经邹鲁祭孔子而叹之 [唐玄宗]

【作品简介】

　　《经邹鲁祭孔子而叹之》由唐玄宗创作，被选入《唐诗三百首》。唐开开元十三年（公元725年），玄宗亲祭孔子而作此诗。诗意在“感叹”孔子的际遇。孔子一生生活复杂坎坷，诗只选择他的栖遑不遇的一面，简单几言，就概括了孔子生活复杂坎坷。首两句是叹惜，三、四句是叹美，五、六句是再叹惜，后两句再叹美。处处用典，句句切题，整齐有序，一丝不乱。诗人是帝王，曾经治理出开元盛世，所以作诗取意自然高人一筹。全诗命意构思，严正得体。沈德潜说：“孔子之道，从何处赞叹？故只就不遇立言，此即运意高处。”纪昀说：“只以唱叹取神最妙。”

【中英对照翻译】

经邹鲁祭孔子而叹之

唐玄宗

夫子何为者， 栖栖一代中。

地犹鄹氏邑， 宅即鲁王宫。

叹凤嗟身否， 伤麟怨道穷。

今看两楹奠， 当与梦时同。

I PASS THROUGH THE LU DUKEDOM

WITH A SIGH AND A SACRIFICE FOR CONFUCIUS

Tang Xunzong

O Master, how did the world repay

Your life of long solicitude? --

The Lords of Zou have misprized your land,

And your home has been used as the palace of Lu....

You foretold that when phoenixes vanished, your fortunes too would end,

You knew that the captured unicorn would be a sign of the dose of your teaching....

Can this sacrifice I watch, here between two temple pillars,

Be the selfsame omen of death you dreamed of long ago?