In the year of Xuan Yi and Zhi Xu,
The lunar month ends with Wu She.
The capital is pelted by rain and hail,
Small as pellets, large as fists.
Leaves from forest branches scatter down,
Crows and kites break their wings in flight.
Roof tiles crack and shatter under the blows,
Residents are thrown into panic, travelers stand aghast.
At first, I thought a giant whirlwind churned the River Lord's palace,
Treasures from the deep scattering, glinting and flashing.
Then I wondered if a long dragon was driven across the clear sky,
Its copious tears suddenly falling thin and swift.
Layered crystal shatters,
Sprayed pearls slide smooth.
Those who discern Heaven's craft,
How dreadful a scene they behold!
I've heard when a sage reigns, winter and summer never stray,
Nurturing the two energies, they do not clash.
Breaking clods and sealing twigs show no difference,
No need for augury with feathers to test the wind's corner.
Now our Son of Heaven holds the pole star's balance,
Turns the Dipper's pivot, his bright rule smooth and favorable, all evils scorched away.
Why then has the essence not been trusted, icy rain falling from the sky's curtain?
If it wishes to spread wide blessings, why not be sweet rain,
Moistening the parched and cracked heavy armor?
If it wishes to enrich the soil's veins, why not be dew at dawn,
Soaking richly, spreading widely, gradually soaking through?
If it wishes to show punishment, why not be white frost,
When the four horses appear and fall, grass and trees yellow and wither?
If it wishes to halt hibernating insects, to foster growth,
Why not be the three snows of Jiaping, driving locusts underground a thousand feet?
Some say water vapor concentrates and will not disperse,
Why not be the cold ice of the long river's jade banks,
That can be stored in icehouses to aid distribution?
Some say yin energy oppresses yang, they do not blend,
Why not be the five-colored auspicious mist,
In harmony responding, heralding abundant harvests, displaying the emperor's virtue?
This hail, in relief, is not like rain or dew,
In bleakness, not like frost or snow,
In solidity, not like the severe freeze of ice,
In dispersal, not like the lush density of cloud and mist.
Heaven does not wish to show punishment, how could it be used for play?
Han Confucians' theories of portents,
Are numerous and far from uniform.
Some say worthy and evil change places,
Some say taxes are harsh and exacting,
Some say wives and concubines lose proper order,
Some say ministers arrogate the law.
The dark Way is deep and remote,
Forced connections often are far-fetched.
Confucius, teacher for a hundred generations,
In the Spring and Autumn Annals warned against encroachment.
This change, recorded in all books,
Shows the ducal house gradually declining and削弱.
From below encroaching above is called usurpation,
Using soft to change hard is called stripping.
Boiling water poured into a cold spring,
Congealing cold overcomes sweltering heat.
Warm rain meets yin atmosphere,
Naturally congeals into solid ice.
The season is at autumn's end,
This principle is especially clear.
Wind rises from Geng, Geng issues its command.
The sun travels west, west governs killing.
Numbers reach nine changes, metal then follows transformation.
Greatly it becomes war, smallly punishment,
Inside and out, all is decided in its time.
Heaven and earth just now store away,
Pestilential signs arise in the capital Luo.
Is it not that Shao Hao holding the square lacked purity?
Is it not that Ru Shou as regulator had颠倒 errors?
Is it not that Ji伯 swallowed his voice and did not sweep away?
The Green Maiden protected evil and did not eradicate?
The vault of heaven fiercely stirs its stern might,
Heavy yin congeals and固, scattering in零落.
I wish the sage king, seeing this, would grasp the cosmic reins,
Use decisive judgment, promote the worthy and good,屏除邪 and evil.
Sweep clean the阴 dust from the Chanyu's court,
Let阳 and harmony吹遍 Zou子's pitch-pipes.
The great sun, majestic, shines on the nine provinces,
Cold and warmth follow order, all grains ripen.
If Heaven rains pearls, truly laughable,
I ask to adorn the twelve tassels of the imperial crown,
The tassels of dragon banners and harmonious bells.