Ahura

Ah, homeward bound I go! Why not go home, seeing that my field and garden with weeds are overgrown? Myself have made my soul serf to my body: why have vain regrets and mourn alone?
歸去來兮！田園將蕪胡不歸？既自以心為行役，奚惆悵而獨悲？

Fret not over bygones and the forward journey take. Only a short distance have I gone astray, and I know to-day I am right, if yesterday was a complete mistake.
悟已往之不諫，知來者之可追。實迷途其未遠，覺今是而昨非。

Lightly floats and drifts the boat, and gently flows and flaps my gown. I inquire the road of the wayfarer, and sulk at the dimness of the dawn.
舟搖搖以輕颺，風飄飄而吹衣。問征夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。

Then when I catch sight of my old roofs, joy will my steps quicken. Servants will be there to bid me welcome, and waiting at the door are the greeting children.
乃瞻衡宇，載欣載奔。僕童歡迎，稚子候門。

Gone to seed, perhaps, are my garden paths, but there will still be the chrysanthemums and the pine! I shall lead the youngest boy in by the head, and on the table stands a cup full of wine!
三徑就荒，松菊猶存。攜幼入室，有酒盈樽。

Holding the pot and cup I give myself a drink, happy to see in the courtyard the hanging bough. I lean upon the southern window with an immense satisfaction, and note that the little place is cosy enough to walk around.
引壺觴以自酌，眄庭柯以怡顏。倚南牕以寄傲，審容膝之易安。

The garden grows more familiar and interesting with the daily walks. What if no one ever knocks at the always closed door! Carrying a cane I wander at peace, and now and then look aloft to gaze at the blue above.
園日涉成趣，門雖設而常關。策扶老以流憩，時矯首而遐觀。

There the clouds idle away from their mountain recesses without any intent or purpose, and birds, when tired of their wandering flights, will think of home. Darkly then fall the shadows and, ready to come home, I yet fondle the lonely pines and loiter around.
雲無心以出岫， 鳥倦飛而知還。景翳翳以將入，撫孤松而盤桓。

Ah, homeward bound I go! Let me from now on learn to alone! The world and I are not made for one another, and why drive round like one looking for what he has not found?
歸去來兮！請息交以絕遊。世與我而相遺，復駕言兮焉求？

Content shall I be with conversations with my own kin, and there will be music and books to while away the hours. The farmers will come and tell me that spring is here and there will be work to do at the western farm.
悅親戚之情話，樂琴書以消憂。農人告余以春及，將有事乎西疇。

Some order covered wagons; some row in small boats. Sometimes we explore quiet, unknown ponds, and sometimes we climb over the steep, rugged mounds.
或命巾車，或櫂孤舟。既窈窕以尋壑，亦崎嶇而經丘。

There are trees, happy of heart, grow marvellously green, and spring water gushes forth to their seasons, and feel that thus, too, shall my life go its round.
木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。羨萬物之得時，感吾生之行休。

Enough! How long yet shall I this mortal shape keep? Why not take life as it comes, and why hustle and bustle like one on an errand bound?
已矣乎！寓形宇內復幾時，曷不委心任去留，胡為遑遑欲何之？

Wealth and power are not my ambitions, and unattainable is the abode of the god! I would go forth alone on a bright morning, or perhaps, planting my cane, begin to pluck the weeds and till the ground.
富貴非吾願，帝鄉不可期。懷良辰以孤往，或植杖而耘耔。

Or I would compose a poem beside a clear stream, or perhaps go up Tungkao and make a long-drawn call on the top of the hill. So would I be content to live and die, and without questionings of the heart, gladly accept Heaven's will.
登東皋以舒嘯，臨清流而賦詩。（案：此兩句翻譯顛倒）聊乘化以歸盡，樂夫天命復奚疑。

(Yutang Lin, The Importance of Living, Beijing: Foregin Language Teaching and Research Press, 2009, pp. 124-126.)