司马迁-史记/屈原贾生列传 - Translated by Marianne Wang
THE BIOGRAPHY OF QU YUAN AND JIA SHENG

屈原者，名平，楚之同姓也。为楚怀王左徒。博闻强志，明于治乱，娴于辞令。入则与王图议国事，以出号令；出则接遇宾客，应对诸侯。王甚任之。
上官大夫与之同列，争宠而心害其能。怀王使屈原造为宪令，屈平属草稿未定。上官大夫见而欲夺之，屈平不与，因谗之曰：“王使屈平为令，众莫不知，每一令出，平伐其功，（曰）以为‘非我莫能为’也。”王怒而疏屈平。
The name of Qu Yuan was Ping. He shared the same surname with the ruler of the kingdom Chu and was an assistant to Emperor Chu Huai. He was knowledgeable and wise, and had a retentive memory. He was prudent in administrating the people, and was skillful in composition. He discussed major issues of the empire with the emperor and issued orders; he received guests and invitees, and coordinated with ministers and officials. The emperor trusted him very much, but a senior official who was in the same level with him and who witnessed the trust of the emperor in him envied his abilities. Once Emperor Huai asked Qu Yuan to compose an order for him. When Qu Yuan was working on the draft, the senior official saw it and intended to rob it. Qu Ping refused to give it to him, therefore the senior official defamed him before the Emperor: “Your Majesty have asked Qu Ping to compose an order for you. Everyone knows that once each order is issued, Ping will brag it as one of his achievements, and says ‘who else can do this but me?’” The Emperor was infuriated, and snubbed Qu Ping.

屈平疾王听之不聪也，馋谄之蔽明也，邪曲之害公也，方正之不容也，故忧愁幽思而作《离骚》。离骚者，犹离忧也。夫天者，人之始也；父母者，人之本也。人穷则反本，故劳苦倦极，未尝不呼天也；疾痛惨怛，未尝不呼父母也。屈平正道直行，竭忠尽智以事其君，谗人间之，可谓穷矣。信而见疑，忠而被谤，能无怨乎？屈平之作《离骚》，盖自怨生也。《国风》好色而不淫，《小雅》怨诽而不乱，若《离骚》者，可谓兼之矣。上称帝喾，下道齐桓，中述汤武，以刺世事。明道德之广崇，治乱之条贯，靡不毕见。其文约，其辞微，其志洁，其行廉，其称文小而其指极大，举类迩而见义远。其志洁，故其称物芳。其行廉，故死而不容自疏。濯淖污泥之中，蝉蜕于浊秽，以浮游尘埃之外，不获世之滋垢，皭然泥而不滓者也。推此志也，虽与日月争光可也。
Qu Ping blamed the emperor as it was unwise of him to believe such nonsense. He blamed the senior official as he had defamed him and cheated others. This was unbearable for an upright person. He grew aggrieved and resentful, and wrote Li Sao. Literally Li Sao means to discard the despondence. Heaven is the origin of human beings, and parents are the fundament of human beings. People will return to their origin when they are desperate. When people feel fatigued and exhausted, don’t they scream to the heaven? When people are painful and gloomy, don’t they cry to their parents? Qu Ping was always upright and righteous, and spared no efforts in serving his master. However, he was still defamed by a treacherous person, how desperate he must have been! He was disbelieved despite his loyalty, and he was defamed despite his faithfulness, how could he suppress his resentment? Qu Ping wrote Li Sao because of his resentment. Guo Feng is sensual but not obscene, and Xiao Ya is grievous but virtual. Li Sao integrates the merits of the two. He recounted the stories of King Ku, Qihuan and Tangwu to insinuate the present world. The loftiness of the morals and the regulations for management are apparent. The article is concise, and the words deployed in the article are minor, but it expresses his firm will and his honest deportment. Despite the short size of the article, it bears significant connotations. Despite the short history of the examples he cited, they have far-reaching effect. His will was firm, therefore he looked at things from a positive perspective. His deportment was honest, therefore he would rather die than allow himself to make mistakes. Though he was dropped into filthiness, he was never polluted. He was free from the mundane dirt and remained bright and clean. His will was as bright as the light of the moon and sun.

屈平既绌，其后秦欲伐齐，齐与楚从亲，惠王患之，乃令张仪详去秦，厚币委质事楚，曰：“秦甚憎齐，齐与楚从亲，楚诚能绝齐，秦愿献商、於之地六百里。”楚怀王贪而信张仪，遂绝齐，使使如秦受地。张仪诈之曰：“仪与王约六里，不闻六百里。”楚使怒去，归告怀王。怀王怒，大兴师伐秦。秦发兵击之，大破楚师于丹、淅，斩首八万，虏楚将屈丐，遂取楚之汉中地。怀王乃悉发国中兵以深入击秦，战于蓝田，魏闻之，袭楚至邓。楚兵惧，自秦归。而齐竟怒不救楚，楚大困。
After Qu Yuan was deserted, the kingdom Qin intended to suppress the kingdom Qi, but Qi was establishing some marital relationship with the kingdom Chu. Emperor Hui was worried, and contrived a scheme. He dispatched Zhang Yi to leave Qin and to serve Chu with many gifts. Zhang Yi told the emperor of Chu: “Qin dislikes Qi. Though Qi is trying to establish some marital relationship with Chu, Chu for sure has the ability to break up with Qi. Qin is willing to pay Chu a tribute of an area of six hundred li between Shang and Yu.” Emperor Chu Huai was avaricious and trusted Zhang Yi. He broke up with Qi, and dispatched an envoy to Qin to receive the tribute. Surprisingly, Zhang Yi ate his words: “I promised you six li, not six hundred li.” Infuriated, the envoy of Chu left Qin and reported to Emperor Huai. The outraged Emperor Huai sent his troops to suppress Qin. Qin sent troops to fight with Chu, killed eighty thousand soldiers of Chu in the region Dan and Xi, and captured Qu Gai, the general of Chu. Chu’s territory Hanzhong was taken by Qin. Emperor Huai dispatched all the troops in the kingdom to suppress Qin. The troops of the two kingdoms fought in Lantian. The kingdom Wei also heard of the battle and expelled Chu’s troops to Deng. The soldiers of Chu paniced, and returned from Qin. Qi extended no help to Chu as they were still angry with what Chu did to it. Chu was caught in a predicament.

明年，秦割汉中地与楚以和。楚王曰：“不愿得地，愿得张仪而甘心焉。”张仪闻，乃曰：“以一仪而当汉中地，臣请往如楚。”如楚，又因厚币用事者臣靳尚，而设诡辩于怀王之宠姬郑袖。怀王竟听郑袖，复释去张仪。是时屈平既疏，不复在位，使于齐，顾反，谏怀王曰：“何不杀张仪？”怀王悔，追张仪不及。
其后诸侯共击楚，大破之，杀其将唐眛。
In the next year, Qin sought peace with Chu with the territory in Hanzhong. The emperor of Chu said: “I do not want the territory, I only want Zhang Yi.” Zhang Yi heard of this, and said: “If a humble Zhang Yi can spare my country from losing the territory in Hanzhong, I am willing to go.” He came to Chu, bribed the official Chen Jinshang with a handsome sum of money, and quibbled with Zheng Xiu, the beloved concubine of Emperor Huai. To everyone’s surprise, Emperor Huai did listen to Zheng Xiu and release Zhang Yi. At that time Qu Ping had already been deserted and was not in his original post. He was sent to Qi before he returned to Chu, and then he remonstrated Emperor Huai: “Why didn’t you kill Zhang Yi?” Emperor Huai felt regretful, but Zhang Yi had already left the kingdom. Later several kingdoms gathered together to attack Chu, and Tang Mei, the general of Chu, was killed.

时秦昭王与楚婚，欲与怀王会。怀王欲行，屈平曰：“秦虎狼之国，不可信，不如毋行。”怀王稚子子兰劝王行：“奈何绝秦欢！”怀王卒行。入武关，秦伏兵绝其后，因留怀王，以求割地。怀王怒，不听。亡走赵，赵不内。复之秦，竟死于秦而归葬。
Later, Emperor Zhao of Qin entered a marital relationship with Chu and intended to meet Emperor Huai. Emperor Huai wanted to comply, but Qu Ping said: “Qin is like an evil tiger. You should not trust it and make the visit.” Zilan, the younger son of Emperor Huai urged him: ”Why offend Qin?” Emperor Huai listened to him and went to visit Qin. The moment the group entered Wuguan, the ambushing troops attacked them and detained Emperor Huai to force him to cede his territory. Emperor Huai was infuriated and refused to comply. He escaped to Zhao, but the ruler of the kingdom refused to shelter him. Having no other choice, he returned to Qin and died there. His body was shipped back for funeral.

长子顷襄王立，以其弟子兰为令尹。楚人既咎子兰以劝怀王入秦而不反也。屈平既嫉之，虽放流，眷顾楚国，系心怀王，不忘欲反，翼幸君之一悟，俗之一改也。其存君兴国而欲反覆之，一篇之中三致志焉。然终无可奈何，故不可以反，卒以此见怀王之终不悟也。人君无愚智贤不肖，莫不欲求忠以自为，举贤以自佐，然亡国破家相随属，而圣君治国累世而不见者，其所谓忠者不忠，而所谓贤者不贤也。怀王以不知忠臣之分，故内惑于郑袖，外欺于张仪，疏屈平而信上官大夫、令尹子兰。兵挫地削，亡其六郡，身客死于秦，为天下笑。此不知人之祸也。《易》曰：“井泄不食，为我心恻，可以汲。王明，并受其福。”王之不明，岂足福哉！令尹子兰闻之大怒，卒使上官大夫短屈原于顷襄王，顷襄王怒而迁之。
Then the eldest son Qingxiang was crowned, and he appointed his brother Zilan as Lingyin. People in Chu blamed Zilan for having urged Emperor Huai to visit Qin. Qu Ping also blamed Zilan. Though he was in banishment, he missed his country and Emperor Huai bitterly. He still thought of going back to the kingdom, hoping that this lesson would awaken the ruler to his mistakes. In one single production, he has expressed his wish three times to return to the kingdom and to help the emperor restore peace to the nation. However, he was left no choice, and he could not go back to his country no matter what. It was apparent that Emperor Huai did not understand him even when he died. No matter a ruler is stupid or wise, righteous or unworthy, he will always look for loyal people to assist him to manage the country, and wise people to help him make decisions. However, kingdoms are subverted in succession, while sagacious rulers and stable kingdoms are really rare. This is all because that the officials they find loyal are not loyal at all, and the ministers they find upright are not upright at all. Emperor Huai failed to discern wise and loyal people, and consequently he was cheated by Zheng Xiu and bullied by Zhang Yi, and deserted Qu Ping and gave his trust to people such as the senior official and Zilan. His troops were beaten, his territories were taken, and he himself died in Qin. He was laughed at by people in the world. These were all because that he could not distinguish virtuous people. Just as Yi Jing (the Book of Changes) puts it: “It is a pity that the pure water in the well is not used even though the sludge has been cleared out. When the water in the well is clean enough to drink, a sagacious ruler must be able to get the water and thus be blessed.” What a pity if the ruler is unwise! Zilan grew infuriated when he heard about this, and asked the senior official to defame Qu Yuan before Emperor Qingxiang. Emperor Qingxiang then banished him.

屈原至于江滨，被发行吟泽畔。颜色憔悴，形容枯槁。渔父见而问之曰：“子非三闾大夫欤？何故而至此？”屈原曰：“举世混浊而我独清，众人皆醉而我独醒，是以见放。”渔父曰：“夫圣人者，不凝滞于物而能与世推移。举世混浊，何不随其流而扬其波？众人皆醉，何不其糟而啜其醨？何故怀瑾握瑜而自令见放为？”屈原曰：“吾闻之，新沐者必弹冠，新浴者必振衣，人又谁能以身之察察，受物之汶汶者乎！宁赴常流而葬乎江鱼腹中耳，又安能以晧晧之白而蒙世俗之温蠼乎！” 乃作《怀沙》之赋。其辞曰：
Qu Yuan arrived at the waterside and recited poems along the water, his hair disheveled. He looked sallow and languished. A fisherman saw him and asked: “Aren’t you Mister San Lu? Why are you here?” Qu Yuan said: “Everyone is filthy whereas I am pure, everyone is drunk whereas I am sober. Therefore I am ousted.” The fisherman said: “Sages will not be hindered but will move on along with the crowd. If the whole world is filthy, why don’t you follow the stream to blow its waves? If everyone is drunk, why don’t you eat the scum and drink the liquor with them? Why do you have to insist on the preciousness and purity of your heart and be ousted?” Qu Yuan said: “I have heard that people who have just taken a shower will whisk their hats, and people who have just taken a bath will whisk their clothes. Who will allow the filthiness of other things to contaminate one’s own cleanness! I would rather jump into the river and bury myself in the stomachs of the fishes than allow my shiny purity to be contaminated by the mundane filthiness!” Then he composed the verse named Huai Sha, which reads:

陶陶孟夏兮，草木莽莽。伤怀永哀兮，汩徂南土。眴兮窈窈，孔静幽墨。冤结纡轸兮，离愍之长鞠；抚情效志兮，俯誳以自抑。
In midsummer vegetations grow lush. I feel aggrieved and sorrowful, so I speed off to the south. Everything beside me is so quiet and soundless, which makes me feel dizzy. My grievances are winding across the paths, and I cannot help thinking of my sorrows. I reflect on my own behaviors and ambitions, and don’t feel regretful at all. Suppressing my sorrows, I try my best to comfort myself.

刓方以为圜兮，常度未替；易初本由兮，君子所鄙。章画职墨兮，前度未改；内直质重兮，大人所盛。巧匠不斲兮，孰察其揆正？玄文幽处兮，矇谓之不章；离娄微睇兮，瞽以为无明。变白而为黑兮，倒上以为下。凤皇在笯兮，鸡雉翔舞。同糅玉石兮，一概而相量。夫党人之鄙妒兮，羌不知吾所臧。
Though a square timber can be cut into a ball, the nature of the timber is not changed. It is humiliating for a gentleman to desert his original aspirations and to lead himself astray. A gentleman will cherish the uprightness of his heart and the sedateness of his deportment so as to keep pursuing his original aspirations. If a skillful craftsman does not join to hack, who can discern whether it is standard? If black laces are put in a dark corner, people with weak eyesight will say the patterns are not definite. Li Lou had sharp eyes that were perceptive of the slightest, but blind people say he was unable to perceive even the brightest light. People regard whiteness as blackness, and put things upside down. The phoenix is kept in cages, whereas the fowls are playing and dancing around. Stones and jades are grinded together and are placed on a par. Envied by evil people, I do not know how to succeed.

任重载盛兮，陷滞而不济；怀瑾握瑜兮，穷不得余所示。邑犬群吠兮，吠所怪也；诽骏疑桀兮，固庸态也。文质疏内兮，众不知吾之异采；材朴委积兮，莫知余之所有。重仁袭义兮，瑾厚以为丰；重华不可牾兮，孰知余之从容！古固有不并兮，岂知其故也？汤禹久远兮，邈不可慕也。惩违改忿兮，抑心而自强；离湣而不迁兮，愿志之有象。进路北次兮，日昧昧其将暮；含忧虞哀兮，限之以大故。
Though I was born for an important position and a stately cause, I am all the same deserted. Though there are jades in my arms, I am too indigent to have the opportunity to show them to other people. Dogs in the city bark together because they also feel something eerie. It is not surprising to see vulgar people defame the talented and doubt the elite. My appearances are ordinary, people do not know my ingenuity. My gifts are accumulated, no one knows what are in my hands. I cherish uprightness and justice in order to enrich myself. I cannot find anyone that is as virtuous as Chonghua (the name of Yushun). Is there anyone who knows how calm I am? Since the ancient times it has been very rare for sagacious rulers to find virtuous officials, and what is the reason? The times of Tang and Yu are too far away from the present. Suppressing my resentment and sorrows, I strive to realize my dreams. Though caught in a predicament, I am still steadfast, and hope people can learn from me. I am on my way to the north, and the sun is about to go down. I try to find happiness in my sufferings, and am conscious of the advent of Death.

乱曰，浩浩沅、湘兮，分流汩兮，修路幽拂兮，道远忽兮。曾吟恒悲兮，永叹慨兮。世既莫吾知兮，人心不可谓兮。怀情抱质兮，独无匹兮。伯乐既殁兮，骥将焉程兮？人生禀命兮，各有所错兮。定心广志，余何畏惧兮？曾伤爰哀，永叹喟兮。世溷不吾知，心不可谓兮。知死不可让兮，愿勿爱兮。明以告君子兮，吾将以为类兮。
Here are my blathers: the rivers Ruan and Xiang are so mighty. The long road twists into the vast, the outlook being so obscure and unpredictable. I am numb with my sorrows, and my regrets are deep-rooted in my heart. The world does not understand me, and the people chilled me out. With my gifts and my ambitions, I am far better than the rest of the world. Now that Bo Le is dead, what is the use of the perfect horse? Everyone has one’s own destiny. Steadfast and aspired as I am, what do I have to fear? I have been sorrowful, and I will sigh over my sorrows forever. The world is so turbid and no one understands me. Now that death is unavoidable, I will not feel reluctant to part with this world. I will make definite statements to the ruler and become an exemplary loyal official.

于是怀石遂自（投）〔沈〕汩罗以死。
Then he attached a rock to himself, jumped into the water and drowned himself.

屈原既死之后，楚有宋玉、唐勒、景差之徒者，皆好辞而以赋见称；然皆祖屈原之从容辞令，终莫敢直谏，其后楚日以削，数十年竟为秦所灭。
After Qu Yuan died, there were people such as Song Yu, Tang Le and Jing Cha in the kingdom Chu who were famous for their skills in composition. They copied the peaceful style of the works of Qu Yuan, but did not dare to admonish the emperor. Later the kingdom Chu slumped quickly. In decades it was conquered by Qin.

自屈原沉汩罗后百有余年，汉有贾生，为长沙王太傅，过湘水，投书以吊屈原。
Over a hundred years after Qu Yuan had thrown himself into Miluo River, Jia Sheng, the Taifu of Master Changsha, crossed River Xiang and paid his respect to Qu Yuan.

贾生名谊，雒阳人也。年十八，以能诵诗属书闻于郡中。吴廷尉为河南守，闻其秀才，召置门下，甚幸爱。孝文皇帝初立，闻河南守吴公治平为天下第一，故与李斯同邑而常学事焉，乃征为廷尉。廷尉乃言贾生年少，颇通诸子百家之书。文帝召以为博士。是时贾生年二十余，最为少。每诏令议下，诸老先生不能言，贾生尽为之对，人人各如其意所欲出。诸生于是乃以为能，不及也。孝文帝说之，超迁，一岁中至太中大夫。贾生以为汉兴至孝文二十余年，天下和洽，而固当改正朔，易服色，法制度，定官名，兴礼乐，乃悉草具其事仪法，色尚黄，数用五，为官名，悉更秦之法。孝文帝初即位，谦让未遑也。诸律令所更定，及列侯悉就国，其说皆自贾生发之。于是天子议以为贾生任公卿之位。绛、灌、东阳侯、冯敬之属尽害之，乃短贾生曰：“雒阳之人，年少初学，专欲擅权，纷乱诸事。”于是天子后亦疏之，不用其议，乃以贾生为长沙王太傅。
The name of Jia Sheng was Yi. He was from Luoyang. When he was only 18 years old, he was already famous in town for his skills of composition. Judge Wu, a prefect in Henan, heard of his talents, and invited him to be one of his disciples. Wu was fond of Jia Sheng very much. Shortly after Emperor Xiaowen was crowned, he heard people say that Mr. Wu the prefect of Henan was second to none in his administration abilities, that Wu and Li Si were from the same town, and that he had studied laws. Then the emperor appointed him as a Tingwei (judge). The judge then told Emperor Wen that Jia Sheng had read through all the historical works despite his young age, so the emperor appointed Jia Sheng as a scholar. At that time Jia Sheng was only in his early twenties, and was the youngest among the elite. Each time when an edict was issued, Jia Sheng would always answer it while the elder scholars could not, and his answers were just what the others were thinking of but did not think out how to put it in words. Therefore they all regarded Jia Sheng as more competent. Emperor Xiaowen was pleased with him, and promoted him within a year as Taizhong Dafu. According to Jia Sheng, now that more than twenty years had passed after the establishment of the Han Dynasty, and now that the kingdom was in peace, it was time to modify the calendar, to change the colors of attires, to develop regulations, to settle the titles of officials, and to create rituals and forms. Therefore he drafted reform plans, modifying the color yellow as the dominant color, adopting the quinary system, and settling the titles of the officials. All the old standards in the Qin Dynasty were replaced. Emperor Xiaowen just ascended the throne, and was moderate and busy. The modifications in laws and the edict ordering all seigneurs to return to their own cities were all developed by Jia Sheng. Then the emperor appointed him as a minister. People such as Jiang, Guan, Dongyang Hou and Feng Jing were jealous of him, and disparaged him: “This fellow from Luoyang is so naive and inexperienced. He actually dares to monopolize the court and make waves.” Later on the emperor snubbed him and his proposals. He was demoted as the Taifu of Master Changsha.

贾生既辞往行，闻长沙卑湿，自以寿不得长，又以適去，意不自得。及渡湘水，为赋以吊屈原。其辞曰：
So, Jia Sheng set off and headed for Changsha. He learned that it was humid there, and worried that he might not live long in such a climate. Besides, as he was demoted there, he felt quite dismal. When he arrived River Xiang, he chanted an ode to honor Qu Yuan. The ode reads:

共承嘉惠兮，俟罪长沙。侧闻屈原兮，自沉汩罗。造托湘流兮，敬吊先生。遭世罔极兮，乃陨厥身。呜呼哀哉，逢时不祥。鸾凤伏窜兮，鸱枭翱翔。阘茸尊显兮，谗谀得志；贤圣逆曳兮，方正倒植。世谓伯夷贪兮，谓盗跖廉；莫邪为顿兮，铅刀为铦。于嗟嚜嚜兮，生之无故！斡弃周鼎兮宝康瓠，腾驾罢牛兮骖蹇驴，骥垂两耳兮服盐车。章甫荐屦兮，渐不可久；嗟苦先生兮，独离此咎！
Talented as we are, we are both exiled to Changsha. I have heard that Qu Yuan you drowned yourself in Miluo River, and I want to honor you by River Xiang. The world is so dishonest and capricious that you have lost your life. Alas! You were not born to the right time! Phoenixes run away and take shelters, while owls and evil birds fly high in the sky. Base and mean people become distinguished, and obsequious people become successful. Virtuousness is pulled down, and uprightness is reversed. The world seems to find Boyi avaricious and Daotuo upright. The world seems to find Moye blunt and a knife made of lead sharp. Alas! I feel that my life is wasted! The world discards the priceless tripod caldron descended from the Zhou Dynasty and cherishes the empty and broken earthenware. The world employs worn-out oxen and lame donkeys, while thoroughbred horses are made to drive carriages filled with salts, their ears dropped to the sides of their heads. Hats are crushed and put away in shoes, which cannot serve long. Alas! You must have suffered a lot from this disaster!

讯曰：已矣，国其莫我知，独堙郁兮其谁语？凤漂漂其高遰兮，夫固自缩而远去。袭九渊之神龙兮，沕深潜以自珍。弥融粉爚以隐处兮，夫岂从蚁与蛭螾？所贵圣人之神德兮，远浊而自藏。使骐骥可得系羁兮，岂云异夫犬羊！般纷纷其离此尤兮，亦夫子之辜也！瞝九州而相君兮，何必怀此都也？凤皇翔于千仞之上兮，览德辉而下之；见细德之险（微）〔征〕兮，摇增翮逝而去之。彼寻常之污渎兮，岂能容吞舟之鱼！横江湖之鳣鱏兮，固将制于蚁蝼。
Coda: now that my country does not understand my heart, to whom can I talk? When phoenixes feel cold, they will fly away. The divine dragon in the abyss will dive into the deep water and hide there to preserve itself. It will retreat and draw in its claws rather than associate itself with ants, leeches or earthworms. The most valuable virtue of sages is that they can preserve their loftiness by secluding themselves from the world. If a noble steed can be reined, what is its difference from a dog or a lamb? You are also to blame for such an unmoral world and such disasters! You can find a wise master anywhere in the nine prefectures, why let yourself be bound in this city? The phoenix flies high in the sky, and descends only when it beholds some splendor. When it sees anything suggesting danger or evil, it soars and flies away. How can such a mundane and foul stream swallow a fish that is big enough to swallow a vessel! Big fishes in the rivers will for sure be confined by ants and crickets (once they leave the water).

贾生为长沙王太傅三年，有鸮飞入贾生舍，止于坐隅。楚人命鸮曰“服”。贾生既以適居长沙，长沙卑湿，自以为寿不得长，伤悼之，乃为赋以自广。其辞曰：
In the third year after Jia Sheng was appointed as Taifu of Master Changsha, an owl flied into his room, and seated itself in a corner. People in Chu call owls as “fu”. As Jia Sheng was exiled in Changsha where the climate was humid, he believed that he could not live long. Feeling gloomy, he composed an ode to comfort himself. The ode reads:

单阏之岁兮，四月孟夏，庚子日施兮，服集予舍，止于坐隅，貌甚闲暇。异物来集兮，私怪其故，发书占之兮，策言其度。曰“野鸟入处兮，主人将去”。请问于服兮：“予去何之？吉乎告我，凶言其灾。淹数之度兮，语予其期。”服乃叹息，举首奋翼，口不能言，请对以意。
The hour of Gengzi, sunset, April, midsummer, the year of Ding Mao. An owl flied into my room and rested in a corner leisurely. I felt it odd that such a rare creature would come into my house, so I cast lots to invite some divine explanation for this event. The lot said: “A large wild bird enters the house, which indicates that the master of the house will leave soon.” I inquired the owl: “Where will I go? Go ahead if the answer is propitious, and shut up if the answer is ominous. Is the time already settled? Please tell me the specific date.” The owl sighed without saying anything, its head uplifted and its wings slapping. It could not talk, so please allow me to make a guess on the answer.

万物变化兮，固无休息。斡流而迁兮，或推而还。形气转续兮，变化而嬗。沕穆无穷兮，胡可胜言！祸兮福所倚，福兮祸所伏；忧喜聚门兮，吉凶同域。彼吴强大兮，夫差以败；越栖会稽兮，句践霸世。斯游遂成兮，卒被五刑；傅说胥靡兮，乃相武丁。夫祸之与福兮，何异纠纆。命不可说兮，孰知其极？水激则旱兮，矢激则远。万物回薄兮，振荡相转。云蒸雨降兮，错缪相纷。大专槃物兮，坱扎无垠。天不可与虑兮，道不可与谋。迟数有命兮，恶识其时？
Everything is changing incessantly. Whirlpools are moving back and forth, and energies are evolving and circulating. The changes are so profound, delicate and infinite that no words can describe them! A fortune leans upon a bale, and a bale disguises itself behind a fortune. Depression and happiness go together, while auspice and evilness take place synchronously. Though the kingdom Wu was powerful, Fuchai was nevertheless defeated. Though the kingdom Yue was besieged on Mountain Huiji, Goujian finally dominated the world. Though Li Si succeeded in lobbying Kingdom Qin, he was executed the five chief forms of punishment. Though Fu Shuo was only a prisoner at the beginning, he was appointed as the prime minister of Wuding. Weal and woe are woven together like threads on a rope. Life is not predictable, and who knows what extremity will happen? When water gets furious a drought will come, and when an arrow gets furious it can run a long distance. Things convolute and turn around, while surges wave and transform. Rains fall when clouds are thick, and things are mixed and tumultuous; great powers entangle things infinitely. Heaven is not there to contrive with us, and Tao is not there to bargain with us. Heaven's vengeance is slow but sure, and how can the evils be aware of their time?

且夫天地为炉兮，造化为工；阴阳为炭兮，万物为铜。合散消息兮，安有常则；千变万化兮，未始有极。忽然为人兮，何足控抟；化为异物兮，又何足患！小知自私兮，贱彼贵我；通人大观兮，物无不可。贪夫徇财兮，烈士徇名；夸者死权兮，品庶冯生。怵迫之徒兮，或趋西东；大人不曲兮，亿变齐同。拘士系俗兮，攌如囚拘；至人遗物兮，独与道俱。众人或或兮，好恶积意；真人淡漠兮，独与道息。释知遗形兮，超然自丧；寥廓忽荒兮，与道翱翔。乘流则逝兮，得坻则止；纵躯委命兮，不私与己。其生若浮兮，其死若休；澹乎若深渊之静，泛乎若不系之舟。不以生故自宝兮，养空而浮；德人无累兮，知命不忧。细故葪兮，何足以疑！
The universe is a stove, and the nature is a craftsman. Yin and Yang energies are firewood, and everything on the earth is copper. People meet and part in an erratic fashion. Changes are numerous and infinite. It is beyond control that a thing on the earth is suddenly transformed into a human being. And there is no need to worry if a human being is transformed into a rare creature! A base person is selfish, regarding oneself as important and others as insignificant. A generous person is open, and will not be fussy at all. Greedy people die for wealth, and heroic people die for their names. Extravagant people die for powers, and they will grow resentful if their ranks are not high enough. People that are afraid of persecution run away. Sagacious people are upright and unselfish, and will preserve their merits through misfortunes; stiff people will be confined by mundane customs like prisoners; unconventional people give up their desire for material wealth and only follow divine orders; common people remain unaspirant and confused, and are constantly bothered by worldly happiness or resentment; enlightened people are indifferent and peaceful and care only about Tao; people dedicated to Buddhism throw away their carnal desires and become saintly. They go with streams and stop at islets. They submit themselves to the will of Heaven heroically and forget themselves. Their lives are amorphous and their deaths are crushing. They are as tranquil as deep water, and as unfettered as an unanchored boat. They do not overstress the importance of their lives, but preserve their openness to keep mobilized. Upright people are free from worries, because they are aware of their destinies and are not troubled. There is no need to worry about trivial things and petty troubles!

后岁余，贾生征见。孝文帝方受釐，坐宣室。上因感鬼神事，而问鬼神之本。贾生因具道所以然之状。至夜半，文帝前席。既罢，曰：“吾久不见贾生，自以为过之，今不及也。”居顷之，拜贾生为梁怀王太傅。梁怀王，文帝之少子，爱，而好书，故令贾生傅之。文帝复封淮南厉王子四人皆为列侯。贾生谏，以为患之兴自此起矣。贾生数上疏，言诸侯或连数郡，非古之制，可稍削之。文帝不听。居数年，怀王骑，堕马而死，无后。贾生自伤为傅无状，哭泣岁余，亦死。贾生之死时年三十三矣。及孝文崩，孝武皇帝立，举贾生之孙二人至郡守，而贾嘉最好学，世其家，与余通书。至孝昭时，列为九卿。
Several years later, Jia Sheng implored for a meeting with the emperor. Emperor Xiaowen had just received some sacrificial meat, and was now taking a rest in Room Xuan. As he was troubled by things about spirits and gods, the emperor inquired about their origin. Jia Sheng answered his questions fluently and assuredly. At the middle of the night, Emperor Wen moved his seat forward, and said: “It has been a long time since my previous meeting with Jia Sheng. I thought I could excel him, but now I see that I still cannot.” Soon after, he acknowledged Jia Sheng as Taifu, the tutor of Master Lianghuai. Master Lianghuai was the younger son of Emperor Wen. He was beloved and was interested in literature, therefore the emperor asked Jia Sheng to teach him. Emperor Wen also appointed the son of Master Li of Huainan and other three persons as marquises. Jia Sheng opposed this, as he saw this appointment as the beginning of a disaster. Jia Sheng proposed several times, saying that the seigneurs would join their regions, and the emperor should reduce their powers a little since what the emperor was doing now was not a usual practice. Emperor Wen did not listen to him. Several years later, when Master Huai was riding one day, he fell off from the back of the horse and died, leaving no offspring behind him. Jia Sheng blamed himself for this accident and cried his eyes out. Several years later he also died at thirty-three years old. After Emperor Xiaowen died, Emperor Xiaowu ascended the throne. He appointed two grandsons of Jia Sheng as Junshou. Of the two persons, Jia Jia is the more industrious one who has inherited the traditions of his family. He often writes me. During the reign of Emperor Xiaozhao, he was appointed as Jiuqing, one of the nine heads in the central government.

太史公曰：余读《离骚》、《天问》、《招魂》、《哀郢》，悲其志。适长沙，观屈原所自沉渊，未尝不垂涕，想见其为人。及见贾生吊之，又怪屈原以彼其材，游诸侯，何国不容，而自令若是。读《服鸟赋》，同死生，轻去就，又爽然自失矣。
Tai Shi Gong’s comments: I have read Li Sao, Tian Wen, Zhao Hun and Ai Ying, and am moved by the ambitions conveyed in these works. When I visited Changsha and stood before the pool where Qu Yuan had drowned himself, I also shed tears and imagined what kind of person he must have been. However, when I saw Jia Sheng honor him, I blamed Qu Yuan. Gifted as he was, how come that he was not accepted among the seigneurs, was ousted, and suffered such a tragic ending? When I read Fu Niao Fu, I totally share his feelings about death and destinies, and am totally engrossed by his work.