<Header>
<Author: 白居易>
<Title: 秋居書懷>
<Format: 格式不明>
<Year: 1947>
<BookName: THE WHITE PONY: An Anthology of Chinese Poetry from the Earliest Times to the Present Day, Newly Translated>
<Translator: Robert Payne>
<TranslatedTitle: THE HEART IN AUTUMN>
<BookPage: 222>
<UsedPage: 1>
<Feature: 4>
<End Header>
<Poem>
門前少賓客，
階下多松竹。
秋景下西牆，
涼風入東屋。
有琴慵不弄，
有書閑不讀。
盡日方寸中，
澹然無所欲。
何須廣居處，
不用多積蓄。
丈室可容身，
斗儲可充腹。
況無治道術，
坐受官家祿。
不種一株桑，
不鋤一壠穀。
終朝飽飯餐，
卒歲豐衣服。
持此知媿心，
自然易爲足。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
Few visitors come through this gate,
Many pines and bamboos grow in front of the steps;
The autumn air does not enter through the east wall,
The cool wind blows into the west courtyard.
I have a harp: I am too lazy to play.
I have books: I have no leisure to read.
All day long in this land of a square inch
There is only quietude and no desires.
Why should I make this house larger?
There is no use to say too much.
A room of ten square feet is enough for the body,
A peck of rice is sufficient for the belly.
Besides, without any ability in managing affairs,
I idle and receive the emperor's salary.
I neither plant a single mulberry tree
Nor hoe a single furrow for rice,
Yet I feed well all day,
And all the year round I am well-clothed.
With such a conscience, knowing my shame,
Why should I be discontented?
<End Translation>