瘠彼單於馬,贈我信都侯。
信都惡頑惡,不使服車輈。
我從南土歸,涉河假扁舟。
將趨未央朝,無乘誰可求。
信都固朋義,百乏能以周。
遺此燕山駿,買韉安轡頭。
朝斬一束芻,夕煑一盎麰。
漸平崢嶸骨,幸騎歷冬秋。
自春鎖禮闈,既出被輕囚。
飽秣不復駕,狂躍如生虯。
更番一老卒,湔刷常預愁。
前欲往城東,始跨人立侔。
首落而尾擲,衰軀幾墜投。
邇者將贖金,行當謁冕旒。
私呼貴鄰兵,言調變馴柔。
晨往及暮還,踣地氣不收。
彼兵隸天廐,國馬皆仰騶。
其能量馬力,國馬安得稠。
以吾窮使然,爾能亦可羞。
瘠彼單於馬,贈我信都侯。
信都惡頑惡,不使服車輈。
我從南土歸,涉河假扁舟。
將趨未央朝,無乘誰可求。
信都固朋義,百乏能以周。
遺此燕山駿,買韉安轡頭。
朝斬一束芻,夕煑一盎麰。
漸平崢嶸骨,幸騎歷冬秋。
自春鎖禮闈,既出被輕囚。
飽秣不復駕,狂躍如生虯。
更番一老卒,湔刷常預愁。
前欲往城東,始跨人立侔。
首落而尾擲,衰軀幾墜投。
邇者將贖金,行當謁冕旒。
私呼貴鄰兵,言調變馴柔。
晨往及暮還,踣地氣不收。
彼兵隸天廐,國馬皆仰騶。
其能量馬力,國馬安得稠。
以吾窮使然,爾能亦可羞。
那匹來自單于之地的馬很瘦弱,
是信都侯贈送給我的。
信都侯厭惡它頑劣兇惡的性情,
不讓它拉車駕轅。
我從南方歸來,
渡河時借了一葉扁舟。
想要趕赴未央宮朝見,
沒有坐騎,我能向誰尋求?
信都侯固然看重朋友情義,
我百般匱乏他都能賙濟。
他留下這匹燕山駿馬,
讓我去買鞍韉和轡頭。
早晨斬一捆草料,
晚上煮一盆麥粥。
它嶙峋的骨骼漸漸豐盈,
有幸騎著它度過了秋冬。
自從春天被鎖在禮部考場,
出來後感覺自己像被輕慢的囚徒。
餵飽後不再駕車,
它狂跳奔騰如同活龍。
輪流由一個老兵看管,
刷洗清潔時常預先發愁。
前些天想去城東,
剛跨上馬,它就人立而起與我等高。
馬頭猛然低下,馬尾高高甩起,
我這衰弱的身體幾乎墜落。
近來打算用錢贖它,
並將要去朝見天子。
私下叫來貴鄰的兵士,
說是要調教它變得馴服溫順。
清晨出去傍晚回來,
馬倒地不起,氣息奄奄。
那些兵士隸屬於天子的馬廄,
國家的馬匹都仰仗他們餵養。
他們若能估量馬的力氣,
國馬怎能不豐足?
因為我的窮困才導致這樣,
你們的無能也實在可羞。
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,揭示人才選拔的治理困境。
詩人借哀嘆瘦馬,抒發對人才遭際與世事不公的感慨。
本詩為五言古詩,押平聲韻。
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