[updated September 2022]
Four Wise and Virtuous People Go To a Ferry Crossing: Three Poems For the Two Mountain Hermits Misters Zheng and Huo
济 上 四 贤 咏: 三 首
郑 霍 二 山 人
翩 翩 繁 华 子
多 出 金 张 门。
幸 有 先 人 业
早 蒙 明 主 恩。
童 年 且 未 学
肉 食 鹜 华 轩。
岂 乏 中 林 士
无 人 献 至 尊。
郑 公 老 泉 石
霍 子 安 丘 樊。
卖 药 不 二 价
著 书 盈 万 言。
息 阴 无 恶 木
饮 水 必 清 源。
吾 贱 不 及 议
斯 人 竟 谁 论！
Zheng Huo Er Shan Ren
Pian pian fan hua wu zi
Duo chu jin zhang men.
Xing you xian ren ye
Zao meng ming zhu en.
Tong nian qie wei xue
Rou shi wu hua xuan.
Qi fa zhong lin shi ?
Wu ren xian zhi zun.
Zheng gong lao quan shi
Huo zi an qiu fan.
Mai yao bu er jia
Zhu shu ying wan yan.
Xi yin wu e mu
Yin shui bi qing yuan.
Wu jian bu ji yi
Si ren jing shei lun !
Four Wise and Virtuous People Go To a Ferry Crossing: Three Poems For Two Mountain Hermits Misters Zheng and Huo
Graceful and elegant like full-bloom flowers
Many times have come out the Jin Zhang doors.
Have the good fortune of their ancestor’s talents
Very early they received the Ming Emperor’s favors.
Childhood years, not yet in school
Meat-eating, pursuing the high and comfortable life.
Wouldn’t these be a waste for someone who is a mid-forest dweller?
Worthless in an unpopulated region, not able to display their high rank.
The respectable Mr. Zheng, like old spring-fed river rocks
The young Mr. Huo, settled down inside the barrier of hills.
Will not sell their medicine for a measly price
Have composed books filled with ten thousand words.
Do not rest in the shade of evil trees
Drinking water has to be from clean and pure springs.
I am so low in rank, not to be remembered for any opinion
While these two are even further out of view.
Notes:
Jin Zhang: Famous families during the Han Dynasty
Measly price: During the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD), Han Kang, a mountain man living in seclusion, picked herbs and medicinal plants then took them to a local market. He was the only seller who will not haggle about the price. After living here for thirty years, one day a lady wanted to buy some of his plants, and tried to haggle the price with him. He refused. She told him that she knows his name, and asks him why he does not give her a discount. He packed up everything and left for another mountain.
Evil trees: Do not rest in the shade of bad trees. Like trees, people should not hang around evil people either.
Clean and pure springs: Confucius was walking about with his disciples and wanted a drink from a certain well. He refused a closer well after finding out that the water was actually stolen water.