Good-Bye to the People of Hangchow

More Translations from the Chinese, by Arthur Waley, [1919], at sacred-texts.com

p. 78

[46] GOOD-BYE TO THE PEOPLE OF HANGCHOW

(A.D. 824)

Elders and officers line the returning road;
Wine and soup load the parting table.
I have not ruled you with the wisdom of Shao Kung; ¹
What is the reason your tears should fall so fast?
My taxes were heavy, though many of the people were poor;
The farmers were hungry, for often their fields were dry.
All I did was to dam the water of the Lake ²
And help a little in a year when things were bad.

Footnotes

78:1 A legendary ruler who dispensed justice sitting under a wild pear-tree.

78:2 Po Chü-i built the dam on the Western Lake which is still known as "Po's dam."