In the spring of the fourth year of

第一段 • 慶曆四年春，滕子京謫守巴陵郡。 • In the spring of the fourth year of Qingli, Teng Zijing was exiled to Baling jun to be the prefect there. • 修改建議： • In the spring of the fourth year of Qingli Era, (my friend) Teng Zijing was demoted to be the prefect of Baling county.

第一段 • 越明年，政通人和，百廢具興。 • In the second year of his office, because of his excellent administration, people lived in peace and contentment, and all previous neglected matters were taken care of. • 修改建議： • After a year, his excellent rule gained people’s contentment and brought the ruined society back to prosperity.

第二段 • 予觀夫巴陵勝狀，在洞庭一湖。銜遠山，吞長江… • The beauty of Baling centers round the Dongting Lake, which holds the mountain ranges in the distance and swallows the water of the Yangtze River. • 修改建議： • I see the Dongting Lake as the most beautiful scene in Baling. The lake holds the mountain ranges in the distance and absorbs the water of the Yangtze River.

第二段 • 朝暉夕陰，氣象萬千 • Dazzling in the morning sun and fading in the gray evening mist, it affords a myriad of scenes. • 修改建議： • Dazzling in the morning and fading in the evening, , it affords a myriad of scenes.

第二段 • 然則北通巫峽，南極瀟湘，遷客騷人，多會於此。 • This beautiful scenic spot is linked with the Wu Gorge in the north and the Xiao and Xiang Rivers in the south. Exiled officials and poets often gather here. • 修改建議： • This beautiful scenic spot is linked with the Wu Gorge in the north and the Xiao and Xiang Rivers in the south, so those exiled officials and poets often gather here.

第二段 • 覽物之情，得無異乎？ • How could there be no difference in their feelings? • 修改建議： • When they see the scene, how could there be no difference in their feelings?

第三段 • 陰風怒號，濁浪排空；日星隱耀，山嶽潛形 • Chilly winds howl and turbid waves surge sky high. The sun and the stars lose their luster, and the mountain ranges are scarcely visible. • 修改建議： • Chilly winds howl and turbid waves surge. The sun and stars lose their luster, and the hills and mountains hide their shapes.

第三段 • 商旅不行，檣傾楫摧 • Merchants and travelers have to put off their voyage, for the masts of the ships have collapsed and their oars broken. • 修改建議： • Merchants and travelers are held up for the masts and oars are broken.

第三段 • 薄暮冥冥，虎嘯猿啼 • It is dark towards evening, and the roaring of tigers and the cry of monkeys can be heard. • 修改建議： • In the dark evening tigers roar and monkeys cry.

第四段 • 沙鷗翔集，錦鱗游泳 • The water birds are playing, some fluttering in the sky, some gathering together on the sandbars. Fishes of varied hues are swimming merrily in the water. • 修改建議： • The gulls sometimes flutter in the sky and sometimes gather on the sandbars, and the fishes of varied hues are swimming in the water.

第四段 • 岸芷汀蘭，鬱鬱青青 • The sweet-smelling grass by the banks and the faintly scented orchids on the sandy beaches are lush and green. • 修改建議： • The angelica by the banks and the orchids on the sandbars are lush and green.

第四段 • 把酒臨風，其喜洋洋者矣！ • With a cup of wine in the gentle breeze, he will enjoy the greatest happiness in life! • 修改建議： • With a cup of wine in the gentle breeze, he will enjoy a great happiness!

第五段 • 不以物喜，不以己悲。 • (The reason is that) they were not thrown into ecstasies over their success, nor felt depressed over their failures. • 修改建議： • (The reason is that) their emotions were not affected by the environment nor their own gains and losses.

第五段 • 居廟堂之高，則憂其民；處江湖之遠，則憂其君。 • When they were in high positions at court, they were concerned about people. When they were in remote places, they were concerned about their emperor. • 修改建議： • When they were in high positions at the imperial court / government, they worried about the people. When they were in remote places, they worried about their emperor.

第五段 • 先天下之憂而憂，後天下之樂而樂 • To be first to worry about the affairs of the state and the last to enjoy oneself. • 修改建議： • To be the first to worry and the last to enjoy.