Chinese Classical Literature

《催租行》是南宋著名诗人范成大的一首反映地方官吏向农民敲榨勒索的作品。 《催租行》 范成大 输租得钞官更催，踉蹡里正敲门来。 手持文昼杂嗔喜：“我亦来营醉归尔！” 床头悭囊大如拳，扑破正有三百钱： 不堪与君成一醉，聊复偿君草鞋费。 Pressing for Tax Payment Fan Chengda The farmer has got a receipt, but the yamen still presses for tax payment— In staggering steps a sheriff comes to knock at the door. Tax receipt in hand, he mingles joy with resentment: “I’m here just to ask for a drink before going home.” “The piggy bank by my bedside is the size of a fist; Break it and you’ll find there three hundred coins. This money isn’t enough for you to get drunk, But it will reimburse you for wearing out your straw sandals.”

《州桥》是宋代诗人范成大的作品。此诗为过汴京时所作，作者以白描手法，撷取了一个特写镜头，表现了沦陷区人民盼望光复的殷切心情，隐晦地流露了作者对议和不战政策的不满。全诗在朴素的语言中把遗民盼望王师北返的急切而又失望的心情刻画得极为真实感人。 《州桥》 范成大 州桥南北是天街，父老年年等驾回。 忍泪失声询使者，几时真有六军来？ At Tianhan Bridge Fan Chengda The thoroughfare of the lost capital runs north and south of the bridge; Year in, year out, the elders there long for the Emperor’s return. Choked in sobs and in a hoarse voice, with the envoys they plead: “When shall we see the arrival of our armies?”

《咏河市歌者》是南宋诗人范成大创作的一首七言绝句。诗起句以问句形式，为下句作铺垫，次句自答，补足题目，写出歌者的心声。三、四句使用流水对，进一步阐述歌者的歌声中何以有不平的音符，从对音乐的感受转移到直接的描述，把歌者内心的惨痛与生活的艰难完全表现出来，也表明自己同情的立场。 《咏河市歌者》 范成大 岂是从容唱《渭城》，个中当有不平鸣。 可怜日晏忍饥面，强作春深求友声。 A Singer at the Riverside Market Fan Chengda How can this be called singing “Song of Weicheng” with ease? There is in it a note crying against injustice. A pitiful sight – the day is waning and hunger showing in his face, Yet he is forcing out a voice in imitation of an oriole’s warbling!