In the winter of the year Xīn-Mǎo, during Huángyòu reign, the nineteenth day of the tenth month.
Censor Táng Zǐfāng, with forthright words, first approached the throne.
Said, 'At court there is a great villain, whom I, Jiè, detest and resent.
I wish to list one or two matters; my duty is not recklessly assumed.
The great villain is Chancellor Bó, whose wicked deeds are unmatched in the world.
Formerly, governing Chéngdū, he fawned and flattered the noble favorites.
Silver ornaments adorned the left sable tail; in deep winter he dispatched swift couriers.
The court ladies would boast extravagantly, receiving ten yì of gold as gifts.
They said, sent to the envoy, 'Weave patterns intricate and fine.'
Thus they exhausted the skill of Western Shǔ, hastening day and night with urgent whips.
Red warp and weft with golden threads, arranged in patterns of eight and seven.
Each pair of lotus blossoms, under lantern light, revealed their heart's design.
In a few days, several lengths were made, carried forth with ghostly speed.
Next year, viewing the Lantern Festival, clad in robes, steady and worthy in quality.
Dazzling, they startled the Emperor's eyes, swiftly drawing mild reproach.
Upon hearing whence they came, the cunning reply seemed not amiss.
And said, 'To honor the Supreme, for a concubine, how could it be assured?'
Thus the Son of Heaven's countenance softened, all things tolerated and begged.
Now I, your servant, can roughly relate; his crafty deceptions are not few.
Stealing authority and selling profit, in order pushing this and that.
This is a dark and sly hero; with benevolent resolve, he should be bravely dismissed.
If peace and order are truly desired, among the ministers, none is like Bì.
Bì, too, is obscure in life, let alone I, who do not bend or flatter.
My words are the words of all under heaven; my own body, how could I spare?
By the ruler's side, there are sidelong glances, mute scowls and横横 insults.
Pointing, they say I deceive the throne; 'Dismiss you back to humble thatch.'
At that time, I declared this heart, still not avoiding axe and block.
Even if ordered to ward off demons, I'd gladly accept it like sweet honey.
Since it cannot be feared, again with forceful words I stifle.
The Emperor's voice also rose stern; before the memorial was fully read,
Jiè's demeanor remained quite calm, yet fierce men's courage turned to tremble.
Immediately贬贬 to the spring beyond the ridges, swiftly wishing to become a foreign thing.
Officials inside and outside in tumult; Your Majesty, why not fully know?
Who then dared to rescue? Xiāng held the historian's pen.
Said, 'If this is not tolerated, great beauty would be thwarted.'
At dawn, the middle censor, holding his petition, firmly restated.
Jiè's words may seem mad, but how could not one in a hundred be true?
Lest harm the harmony of the realm, pray do not act in bitter haste.
Quickly允许迁 to Yīngshān; on the road, sighs and exclamations.
The next day, proclaiming the white hemp edict, joy and satisfaction quite overflowed.
Sycophants and谏谏 officials together, gone like rotten fluff and lice.
Among them, those who gained profit, secretly laughed like clams and snipes.
Yīngzhōu, five thousand miles away, a lean horse trudges wearily.
Poisonous snakes spew morning mist, day swallowed by mountain vapors.
Wife and children not on the same path; wind and waves pass demon caves.
Life or death unknown still; rain-soaked lodge, sorrow gnaws the bone.
Hungry servants sometimes behind, sometimes ahead, following apes to gather acorns.
Beyond the woods, much sky is hidden; yellow oranges mingle with red tangerines.
Ten thousand households brew and sell; pacifying the distant, no prohibitive laws.
Drunk, no need for coin; sober, play the lute and zither.
Mountains and waters still strange and wondrous, already able to dissolve worry and gloom.
Do not become the Chu minister,怀抱 sand, sinking into the Mì.
In Western Hàn, Méi Zǐzhēn, left to become a market guard in Wú.
As a guard, he felt no shame,何况 this assistant carriage exile?