Local Dialects: Five Poems: No. 1
方 言： 五 首
(1)
朝 真 墓 伪 何 人 辨
古 往 今 来 底 事 无？
但 爱 臧 生 能 诈 生
可 知 宁 子 解 佯 愚？
草 萤 有 耀 终 非 火
荷 露 虽 团 岂 是 珠？
不 取 燔 柴 兼 照 乘
可 怜 光 采 亦 何 殊？
Fang Yan: Wu Shou
(1)
Zhao zhen mu wei he ren bian
Gu wang jin lai di shi wu?
Dan ai zang sheng neng zha sheng
Ke zhi ning zi jie yang yu?
Cao ying you yao zhong fei huo
He lu sui tuan qi shi zhu?
Bu qu fan chai jian zhao cheng
Ke lian guang cai yi he shu?
Local Dialects: Five Poems: No. 1
(1)
Dawns are real–sunsets are false, what people can distinguish this
From ancient times to now, how can the truth not eventually be revealed?
Still love Zang Sheng being able to pretend loyalty
Can one know that Ning Wuzi faked being foolish?
Grass fireflies shine brightly, really have no fire
When the sun is on the dew, where are your pearls?
Take advantage of the dawn’s light to navigate, instead of the fan chai
How different for us to sympathize with and gather with night lanterns.
Notes:
Zang Sheng: Historical sage
Ning Wuzi: From a section of the Confucian Analects: “When the Way prevailed in his state, Ning Wuzi acted wise. When his state lost the Way, Ning Wuzi acted dumb. Other’s may match his wisdom, but not his dumbness.” Ning was a high level government minister during the Eastern Zhou dynasty. Under Duke Wen he acted wise, while under Duke Cheng he acted dumb to hide his true intentions.
Fan Chai: Ceremonial palace pyres that burned paper messages so they could rise up into heaven.