|
Chinese Text Project |
| Simplified Chinese version |
Translation setting:
[None] [English]
| | 短人赋: |
侏儒短人，僬侥之后。自外域，戎狄别种，去俗归义，慕化企踵，遂在中国，形貌有部，名之侏儒，生则象父，唯有晏子，在齐辨勇，匡景拒崔，加刃不恐，其馀尫幺，劣厥偻寠。㗲啧怒语，与人相距。蒙昧嗜酒，喜索罚举。醉则扬声，骂詈恣口。众人患忌，难与竝侣。是以陈赋，引譬比偶。皆得形象，诚如所语。其词曰：雄荆鸡兮鹜鷿鹈，鹘鸠鶵兮鹑鷃雌。冠戴胜兮啄木儿，观短人兮形若斯。热地蝗兮芦即且，茧中蛹兮蚕蠕须。视短人兮形若斯，木门阃兮梁上柱。敝凿头兮断柯斧，鞞𩌇鼓兮补履朴。脱椎枘兮擣衣杵，视短人兮形如许。 |
| | The pygmies and short-statured people were descendants of Jiaoji. From foreign lands, they were a distinct branch of the Rong and Di peoples. Abandoning their former customs, they returned to righteousness and aspired toward civilization, thus settling in China. In terms of appearance and mannerisms, they formed a group; they were called "zhuru" (pygmies). When born, they resembled their fathers. Only Yanzhi was brave and eloquent in the state of Qi, assisting Duke Jing and resisting Cui Shi without fear even when faced with weapons. The rest were frail and small, inferior to those who were hunchbacked or crippled. They spoke in angry, unintelligible language and kept a distance from other people. Ignorant and fond of alcohol, they enjoyed demanding others to drink as punishment. When drunk, they would raise their voices, cursing and speaking at will. The common people feared and resented them, finding it difficult to associate with such individuals as companions. Therefore, the text is composed in rhymed prose, using analogies and paired comparisons. They all acquire a vivid image, truly as described. The verse says: The male Jingji is like a wu and a hu, the jiuju chu is like a chunyan ci. Crowned with ornaments, they are like woodpecker children; observing these short-statured people, their forms appear thus. ���� They resemble the locusts of Reidi and Lujuqie, like silkworm pupae in a cocoon, wriggling with fine filaments. Observing these short-statured individuals, their forms appear thus; they are like the wooden door lintel and the beam above it. They resemble a broken chisel head or an axe with a broken handle, like a drum cover and a simple shoe patch. Like a wedge removed from its socket or a pestle for pounding clothes, observing these short-statured individuals reveals their form to be thus.
|
