卖炭翁》古文版与英文版

古文版 (白居易《卖炭翁》)

卖炭翁，伐薪烧炭南山中。

满面尘灰烟火色，两鬓苍苍十指黑。

卖炭得钱何所营？身上衣裳口中食。

可怜身上衣正单，心忧炭贱愿天寒。

夜来城外一尺雪，晓驾炭车辗冰辙。

牛困人饥日已高，市南门外泥中歇。

翩翩两骑来是谁？黄衣使者白衫儿。

手把文书口称敕，回车叱牛牵向北。

一车炭，千余斤，宫使驱将惜不得。

半匹红绡一丈绫，系向牛头充炭直。

英文版 (The Old Charcoal¹ Seller)

An old charcoal seller,

Cutting wood, burning charcoal in the forests of the Southern Mountain.

His face stained with dust and ashes, his temples frosted gray,

His fingers blackened with soot² from the smoke.

What does he gain by selling his charcoal?

Only the clothes on his back and food in his mouth.

Though his coat is thin, he hopes for winter's chill—

Lest the charcoal's price should fall too low.

At night a foot of snow covers the city walls;

At dawn his charcoal cart crutshes through frozen ruts.

Ox tired, man hungry—the sun already high;

Outside the South Gate, in snow and slush, they rest.

Then two riders canter up. Who are they?

Palace heralds³ in yellow jackets and white shirts.

In their hands, official documents; they speak the Emperor's decree.

They turn the cart around, shout at the ox, and head north.

One cartload of charcoal, a thousand catties or more,

Driven to the palace—he cannot protest.

For half a length of red silk and ten feet of gauze,

Tied to the ox's head—the payment in full.