白居易·《观刈麦》英译

观刈麦

白居易

田家少闲月，五月人倍忙。

夜来南风起，小麦覆陇黄。

妇姑荷箪食，童稚携壶浆。

相随饷田去，丁壮在南冈。

足蒸暑土气，背灼炎天光。

力尽不知热，但惜夏日长。

复有贫妇人，抱子在其旁。

右手秉遗穗，左臂悬敝筐。

听其相顾言，闻者为悲伤。

田家输税尽，拾此充饥肠。

今我何功德，曾不事农桑。

吏禄三百石，岁晏有余粮。

念此私自愧，尽日不能忘。

Watching the Reapers

Bai Juyi

Farmers have but little leisure,

but the fifth month is the busiest;

last night there came a strong

south wind and the wheat

turned to gold in the fields;

came wives and daughters

with carrying-poles, children

with water pots, streaming

out to the fields to serve

the strong lads harvesting;

heat from the earth burned

the reapers feet; the sun played

on their backs like fire,

yet all were so busy they did

not care; they only feared that

the sun would soon set.

And then I saw coming

a poor woman carrying her child on her back,

in her right hand some ears

she had gleaned, in her left

a broken basket; and I listened

to her as she spoke:

“The crop in my home all

goes for taxes; only if I glean

can I get enough to fill

my stomach!”

I look at myself wondering

what right have I, what special

virtue, to be given three hundred

piculs of rice each year, enough

to eat with plenty to spare;

I listen and feel shame; this

I cannot forget.

（Rewi Alley 译）