瘠彼单于马,赠我信都侯。
信都恶顽恶,不使服车辀。
我从南土归,涉河假扁舟。
将趋未央朝,无乘谁可求。
信都固朋义,百乏能以周。
遗此燕山骏,买鞯安辔头。
朝斩一束刍,夕煮一盎麰。
渐平峥嵘骨,幸骑历冬秋。
自春锁礼闱,既出被轻囚。
饱秣不复驾,狂跃如生虬。
更番一老卒,湔刷常预愁。
前欲往城东,始跨人立侔。
首落而尾掷,衰躯几坠投。
迩者将赎金,行当谒冕旒。
私呼贵邻兵,言调变驯柔。
晨往及暮还,踣地气不收。
彼兵隶天厩,国马皆仰驺。
其能量马力,国马安得稠。
以吾穷使然,尔能亦可羞。
瘠彼单于马,赠我信都侯。
信都恶顽恶,不使服车辀。
我从南土归,涉河假扁舟。
将趋未央朝,无乘谁可求。
信都固朋义,百乏能以周。
遗此燕山骏,买鞯安辔头。
朝斩一束刍,夕煮一盎麰。
渐平峥嵘骨,幸骑历冬秋。
自春锁礼闱,既出被轻囚。
饱秣不复驾,狂跃如生虬。
更番一老卒,湔刷常预愁。
前欲往城东,始跨人立侔。
首落而尾掷,衰躯几坠投。
迩者将赎金,行当谒冕旒。
私呼贵邻兵,言调变驯柔。
晨往及暮还,踣地气不收。
彼兵隶天厩,国马皆仰驺。
其能量马力,国马安得稠。
以吾穷使然,尔能亦可羞。
那匹来自单于之地的马很瘦弱,
是信都侯赠送给我的。
信都侯厌恶它顽劣凶恶的性情,
不让它拉车驾辕。
我从南方归来,
渡河时借了一叶扁舟。
想要赶赴未央宫朝见,
没有坐骑,我能向谁寻求?
信都侯固然看重朋友情义,
我百般匮乏他都能周济。
他留下这匹燕山骏马,
让我去买鞍鞯和辔头。
早晨斩一捆草料,
晚上煮一盆麦粥。
它嶙峋的骨骼渐渐丰盈,
有幸骑着它度过了秋冬。
自从春天被锁在礼部考场,
出来后感觉自己像被轻慢的囚徒。
喂饱后不再驾车,
它狂跳奔腾如同活龙。
轮流由一个老兵看管,
刷洗清洁时常预先发愁。
前些天想去城东,
刚跨上马,它就人立而起与我等高。
马头猛然低下,马尾高高甩起,
我这衰弱的身体几乎坠落。
近来打算用钱赎它,
并将要去朝见天子。
私下叫来贵邻的兵士,
说是要调教它变得驯服温顺。
清晨出去傍晚回来,
马倒地不起,气息奄奄。
那些兵士隶属于天子的马厩,
国家的马匹都仰仗他们喂养。
他们若能估量马的力气,
国马怎能不丰足?
因为我的穷困才导致这样,
你们的无能也实在可羞。
Gaunt is that steed from the Khan's domain,
A gift to me from the Marquis of Xindu.
The Marquis loathed its stubborn, vicious strain,
And would not yoke it to a carriage wood.
Returning from the south, I crossed the stream,
By borrowing a humble boat downstream.
To court at Weiyang Palace I must go,
But lacking a mount, where could I turn, I know?
The Marquis, firm in friendship's sacred tie,
Supplied my hundred wants, he did not shy.
He left this steed from Yanshan's noble breed,
For me to buy a saddle, bridle, steed.
At dawn I'd cut a bundle of fresh hay,
At dusk I'd boil a pot of grain, I'd say.
Its bony frame grew gradually filled,
Through winter and fall, luckily I could ride.
Since spring, locked in the exam hall's confine,
Once freed, I felt like a prisoner light.
Well-fed, no longer harnessed to the cart,
It leaped and plunged like a dragon's wild heart.
An old guard took turns tending to its care,
Washing and brushing, ever full of despair.
I wished to go eastward to the town's gate,
Just mounted, it reared up, matching man's height.
Its head plunged down, its tail flung high in air,
My frail frame nearly fell, in sheer despair.
Lately, to redeem it with gold I planned,
And soon to seek audience with the crown.
I privately called troops from noble land,
To train and tame its wildness, calm it down.
From morning till dusk they toiled, back and forth,
It collapsed, breathless, fallen to the earth.
Those soldiers serve the imperial stable's might,
The state's own steeds all look up to their sight.
If they can gauge a horse's strength and soul,
Why are the state's fine horses not the goal?
Because my poverty has brought this plight,
Your failure, too, is a shameful blight.
借物喻人,揭示人才选拔的治理困境。
诗人借哀叹瘦马,抒发对人才遭际与世事不公的感慨。
本诗为五言古诗,押平声韵。
东山书院编辑整理