4月8日

百字銘
唐 李世民 ( 599~649 )

耕夫役役，多無隔夜之糧；
織女波波，少有禦寒之衣。
日食三餐，當思農夫之苦；
身穿一縷，每念織女之勞。
寸絲千命，匙飯百鞭；
無功受祿，寢食不安。
交有德之朋，絕無義之友；
取本分之財，戒無名之酒。
常懷克己之心，閉卻是非之口：
若能依朕斯言，富貴功名可久。

──選自《醒世詩詞選》

April 8th

A Hundred-Word Inscription
Li Shimin (599 - 649, Tang Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang and Hsin-Yu Huang

Farmers labor industriously,
    yet most are without food to last overnight;
Weaveresses work tirelessly,
    yet few have garments to fend off the cold.

When taking the three meals of the day,
    be reminded of the farmers’ painstaking efforts;
For every thread that covers the body,
    be mindful of the weaveresses’ laborious works.

Every inch of thread is spun from
    the lives of thousands of silkworms;
Each scoop of rice is harvested from
    a hundred whippings of the buffalo.
To reap without sowing
    means meals and sleeps without peace.

Befriend the virtuous,
    never the unrighteous;
Only take what one has rightfully earned,
    never accept drinks without a proper cause.

Always keep in mind to restrain oneself,
    remain quiet over gossips.
Shall one be able to follow these words of mine,
    prosperity and honor shall prevail.

── from Xingshi Shici Xuan (Selection of Poetry and Verses on Awakening the World)