<Header>
<Author: 白居易>
<Title: 官牛-諷執政也>
<Format: 樂府詩>
<Year: 1919>
<BookName: Translation from the Chinese>
<Translator: Arthur Waley>
<TranslatedTitle: The Chancellor's Gravel-Drive>
<BookPage: 178>
<UsedPage: 1>
<Feature: 1, 4>
<End Header>
<Poem>
官牛官牛駕官車，
滻水岸邊般載沙。
一石沙，
幾斤重。
朝載暮載將何用，
載向五門官道西。
綠槐陰下鋪沙堤，
昨來新拜右丞相，
恐怕泥塗污馬蹄。
右丞相，
馬蹄蹋沙雖淨潔，
牛領牽車欲流血。
右丞相，
但能濟人治國調陰陽，
官牛領穿亦無妨。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
A Government-bull yoked to a Government-cart!
Moored by the bank of Ch'an Rivet, a barge loaded with gravel.
A single load of gravel,
How many pounds it weighs!
Carrying at dawn, carrying at dusk, what is it all for?
They are carrying it towards the Five Gates, 
To the West of the Main Road.
Under the shadow of green laurels they are making a gravel-drive.
For yesterday arrove, newly appointed, 
The Assistant Chancellor of the Realm,
And was terribly afraid that the wet and mud
Would dirty his horse's hoofs.
The Chancellor's horse's hoofs
Stepped on the gravel and remained perfectly clean;
But the bull employed in dragging the cart 
Was almost sweating blood.
The Assistant Chancellor's business
Is to "save men, govern the country 
And harmonize Yin and Yang."
Whether the bull's neck is sore 
Need not trouble him at all.
<End Translation>
<Formatted Translation>
A Government-bull yoked to a Government-cart!
Moored by the bank of Ch'an Rivet, a barge loaded with gravel.
A single load of gravel,
How many pounds it weighs!
Carrying at dawn, carrying at dusk, what is it all for?
They are carrying it towards the Five Gates, To the West of the Main Road.
Under the shadow of green laurels they are making a gravel-drive.
For yesterday arrove, newly appointed, The Assistant Chancellor of the Realm,
And was terribly afraid that the wet and mud Would dirty his horse's hoofs.
The Chancellor's horse's hoofs
Stepped on the gravel and remained perfectly clean;
But the bull employed in dragging the cart Was almost sweating blood.
The Assistant Chancellor's business
Is to "save men, govern the country And harmonize Yin and Yang."
Whether the bull's neck is sore Need not trouble him at all.
<End Formatted Translation>