中文原文﹕
纖雲四卷天無河，
清風吹空月舒波。
沙平水息聲影絕，
一杯相屬君當歌。
君歌聲酸辭且苦，
不能聽終淚如雨。
洞庭連天九疑高，
蛟龍出沒猩鼯號。
十生九死到官所，
幽居默默如藏逃。
下牀畏蛇食畏藥，
海氣濕蟄熏腥臊。
昨者州前槌大鼓，
嗣皇繼聖登夔皋。
赦書一日行萬里，
罪從大辟皆除死。
遷者追回流者還，
滌瑕蕩垢清朝班。
州家申名使家抑，
坎軻祇得移荊蠻。
判司卑官不堪說，
未免捶楚塵埃間。
同時輩流多上道，
天路幽險難追攀。
君歌且休聽我歌，
我歌今與君殊科。
一年明月今宵多，
人生由命非由他；
有酒不飲奈明何？
英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕
Ribbons of clouds gather and spread, not visible is the Milky Way in the sky,
A light breeze wafts through, in the water softly ripples moonshine.
Next to the quiet waters is the sand among the stillness of seclusion,
I raise my chalice to you urging you to give us a recital.
However your singing is aggrieved and your lyric bitter,
Before you could finish, before I could hear all, my tears fall like rain as I cry.
The waters of Dongting expand to the heaven joined by the soaring Doubtful Mountains,
Water dragons creep in the water, overland gibbons and foxes howl.
We've survived too many deadly setbacks to arrive at our posts on one last stretch of luck,
Quietly we take up residence here as if we are hiding out.
When we get out of bed and when we eat, there are snakes and poisons to fear,
The moist sea air dampens everything giving rise to mould that smells rotten and foul.
It seemed only yesterday when drum rolls came from the State Office,
Broadcasting a prince's enthronement who is willing to employ the virtuous highbrow.
Then came a decree of pardon apace as if hastened through thousands of miles a day,
Allowing even those sentenced to death to carry on living.
Those in exile and banished got to return to where they were,
The Court was to undergo a reform for a thorough cleansing.
The State Office have nominated us for review but suppressed by the Inspectors we are,
We've been unfortunate and could only follow our transfer to this uncultured land of Jing.
Low ranking secretarial officers we are, there's nothing to write home about,
Any error could see us grovel in the dust and fall victims to a beating.
Those who came with us have all but left to be on their way,
The road to the capital is a difficult climb becoming ever more perplexing.
Oh, have a rest, my friend, and give me a turn to sing you a bout,
I have something quite different to sing about.
In the space of a year, tonight's moon is the brightest and the roundest,
Life is determined by fate, not by any other route;
Why not drink when there is wine so we wouldn't the bright moon let down?
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