孟郊诗
Poems of Meng Jiao
Index
劝酒
Have a Drink
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白日无定影 清江无定波 人无百年寿 百年复如何 |
Broad daylight, without a shadow. Clear river, without a ripple. If you're not living a full lifetime, What's the good of all these years? |
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堂上陈美酒 堂下列清歌 劝君金曲卮 勿谓朱颜酡 |
In your hall, set out fine wine. Fill your hall with bright song. Sing and drink, only the best. Don't say, I can't indulge. |
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松柏岁岁茂 丘陵日日多 君看终南山 千古青峨峨 |
Honesty and virtue increase by years. Gravestones increase day by day. Look out on these Zhongnan mountains, A thousand ages of beautiful majesty. |
-- 孟郊
废话
Not doing a thing is never a virtue. Not doing isn't even Daoist non-action, which is better translated as "unmediated action." Only virtuous doing is a virtue. And a virtuous human being can do other human things, like drink. Or smoke. In the end, such things are no more important than a chosen hairstyle or a fashion of clothes. It's what you actually do that matters.