道州民 – 白居易

《美臣遇明主也》

道州民，多侏儒，

长者不过三尺余。

市作矮奴年进送，

号为道州任土贡。

任土贡，宁若斯？

不闻使人生别离，

老翁哭孙母哭儿！

一自阳城来守郡，

不进矮奴频诏问。

城云臣按六典书：

任土贡有不贡无。

道州水土所生者，

只有矮民无矮奴。

吾君感悟玺书下，

岁贡矮奴宜悉罢。

道州民，老者幼者何欣欣！

父兄子弟始相保，

从此得作良人身。

道州民，民到于今受其赐，

欲说使君先下泪。

仍恐儿孙忘使君，

生男多以阳为字。

A Verse by Bai Juyi

The locals in Daozhou, many are small,
Grown-ups barely three feet tall.
Hence, Daozhou’s annual tribute, dwarfs are sent,
Those locals are gifts to present
To the Liege Lord, alas, how can it be?
My lord, the torn families dost thou see?
Old men wail for grandsons lost,
Mothers beg to save their sons, at any cost.
Since prefect Yang Cheng came to rule,
He stopped such a thing so cruel.
He suaded the liege, “thy laws decree:
Give if you have, if not, let it be...
The soil and water in Daozhou sadly yield
Those small locals, yet here is not a slave-field.”
Henceforth, the wise liege abolished
Such a yearly tribute. Hurrah, ‘tis finished.
Daozhou locals, young and old,
Extreme joys their breasts unfold.
Sires, sons, and siblings will never part,
Living as people of grateful heart.
O Daozhou locals, for Yang, and to this day,
Their tears of gratitude, their feelings convey.
Lest their posterity might forget,
All boys hight "Yang," as their e’er debt.

Tr. Ziyuzile

(to be revised)

23/06/2024