賊退示官吏 元結

賊退示官吏     元結(719-772)

昔歲逢太平，山林二十年。泉源在庭戶，洞壑當門前。

井稅有常期，日晏猶得眠。忽然遭世變，數歲親戎旃。

今來典斯郡，山夷又紛然。城小賊不屠，人貧傷可怜。

是以陷鄰境，此州獨見全。使臣將王命，豈不如賊焉。

令彼征斂者，迫之如火煎。誰能絕人命，以作時世賢。

思欲委符節，引竿自刺船。將家就魚麥，歸老江湖邊。

To the Officials after the Marauders Retreated      
Yuan Jie (719-772)

In the past years when life was safe and peaceful,

For twenty years in the woods I used to nestle,

The font of the spring came to my courtyard well,

To the fore of my door was the mountain vale,

There was a fixed time for duties to settle,

Plagued by no worries every night I slept till the sun highly rose,

Presently things turn evil,

These years serving in the army has been my role,

This county I am assigned to keep hold,

Marauders from the mountain keep making trouble,

Slaughters are spared for this place as it’s not sizeable,

It is destitute and poor are the people,

Neighbouring places are all plundered and despoiled,

Only this county stands safe and spared the troubles,

Officials guarding this place are on the court’s devoir,

Compared with the marauders they are even more detestable,

Keep pressing for duties like putting people on fire grill,

Is there any one to have them out bailed,

Tiding them over like a hero to be hailed,

How much I’d like to relinquish my court tally once and for all,

Poling my boat,

Go anywhere teeming with fish and malt,

End my life at wheresoever end of the world.