- Last updated: 2024-04-12 09:30:33
有山皆种麦,有水皆种秔。
牛领疮见骨,叱叱犹夜耕。
竭力事本业,所愿乐太平。
门前谁剥啄,县吏徵租声。
一身入县庭,日夜穷笞搒。
人孰不惮死?自计无由生。
还家欲具说,恐伤父母情。
老人倘得食,妻子鸿毛轻!
He has sown every slope with wheat,
Sown every stream with paddy,
His oxen's necks are rubbed raw to the bone,
Yet still at night he goads them on to plough.
His last ounce of strength goes into farming,
And all he asks is to be left in peace;
But who is this knocking at his door?
The county officer clamoring for taxes!
He is haled to the county court,
Bastinadoed day and night;
All men dread death,
But he sees no way out...
Home again he longs to tell his wrongs,
Yet shrinks from upsetting his parents,
For to provide the two old folk with food,
His ready to sacrifice his wife and son.
By Lu You
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