Chant For the Three Liangs
咏 三 良
弹 冠 乘 通 津
但 惧 时 我 遗。
服 勤 尽 岁 月
常 恐 功 愈 微。
忠 情 谬 获 露
遂 为 君 所 私。
出 则 陪 文 舆
入 必 侍 丹 帷。
箴 规 向 已 从
计 议 初 无 亏。
一 朝 长 逝 后
愿 言 同 此 归。
厚 恩 固 难 忘
君 命 安 可 违？
临 穴 罔 惟 疑
投 义 志 攸 希。
荆 棘 笼 高 坟
黄 鸟 声 正 悲。
良 人 不 可 赎
泫 然 沾 我 衣。
Yong San Liang
Tan guan cheng tong jin
Dan ju shi wo wei.
Fu qin jin sui yue
Chang kong gong yu wei.
Zhong qing miu huo lu
Sui wei jun suo si.
Chu ze pei wen yu
Ru bi shi dan wei.
Zhen gui xiang yi cong
Ji yi chu wu kui.
Yi zhao chang shi hou
Yuan yan tong ci gui.
Hou en gu nan wang
Jun ming an ke wei ?
Lin xue wang wei yi
Tou yi zhi you xi.
Jing ji long gao fen
Huang niao sheng zheng bei.
Liang ren bu ke shu
Xuan ran zhan wo yi !
Chant For the Three Liangs
[During the Qin Dynasty these three brothers and another 170 people died, and were then buried with the emperor. Tao Yuanming is comparing them to Zhang Wei, who took poison himself, instead of giving in to the emperor]
Very pleased to begin their government positions
They were anxious at first before proving themselves.
For months and years worked as hard as possible
Often afraid their best was not good enough.
After a while they finally proved their loyalty
Succeeded in performing special projects.
Able to accompany the ornate, imperial carriage
Served very close to the emperor’s side.
Emperor listened closely to their advice and counsel
Agreed to their every plan and opinion.
Then one morning the emperor died
The brothers wanted to join him in death.
Difficult for them to forget the emperor’s kindness and generosity
How can they refuse his wish for them to die together?
Facing his open grave, there was no protest
Their wish and hope to follow always their emperor.
These tall graves now enveloped by thorns and thistles
Yellow finches, their songs full of sorrow.
Good people and their lives cannot be redeemed
My tears fall to moisten my clothes !