Lament for Gentlemen Born out of their Time

Ah, of all who receive the breath of life from the Creator

It is man alone who is endowed with intelligence.

One, given divine knowledge, hides his light;

Another possessed of the Three and the Five,leaves a name toposterity.

Some find their satisfaction in games ofskill

Others perform some great service to mankind.

Granted that quicscence or activity are allotted by fate,

Whatever the circumstances one should be complacent and satisfied.

The world foats along and goes its way,

While all things are divided into classes according to form.

When a fine net is cast the fish are frightened,

When a strong snare is laid the birds are alarmed.

In the same way the truly wise are quickly put on their guard

And fee from ofice to go back to farming.

High-soaring mountains hide their shadows

,Broad-fowing rivers conceal their sounds.

They sigh long when they think of the Emperors Huang-ti and Yao;

Relinquishing glory, they take pleasure in poverty and low condition.

The water in fowing from the pure spring is forever divided,

Through action, good and evil take their separate courses.

When we look for the most estimable kind ofconduct

It is surely the good in which one can take most pleasure.

We accept our lot from Heaven above

And take as our guide the writings bequeathed by the Sages.

We show ourselves loyal to our prince and filial to our parents

We cultivate trust and duty in our town.

We will gain distinction [if at all] through honesty

Never seeking praise through false show.

Alas, the sycophants and slanderers

The world abhors anything superior.

The man of vision they call deluded,

The one whose conduct is upright they say is perverse.

He who is absolutely righteous and above suspicion

In the end is put to shame with slanderous charges.

You may clasp your jewel and cling to your orchids

In vain your fragrance and purity-who believes in them?

Alas for gentlemen born out of their time!

I can no longer live under Shen-nung or the Emperor K'uei.

In solitude I have devoted myselfto self-cultivation

When have I failed thrice daily to examine myself?

I hoped that by improving my virtue I would be ready if a chance should come:

The chance came, but I found no favor.

Without a direct word from Master YuanChang Chi would have died in obscurity.

I sympathize with Old Man Feng, the Palace Secretary

Who had to depend on Prefect Wei to give his advice.

Their only wish was for recognition,

But they had to eat their hearts out, year after ycar.

One may be sure there is no tiger in the market

But three reports will lead one astray.

I lament the 'Tutor Chia's outstanding talents

Sent far away where he had no scope.

I am distressed that Minister Tung's profound learning

Should have endangered him repeatedly, though he fortunatelyescaped.

I am moved that the wise man is without a comrade

My dripping tears wet my sleeve.

One may acknowledge the Former Kings’ excellent dictum

That Heaven knows no favorites.

One may find guidance by holding strictly to the One

And by constantly aiding the good, help the cause of virtue.

But |Po-|i in his old age suffered from long hunger

And [Yen] Hui died young after living in poverty.

I lament the necessity for begging a cart to buy his coffin,

I grieve the death of him who ate herbs.

Though the one loved learning and the other practisedrighteousness,

Their lives were hard and their deaths bitter.

I suspect that this is the way virtue is rewarded,

I fear that this teaching is no more than empty words.

It is not that in the world there are no men of ability,

But it is seldom that all roads are not blocked.

The men of old were troubled in mind,

Worried lest they fail to make a name for themselves.

[Li] Kuang began his career from the time he came of age,

And need not have been ashamed to be made lord of ten thousand households.

But his ambition was broken by a royal favorite

And in the end he got not a foot of territory.

He left bchind him a reputation for sincerity and integrity

To move to tears everyone [who heard ofhis death].

[Wang] Shang ofered good advice to reform corrupt practices;

He was at first listened to, but misfortune overtook him.

How easily prosperous times change,

How quickly misfortune dominates.

Blue Heaven is far of,

And there is no end to our vicissitudes.

Sometimes [Heaven is responsive, sometimes it remains unmoved

Who can fathom its principles?

Better endure hardship and follow one's inclinations

Than compromise and harass oneself.

Since I take no glory in the cap and carriage ofofice

Why be ashamed of tattered garments?

Indeed I have missed my chance by choosing simplicity,

But I shall be happy to return to the quiet life.

Cherishing my feelings in solitude, I shall end my years

Declining any offers from the market place.