历史上的今天 ‧北宋著名政治家、文学家范仲淹卒于徐州

范仲淹 《岳阳楼记》Yueyang Pavilion

In the spring of the fourth year of the reign of Qingli, Teng Zijing was banished from the capital to be governor of Baling Prefecture.
庆历四年春，滕子京谪守巴陵郡。

After he had governed the district for a year, the administration became efficient, the people became united, and all things that had fallen into disrepair were given a new lease on life.
越明年，政通人和，百废俱兴。

Then he restored Yueyang Pavilion, adding new splendor to the original structure and having inscribed on it poems by famous men of the Tang Dynasty as well as the present time.
乃重修岳阳楼，增其旧制，刻唐贤、今人诗赋于其上，

And he asked me to write an essay to commemorate this.
属予作文以记之。

Now I have found that the finest sights of Baling are concentrated in the region of Lake Dongting.
予观夫巴陵胜状，在洞庭一湖。

Dongting, nibbling at the distant hills and gulping down the Yangtze River, strikes all beholders as vast and infinite, presenting a scene of boundless variety;
衔远山，吞长江，浩浩汤汤，横无际涯；

and this is the superb view from Yueyang Pavilion.
此则岳阳楼之大观也。

All this has been described in full by writers of earlier ages.
前人之述备矣。

However, since the lake is linked with Wu Gorge in the north and extends to the Xiao and Xiang rivers in the south, many exiles and wandering poets gather here and their reactions to these sights vary greatly.
然则北通巫峡，南极潇湘，迁客骚人，多会于此；

During a period of incessant rain, when a spell of bad weather continues for more than a month, when louring winds bellow angrily, tumultuous waves hurl themselves against the sky,
若夫霪雨霏霏，连月不开；阴风怒号，浊浪排空；

sun and stars hide their light, hills and mountains disappear, merchants have to halt in their travels, masts collapse and oars splinter, the day darkens and the roars of tigers and howls of monkeys are heard,
日星隐耀，山岳潜形；商旅不行，樯倾楫摧；薄暮冥冥，虎啸猿啼；

if men come to this pavilion with a longing for home in their hearts or nursing a feeling of bitterness because of taunts and slander, they may find the sight depressing and fall prey to agitation or despair.
登斯楼也，则有去国怀乡，忧谗畏讥，满目萧然，感极而悲者矣。

But during mild and bright spring weather, then the waves are unruffled and the azure translucence above and below stretches before your eyes for myriads of li,
至若春和景明，波澜不惊，上下天光，一碧万顷，

when the water-birds fly down to congregate on the sands and fish with scales like glimmering silk disport themselves in the water,
沙鸥翔集，锦鳞游泳，

when the iris and orchids on the banks grow luxuriant and green;
岸芷汀兰，郁郁青青。

or when dusk falls over this vast expanse and bright moon casts its light a thousand li,
而或长烟一空，皓月千里，

when the rolling waves glitter like gold and silent shadows in the water glimmer like jade, and the fishermen sing to each other for sheer joy,
浮光跃金，静影沉璧，渔歌互答，

then men coming up to this pavilion may feel complete freedom of heart and ease of spirit, forgetting every worldly gain or setback,
登斯楼也，则有心旷神怡，宠辱皆忘，

to hold their wine cups in the breeze in absolute elation, delighted with life.
把酒临风，其喜洋洋者矣。

But again when I consider the men of old who possessed true humanity, they seem to have responded quite differently.
嗟夫！予尝求古仁人之心，或异二者之为。

The reason, perhaps, may be this: natural beauty was not enough to make them happy, nor their own situation enough to make them sad.
何哉？不以物喜，不以己悲。

When such men are high in the government or at court, their first concern is for the people; when they retire to distant streams and lakes, their first concern is for their sovereign.
居庙堂之高，则忧其民；处江湖之远，则忧其君。

Thus they worry both when in office and when in retirement.
是进亦忧，退亦忧；

When, then, can they enjoy themselves in life?
然则何时而乐耶？

No doubt they are concerned before anyone else and enjoy themselves only after everyone else finds enjoyment.
其必曰：“先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐”欤！

Surely these are the men in whose footsteps I should follow!
噫！微斯人，吾谁与归！

《江上渔者》 范仲淹 Fisher Folk on the River

《江上渔者》是范仲淹的一首五言绝句。这首的小诗指出江上来来往往饮酒作乐的人们，只知道品尝鲈鱼味道的鲜美，却不知道也不想知道打鱼人出生入死同惊涛骇浪搏斗的危境与艰辛。全诗通过反映渔民劳作的艰苦，希望唤起人们对民生疾苦的注意，体现了诗人对劳动人民的同情。

江上往来人，但爱鲈鱼美。
君看一叶舟，出入风波里。

Men who come and go on the river,
All enjoy the savour of perch.
Pray look at that leaf-like boat.
Now seen, now unseen, in the windy waves.

范仲淹的一生体现了文武兼备、智谋过人的特质，无论是在朝主政还是出帅戍边，他都展现了极高的政治和军事才能。他的政治理想和文学成就对后世有着深远的影响。