Go Back Lai Xi Ci:
My family is poor and cannot support ourselves through farming. There are many children, there is no food in the rice vat, and there is no solution for everything needed to maintain life. Most of my relatives and friends advised me to become an official. I also had this idea in my heart, but there was no way to get an official position. It happened that there were officials who were going out on envoys. The local officials regarded it as a virtue to cherish talents. My uncle also helped me because my family was poor, so I was appointed to be an official in a small county. At that time, the society was in turmoil, and I was afraid of becoming an official in a distant place. Pengze County is a hundred miles away from home. The grain harvested in the public fields is enough to make wine for drinking, so I asked to go there. After a few days, I felt nostalgic for my hometown. Why is that? Nature is allowed to take its own course, which cannot be forced; although hunger and cold come urgently, if you go against your original intention and become an official, you will feel pain both physically and mentally. In the past, when working for officials, they all used themselves for food. So I felt melancholy and felt deeply ashamed of my lifelong ambitions. After waiting only one more year, he packed up and left overnight. Soon, my sister who married into the Cheng family passed away in Wuchang. I felt as urgent as a galloping horse to mourn her, and I asked to be relieved of my official position. From the second month of autumn to winter, I worked for more than eighty days. Because of his resignation, his wish came true and he wrote an article titled "Going Back". This time is November of the Yisi year (the first year of Yixi, Emperor Jin'an).
Go home! The countryside is almost deserted, why not go back? Since my soul is at the mercy of my body, why am I so frustrated and sad alone? Realize that the mistakes of the past are irreversible, and know that there is still time to make amends for the future. It is probably not too far away that you have indeed gone astray. You have realized that what you are doing now is right and what you did in the past was wrong. The boat floats gently on the water, and the breeze blows the clothes. I asked pedestrians about the road ahead, but unfortunately it was dawning too slowly.
I just saw the door of my humble home. I was so happy that I ran over. The servants came to greet him happily, and the children waited in front of the door or in the yard. The path in the yard is almost deserted, but pine trees and chrysanthemums are still growing there; when I take the children into the house, the wine bottles are already filled with wine. I picked up the flask and glass and poured myself a drink, looking at the trees in the garden (which made me) look happy; I leaned against the south window to express my pride in the world, knowing that this small place would easily make me feel at ease. Walking in the garden (alone) every day becomes a pleasure. The door of the small garden is often closed; I walk and rest with a cane, and I always look up at the distant sky. White clouds naturally floated out from the mountain peaks, and the tired birds knew how to fly back to their nests; the sun was dim and the mountains were about to set, but I couldn't bear to leave, lingering with my hand on the lonely pine.
Go back! Let me cut off all contact with the outside world. Everything about them is contrary to my interests, so why should I drive out to pursue them? Talking with relatives and friends makes me happy, playing the piano and reading can make me forget my sorrow; the farmer told me the news that spring is coming, and he will go to the fields in the west to cultivate. Sometimes I drive a small car with a cloth cover, sometimes I paddle a small boat, not only to explore the deep ravines, but also to walk through the rugged hills. The trees are flourishing and the springs are flowing slowly. (I) envy that all things coincide with the season of prosperity and growth, and lament that my life is coming to an end.
Forget it! How long can the body remain in heaven and earth? Why not just do whatever you want and let nature take its course? Why are you so restless and where else do you want to go? Wealth and honor are not what I seek, and there is no hope of ascending to the immortal world. Cherishing the beautiful scenery in those good times, I go alone to enjoy it, or I use my stick to weed and cultivate; I climb the east hillside and scream loudly, singing poems by the clear stream; I just follow the changes of nature until the end of my life. Le'an Destiny, what else is there to doubt?
Text Notes
(1) Go back to Laixi: It means "go back." Come, particle, meaningless. Xi, modal particle.
(2) The countryside will be deserted: The countryside will be deserted, why not go back? The fields are deserted. Hu, same as "he", why.
(3) Let the mind be the slave of the body: let the mind be the slave of the body. It means that you did not want to be an official, but in order to avoid hunger and cold, you became an official against your original intention. Heart, will. Shape, form, refers to the body. servitude, servitude. That is, it means that the action or behavior has been completed, and it can be interpreted as "once" here.
(4) Xi melancholy but only sad: why is it sad and frustrated. Xi, He, why. A melancholy and frustrated look.
(5) Understanding the past and never admonishing it: Realizing that past mistakes (pointing to officialdom) are irreversible. Remonstrate, admonish, dissuade.
(6) He who knows what is coming can be chased: Knowing what will happen in the future (referring to seclusion), there is still time to make amends. Remonstrate, dissuade, and restore. Chase, remedy.
(7) It’s not too far to go astray: It’s probably not too far to go astray. If you are lost, point it out and become an official.
(8) is: correct. Not: Error.
(9) The boat is far away with a light float (yáng): the boat floats gently on the water and moves forward. Far away, wandering and wandering. To, table modification. Yang, flying, describes the brisk movement of a ship.
(10) Ask Zhengfu about the way ahead: Ask a pedestrian about the distance ahead. Zheng Husband, pedestrian.
(11) Hate the faintness of the morning light: Unfortunately, the sky has just brightened. Hate: Regret. Xiwei, the sky is dim.
(12) Looking at the house: I just saw my house. Yes, then, then. Look far away. House, a house with a horizontal wooden door, refers to a simple house.
Heng means "horizontal". Yu, eaves, here refers to the residence.
Zai (zài) Xin Zaiben: Happy and running at the same time.
(13) Child: young child.
(14) The three paths are deserted, but the pines and chrysanthemums still remain: The paths in the yard are almost deserted, but the pines and chrysanthemums still grow there. Three paths, alleys in the courtyard. After Jiang Xu (xǔ) in the Han Dynasty lived in seclusion, he opened three paths under the bamboo in the courtyard, allowing only a few friends to come and go. Later, Sanjing became the name for the hermit's residence. Just, close.
(15) Yingzun: Full cup.
(16) Quote: Bring it. 觞(shāng). Xiao (miǎn) Tingke Yiyiyan: Looking at the trees in the yard, I feel very happy. Xiao, look sideways. Here it means "just take a look". Ke, branch. To: for. Make the face look happy.
(17) To express pride: to express a proud and contented mood. Ao means proud of the world.
(18) It’s easy to judge one’s appearance: I feel very comfortable living in a simple hut. Examine, perceive. A small room that can only accommodate two knees is extremely small.
(19) Walking in the garden every day becomes a pleasure: Walking in the garden every day is a pleasure of its own. To involve, to get involved, to go.
(20) Help the elderly to rest (qì): Go out for a walk with a cane and rest anytime and anywhere. Ce, leaning on it. Support the elderly with a cane. rest, rest. Wandering and resting means not having a fixed place, just walking around and resting.
(21) Always raise your head and look far away: always raise your head and look into the distance. To correct, to lift. Ya, far.
(22) Yun Wuxin comes out of Xiu (xiù): Clouds naturally emerge from the mountains. Unintentionally, unintentionally. Xiu, a mountain with caves, here generally refers to a mountain peak.
(23) Jingyi (yì) Yin is about to enter: the sun is dim and the sun is about to set. Scenery, daylight. Yiyi, dark appearance.
(24) Caressing the lonely pine and lingering: Wandering with the lonely pine in hand. Wandering: hovering, lingering, lingering.
(25) Please stop dating to stop traveling: Stop communicating, stop interacting with people and cut off communication. It means that we no longer have anything to do with the officialdom.
(26) The world is contrary to me, so what can I ask for when I return to my words: The world is contrary to what I think, what else can I try to explore? Driving, driving, here refers to traveling by car to pursue what you want. Words, particles.
(27) Love words: intimate words.
(28) Chunji: Spring has arrived.
(29) Something will happen in Xichou: Farming will begin in the fields to the west. Having something to do refers to farming matters. Things, here refers to farming. Domain, field.
(30) Or life scarf car: Sometimes a small car with a curtain is called. A carriage, a small carriage with a curtain. Or, sometimes.
(31) or 湣(zhào) Guzhou: Sometimes rowing a small boat. 棹, the original meaning is oar. Here the noun is used as a verb, meaning to paddle.
(32) Looking for ravines: passing through deep and twisting valleys. Slim and graceful, with a deep and winding appearance. Gully, ravine.
(33) It is also rugged and passes through hills: walking through uneven mountain roads.
(34) The trees are flourishing: the vegetation is lush. Xinxin and Xiangrong both mean lush vegetation.
(35) Trickle: The flow of water is subtle.
(36) When I get all the good things, I feel that my life is over: I envy all things in nature that grow and flourish in time as soon as spring comes, and I lament that my life is coming to an end. Kindness, joy, envy. The trip is about to end.
(37) It’s already over: Forget it! The particle “矣” is used together with “hu” to strengthen the exclamation tone.
(38) How long does it take to stay in the shape of the universe? (hé) You don’t have to decide whether to stay or leave: How long can you live in this world? Why not follow your own wishes and care about life and death? Metamorphosis, parasitism. Within the universe, between heaven and earth. Huo, He. Be willing to do whatever you want. To stay or go refers to life and death.
(39) What more could Hu want to say: Why is he so uneasy and where do he want to go? Not to mention, uneasy look. Go.
(40) The imperial hometown cannot be expected: the fairyland cannot be reached. Imperial Township, Immortal Township, the place where gods live. Expectation, hope, attainment.
(41) Cherish the good times and go alone: ??Cherish the good times and go out alone. To cherish, to cherish, to cherish. The good time refers to the spring when everything is in season as mentioned above. Go out alone, go out alone.
(42) Or planting a cane and working hard: sometimes using a cane to weed and cultivate seedlings. Plant, stand, support. Weeding, weeding. Seeds, soil.
(43) Climb to Donggao (gāo) to roar: Climb to the high ground to the east and roar loudly, Gao, high ground. Howl, a long and clear sound coming from the mouth. Shu, let go.
(44) Let’s go through the journey of life naturally. Chat: For now. Multiply and transform, following the changes of nature. Ending: to death. End means death.
(45) Lefu’s destiny returns to the question: Le’an’s destiny, what else is there to doubt? Reply: There is also. Doubt: Doubt.