苏轼·《试笔自书》英译

吾始至南海，环视天水无际，凄然伤之，曰：“何时得出此岛耶？”已而思之，天地在积水中，九州在大瀛海中，中国在四海中，有生孰不在岛者？覆盆水于地，芥浮于水，蚁附于芥，茫然不知所济。少焉水涸，蚁即径去，见其类，出涕曰：“几不复与子相见。”岂知俯仰之间，有方轨八达之路乎？念此可以一笑。戊寅九月十二日，与客饮薄酒小醉，信笔书此纸。

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Testing My Brush with These Words (1)

Su Shi

When I first arrived in the South Sea, I was devastated to see waters and skies all in one. I said to myself, “When could I get out of this island here?” Then I started to ruminate on heaven and earth, which were also as it were in a pool of water; the Nine Continents (2) in the big Oceans, and China in the four seas. Was there anything living that was not on some kind of island? Then I poured a pot of water on the ground. A tiny blade of grass floated on its surface, and an ant clung to it for life, not knowing where to turn for help. Soon afterward, the water dried up, and the ant scampered off. When it met its own kind, it said with tears in its eyes, “I thought I would never see you guys again. Then in a blink of an eye, paved roads leading in all directions appeared before me!” The mere thought of it brought a smile to my face. On the 12^th day, in the 9^th month of Wu Yin (1098), I had a few drops with my friends. Feeling tipsy, I wrote the above on a piece of paper.

Notes:

(1)    This short article was written in the 1st year of the Yuanfu reign (1098), upon arriving in Hainan Island in banishment.

(2)    Nine Continents: According to ancient Chinese mythology, there are nine continents in the oceans; whereas China is surrounded by seas with nine states.