ELDERS and officers line the returning road;
Wine and soup load the parting table.
I have not ruled you with the wisdom of Shao Kung;
What is the reason your tears should fall so fast?
My taxes were heavy, though many of the people were poor;
The farmers were hungry, for often their fields were dry.
All I did was to dam the water of the Lake
And help a little in a year when things were bad.