贈蔡子篤

翼翼飛鸞，

載飛載東。

我友云徂，

言戾舊邦。

舫舟翩翩，

以泝大江。

蔚矣荒涂，

時行靡通。

慨我懷慕，

君子所同。

悠悠世路，

亂離多阻。

濟岱江衡，

邈焉異處。

風流云散，

一別如雨。

人生實難，

愿其弗與。

瞻望遐路，

允企伊佇。

烈烈冬日，

肅肅凄風。

潛鱗在淵，

歸雁載軒。

茍非鴻雕，

孰能飛翻？

雖則追慕，

予思罔宣。

瞻望東路，

慘愴增嘆。

率彼江流，

爰逝靡期。

君子信誓，

不遷于時。

及子同寮，

生死固之。

何以贈行？

言授斯詩。

中心孔悼，

涕淚漣洏。

嗟爾君子，

如何勿思？

To Cai Zidu

With fluttering wings the phoenix flies,

it flies towards the east.

Now my friend is taking his leave

to return to his old home.

The sail flaps as the boat floats

along the great Yangtze River.

Dense and wild will be your road,

there will be no smooth passage.

How deep is my longing for you,

and I know you feel the same.

Endless are the roads of the world,

obstructed with separations and chaos.

The rivers and mountains in the north and south

are sundered by vast distances.

The wind rises, the clouds scatter,

as we separate like rain from heaven.

Man’s life is truly hard,

we can’t always have our wish.

I gaze along the distant road,

lingering, perched on tiptoe.

Fiercely cold are the winter days,

desolately sighs the wind.

Fish hide themselves in the deep,

returning geese are hovering in the sky.

If one is not a swan or a hawk,

how can one expect to soar?

Even though I want to seek for you,

I f ind no relief from my longing.

I gaze along the eastward road,

and sigh with a sorrowful heart.

You left along the flowing river,

on and on with no sure date of return.

The true oath taken by gentlemen

will never change because of time.

With you I once was a companion,

I will remain one throughout my life and death.

What can I give to you at parting,

except this poem?

Saddened deeply in my heart,

I cannot check my flowing tears.

Ah, such a friend as you are!

How can I not miss you?