Return to the Country

 

 


えんでん の きょ に かへる (帰園田居)六朝時代 ―陶潜(365―427a.d.

 

わかくして ぞく に てっする の ゐん なく、

せいもと きうざん を あいすあやまって ぢんまう の うち に おち、

いっきょ じゅうさんねんきてう きうりん を こひ、

ちぎょ こえん を おもふくわう を ひらく なんや の はて、

せつ を もって えんでん に かへるほうたく じふよほ、

さうをく はっくけんゆりう こうえん を おほひ、

たうり だうぜん に つらなるあいあいたり ゑんじん の むら、

いいたり きょり の けむりいぬ は ほゆ しんかう の うち、

にはとり は なく さうじゆ の いただきこてい ぢんざつ なく、

きょしつ よかん ありひさしく はんろう の うち に ありしも、

また じねん に かへる を えたり (詩文20)

 

"Return to the Country"

 

When I was young,

I had no taste for worldly affairs,

And naturally I grew up to love the mountains.

By mistake I fell into the traps of the world;

And there I wasted thirty years.

Imprisoned birds long for their ancient woods,

Fish on shore long for their former waters.

I cultivate the land in the south region.

So, like a peasant, I return to my native fields.

I possess no more than ten mu

And no more than eight or nine rooms.

Birch and willows shade the eaves of my house,

Peach and apricot grow in the courtyard.

Far in the distance are the huts of men.

 

Above their roofs come the faint smoke.

Dogs bark in the deep lanes,

Cocks crow on the tops of mulberry bushes.

Inside the house no sounds come to disturb me;

I live alone, perfectly at leisure.

There, for a long while, I was imprisoned in a cage,

But now once again I return to myself."

(Payne, p. 143.)






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