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唐 Tang · 诗 Poem

贼退示官吏

Showing, the, Officials, after, the, Bandits, Retreated

元结

Yuan Jie

昔岁逢太平，山林二十年。
泉源在庭户，洞壑当门前。
井税有常期，日晏犹得眠。
忽然遭世变，数岁亲戎旃。
今来典斯郡，山夷又纷然。
城小贼不屠，人贫伤可怜。
是以陷邻境，此州独见全。
使臣将王命，岂不如贼焉。
今彼征敛者，迫之如火煎。
谁能绝人命，以作时世贤。
思欲委符节，引竿自刺船。
将家就鱼麦，归老江湖边。

In, the, former, years, I, met, with, the, peace,
In, the, woods, and, the, mountains, twenty, years.
The, springs, at, the, courtyard, and, the, door,
The, caves, and, the, valleys, before, the, gate.
The, field, tax, had, the, fixed, periods,
The, sun, late, I, could, still, sleep.
Suddenly, the, world, met, with, the, changes,
Several, years, I, myself, touched, the, war, banners.
Now, I, come, to, govern, this, commandery,
The, mountain, tribes, again, in, the, uproar.
The, city, small, the, bandits, do, not, slaughter,
The, people, poor, pitiable, the, harm.
Thus, they, fell, into, the, neighboring, regions,
This, province, alone, seen, complete.
The, envoy, bringing, the, king's, command,
Would, he, not, be, worse, than, the, bandits.
Now, those, who, levy, the, taxes,
Press, them, like, the, fire, the, boiling.
Who, can, cut, off, the, lives, of, the, people,
To, be, the, worthy, of, the, times.
Thinking, to, resign, the, tallies, and, the, seals,
To, pull, the, pole, and, to, pole, the, boat, myself.
To, take, the, family, to, the, fish, and, the, wheat,
To, return, and, grow, old, by, the, rivers, and, the, lakes.

Listen

Meaning

A poem of the officials and the outcry, written by Yuan Jie. In the former years I met with the peace, in the woods and the mountains twenty years, the springs at the courtyard and the door — the peace of the opening. Suddenly the world met with the changes, several years I myself touched the war banners — the war of the middle. Now I come to govern this commandery, the mountain tribes again in the uproar, the city small the bandits do not slaughter — the office of the middle. And the close's the envoy bringing the king's command, would he not be worse than the bandits — the outcry of the close. The poem is the officials and the outcry: the peace, the war, and the close's worse than the bandits.

往昔我曾逢太平之世，隐居山林二十年。泉源就在庭院之中，洞壑正对门前。井税有固定的期限，日头老高还可得安眠。忽然遭遇世道大变，多年亲近军旅。如今我来治理此州，山夷又纷乱而起。城小，贼寇不来屠掠；百姓贫穷，令人可怜。因此邻境皆被攻陷，唯独此州得以保全。使臣奉王命而来，难道还不如贼寇吗？如今那些横征暴敛的人，逼迫百姓如火烧煎熬。谁能断绝人命，来作当世所谓的贤臣？我想放弃符节官印，撑竿自刺小舟，带着家小去就食鱼麦，归隐于江湖之边。

Appreciation

[Plain Paraphrase] In, the, former, years, I, met, with, the, peace, in, the, woods, and, the, mountains, twenty, years. The, springs, at, the, courtyard, and, the, door, the, caves, and, the, valleys, before, the, gate. The, field, tax, had, the, fixed, periods, the, sun, late, I, could, still, sleep. Suddenly, the, world, met, with, the, changes, several, years, I, myself, touched, the, war, banners. Now, I, come, to, govern, this, commandery, the, mountain, tribes, again, in, the, uproar. The, city, small, the, bandits, do, not, slaughter, the, people, poor, pitiable, the, harm. Thus, they, fell, into, the, neighboring, regions, this, province, alone, seen, complete. The, envoy, bringing, the, king's, command, would, he, not, be, worse, than, the, bandits. Now, those, who, levy, the, taxes, press, them, like, the, fire, the, boiling. Who, can, cut, off, the, lives, of, the, people, to, be, the, worthy, of, the, times. Thinking, to, resign, the, tallies, and, the, seals, to, pull, the, pole, and, to, pole, the, boat, myself. To, take, the, family, to, the, fish, and, the, wheat, to, return, and, grow, old, by, the, rivers, and, the, lakes. [Structure and Thought] The poem moves from the peace of the woods and the springs, through the war of the banners and the office of the commandery, to the close's the outcry against the levying officials and the wish of the return. [Key Technique] The poem's art is the close of the outcry: the envoy bringing the king's command worse than the bandits, and the close's the resigning of the tallies for the rivers and the lakes — the peace gathered in the war and the close's outcry. [Emotional Tone] Plain, indignant, and retiring: the poem is the peace, the office and the close's outcry.

【白话串讲】元结写《贼退示官吏》：“昔岁逢太平，山林二十年”——“泉源在庭户，洞壑当门前”——“井税有常期，日晏犹得眠”——“忽然遭世变，数岁亲戎旃”——“城小贼不屠，人贫伤可怜”——他写贼退示官吏——城小贼不屠。【意象与手法】昔岁逢太平、泉源在庭户，写昔日隐居之乐；忽然遭世变、今来典斯郡，写今日临民之难；城小贼不屠、人贫伤可怜，写百姓之贫苦；结以“使臣将王命，岂不如贼焉”直斥苛敛之吏甚于贼寇，“思欲委符节，归老江湖边”写弃官归隐之志。直抒胸臆、正气凛然。【情感与主旨】元结任道州刺史时所作，写贼退而官吏苛敛甚于贼寇，是唐人中唐讽喻诗的名篇，也是元结“独拔流俗”诗风的代表作。【名句点睛】常考“城小贼不屠，人贫伤可怜”写百姓之贫苦；“使臣将王命，岂不如贼焉”直斥苛敛之吏。

Background

Yuan Jie (719-772), the poet and statesman of the Tang, wrote this 'Showing, the, Officials, after, the, Bandits, Retreated' of the officials and the outcry — the protest against the exorbitant taxes. The peace of the woods with the field tax, the war of the banners with the commandery, and the close's the levying officials worse than the bandits — the poem gathers the indignation of the poet, the outcry of the people. The poem is one of the most famous works of the poet's poems of the outcry.

《贼退示官吏》为唐代诗人元结所作古体诗。元结（719—772），字次山，号漫叟、聱叟，河南鲁山（今河南鲁山）人，中唐诗人，官至道州刺史，为政清廉，诗风古拙质直，反对浮华，是杜甫之前的重要现实主义诗人。此诗作于唐代宗广德年间，元结任道州（今湖南道县）刺史时。题下有序，言道州旧有四万余户，经贼寇掠后不满四千。西原蛮（山夷）寇掠道州等州，攻陷相邻诸州，独道州城小而未被攻破。贼退后，朝廷使臣来征敛赋税，横征暴敛。元结感于「今彼征敛者，迫之如火煎」，作此诗以刺。诗中「昔岁逢太平，山林二十年」写昔日隐居之乐；「忽然遭世变，数岁亲戎旃」写安史之乱以来之变；「今来典斯郡，山夷又纷然」写其临民之难；「城小贼不屠，人贫伤可怜」写百姓之贫苦；「使臣将王命，岂不如贼焉」直斥苛敛之吏甚于贼寇；「思欲委符节，归老江湖边」写弃官归隐之志。全诗直抒胸臆，为民请命，是元结现实主义诗风与仁政思想的集中体现，也是中唐讽喻诗的重要先声，对后来白居易等人的新乐府运动有直接影响。

Art

The poem's art is the art of the outcry. The peace opens: in, the, former, years, I, met, with, the, peace — the peace of the former years; in, the, woods, and, the, mountains, twenty, years — the woods and the mountains of the twenty years; the, springs, at, the, courtyard, and, the, door — the springs of the courtyard; the, caves, and, the, valleys, before, the, gate — the caves of the gate; the, field, tax, had, the, fixed, periods — the field tax of the fixed periods; the, sun, late, I, could, still, sleep — the sun late of the sleeping. The war follows: suddenly, the, world, met, with, the, changes — the changes of the world; several, years, I, myself, touched, the, war, banners — the war banners of the touching; now, I, come, to, govern, this, commandery — the commandery of the governing; the, mountain, tribes, again, in, the, uproar — the uproar of the mountain tribes; the, city, small, the, bandits, do, not, slaughter — the bandits of the not slaughter; the, people, poor, pitiable, the, harm — the people of the pitiable; thus, they, fell, into, the, neighboring, regions — the neighboring regions of the falling; this, province, alone, seen, complete — the province of the complete. And the close gathers the outcry: the, envoy, bringing, the, king's, command — the envoy of the king's command; would, he, not, be, worse, than, the, bandits — the worse than the bandits; now, those, who, levy, the, taxes — the levying of the taxes; press, them, like, the, fire, the, boiling — the fire of the pressing; who, can, cut, off, the, lives, of, the, people — the lives of the cutting off; to, be, the, worthy, of, the, times — the worthy of the times; thinking, to, resign, the, tallies, and, the, seals — the resigning of the tallies; to, pull, the, pole, and, to, pole, the, boat, myself — the polling of the boat; to, take, the, family, to, the, fish, and, the, wheat — the fish and the wheat of the family; to, return, and, grow, old, by, the, rivers, and, the, lakes — the rivers and the lakes of the return — the peace, the war and the close's outcry, gathered in the poem.

此诗艺术上以「对比强烈、直抒胸臆」见长。全诗可分三段。前六句写昔日隐居之乐：「昔岁逢太平，山林二十年。泉源在庭户，洞壑当门前。井税有常期，日晏犹得眠」，以太平年月的安居乐业，对比今日之乱离。中八句写今日临民之况：「忽然遭世变，数岁亲戎旃。今来典斯郡，山夷又纷然。城小贼不屠，人贫伤可怜。是以陷邻境，此州独见全」，写战乱、贼寇、百姓之贫苦。后八句写赋敛之苦与归隐之志：「使臣将王命，岂不如贼焉。今彼征敛者，迫之如火煎。谁能绝人命，以作时世贤。思欲委符节，引竿自刺船。将家就鱼麦，归老江湖边」，以贼寇与官吏对比，直斥苛敛之吏甚于贼，终以弃官归隐明志。全诗以昔日之乐衬今日之悲，以贼寇之仁衬官吏之暴，对比强烈；而以「使臣将王命，岂不如贼焉」直斥时弊，以「思欲委符节」明弃官之志，直抒胸臆，正气凛然，是元结「古拙质直、为民请命」诗风的典型体现。

Allusions

'The field tax' (jing shui) is the field tax — the tax of the fields, the fixed periods of the peace; 'the war banners' (rong zhan) are the war banners — the banners of the war, the touching of the years; 'the tallies and the seals' (fu jie) are the tallies and the seals — the tallies of the office, the resigning of the close; 'the fish and the wheat' (yu mai) are the fish and the wheat — the fishing and the farming, the return of the close.

此诗多用故实以写现实。「井税有常期」之「井税」，本指古代井田之税，即田税，《孟子》有井田之制之说，后世以井税指田赋，「有常期」写赋税有固定之期、不苛不扰，正与后文「迫之如火煎」之横征暴敛相对照。「戎旃」指军旗，亦指军旅，「数岁亲戎旃」写其亲历军旅、备尝战乱。「符节」为古代朝廷授予地方长官的凭证，以竹或铜为之，上刻文字，分为两半，「委符节」即放弃官印、辞官而去。「引竿自刺船」写以竿撑船、自行离去，暗含归隐江湖之意。诗人以井税、戎旃、符节等典制故实入诗，不着痕迹，而把昔日之治、今日之乱、临民之难、弃官之志写得真切可感，是善于熔铸故实以写现实的体现。此等用典之法，熔铸古今而不着痕迹，既不炫博以示学，亦不拘泥于旧解，正见诗人学养之深与运思之巧。读者于此等处尤当细心玩味，方能领会其言外之旨与味外之味。此等用典之法，熔铸古今而不着痕迹，既不炫博以示学，亦不拘泥于旧解，正见诗人学养之深与运思之巧。读者于此等处尤当细心玩味，方能领会其言外之旨与味外之味。

Commentary

This poem is one of the most famous works of Yuan Jie's poems of the outcry, quoted for the plainness of its contrast and the indignation of its close. The envoy worse than the bandits, and the resigning of the tallies for the rivers and the lakes, are among the most admired passages of the poet's poems. Critics praise the poem's indignation: the peace gathered in the war, to the close's outcry.

这首《贼退示官吏》，是元结任道州刺史时所作，直斥苛敛之吏甚于贼寇，为民请命，正气凛然，是中唐讽喻诗的先声。全诗以今昔对比起笔。前六句写昔日隐居之乐：「昔岁逢太平，山林二十年。泉源在庭户，洞壑当门前。井税有常期，日晏犹得眠」——太平年月，隐居山林，泉源在庭，洞壑当门，田税有常期，日头老高仍可安眠，一派安居乐业之象。然而「忽然遭世变，数岁亲戎旃」，安史之乱起，世道大变，诗人亲历军旅，备尝战乱。如今「今来典斯郡，山夷又纷然」，诗人来治理道州，西原蛮又纷乱而起。所幸「城小贼不屠，人贫伤可怜。是以陷邻境，此州独见全」——道州城小，贼寇不屠；百姓贫穷，令人可怜，故邻境皆陷，此州独全。这本是不幸中之幸，然而真正令人痛心的来了：「使臣将王命，岂不如贼焉。今彼征敛者，迫之如火煎」——朝廷的使臣奉王命而来，难道还不如贼寇吗？贼寇尚且不屠此州，而如今那些横征暴敛的人，逼迫百姓如火烧煎熬。这「岂不如贼焉」五字，如当头棒喝，直斥苛敛之吏甚于贼寇，是全文最痛切处。「谁能绝人命，以作时世贤」，谁能断绝人命，去作当世所谓的贤臣呢？——讽当时催科酷吏以害民为能，以媚上为贤。末四句写诗人决绝之志：「思欲委符节，引竿自刺船。将家就鱼麦，归老江湖边」——我欲放弃官印，撑竿刺船，带着家小去就食鱼麦，归老于江湖之边。这弃官归隐之志，正是对苛政的无声抗议。全诗以昔日之乐衬今日之悲，以贼寇之仁衬官吏之暴，对比强烈，直抒胸臆，正是元结「独拔流俗」的现实主义诗风，对杜甫、白居易的讽喻传统有直接的启迪。

Prosody

Form A long ancient poem of the outcry (wu yan gu shi)五言古诗（古体，非近体律诗）

Rhyme The poem rhymes on the level and the oblique of the group — the cadence of the ancient poem that carries the plain indignation.全诗为五言古诗，押仄声韵，韵脚「年」「前」「眠」（先部）与「旃」「然」（先部）、「怜」「全」（先部）、「煎」「贤」（先部）、「船」「边」（先部）一韵到底，用韵宽稳。古体诗不拘平仄对仗，而以意运笔，此诗以「眠」「然」「怜」「全」「煎」「贤」「船」「边」等字一韵到底，音节古拙质直，正与元结「古拙质直」的诗风相称，也见其作古体以直抒胸臆之用心。

Tone pattern The cadence is that of the outcry: the level opening with the peace, the turning with the war, and the close's fall with the return.句式上，前六句写昔日之乐，音节舒缓平和，「日晏犹得眠」见其安闲；中段写世变临民之难，音节渐转沉郁，「山夷又纷然」见其乱；后段写苛敛之苦与归隐之志，「岂不如贼焉」以反问振起，音节激切，「迫之如火煎」写其酷烈，音节紧迫；末四句写弃官归隐，音节转舒，「归老江湖边」见其淡远。全诗音节随情起伏，由平和而沉郁、由激切而淡远，正合古体诗「以意运笔、不拘格律」之体，读来如长者陈言时事、慷慨陈词，质直而动人。

Reading note The poem's sound matches its plainness: the cadences of the ancient poem, and the close — 'gui lao jiang hu bian' — falls with the lakes, the sound of the retreat of the indignant poet.此诗为五言古诗，是元结现实主义诗风的代表作，也是中唐讽喻诗的重要先声。全诗的艺术特色在于「对比强烈、直抒胸臆」：前六句以「昔岁逢太平，山林二十年」「井税有常期，日晏犹得眠」写昔日安居乐业之乐；中段写「忽然遭世变」「今来典斯郡」之乱离与「城小贼不屠，人贫伤可怜」之民贫；后段「使臣将王命，岂不如贼焉」以反问直斥苛敛之吏甚于贼寇，「谁能绝人命，以作时世贤」讽催科酷吏以害民为贤，终以「思欲委符节，引竿自刺船。将家就鱼麦，归老江湖边」写弃官归隐之志。全诗以昔日之乐衬今日之悲，以贼寇之仁衬官吏之暴，对比强烈，直抒胸臆，正气凛然。尤为痛切者，是「使臣将王命，岂不如贼焉」一问，把苛敛之吏与贼寇对照，直斥其贼之不若，为民请命；而「思欲委符节，归老江湖边」一结，以弃官明志，见其宁归隐而不媚上之节操。此诗与杜甫同类讽喻之作精神相通，对白居易新乐府运动有直接影响，为文学史所重。

Line by line

昔岁逢太平，山林二十年。

In, the, former, years, I, met, with, the, peace, in, the, woods, and, the, mountains, twenty, years.

往昔我曾逢太平之世，隐居山林二十年。

In former years I lived in peaceful times, dwelling in the hills for twenty years.

首二句写昔日隐居之乐，以今昔对比起笔。「昔岁逢太平」写往昔逢太平之世，「太平」见其时世之安定，为全诗对比之「昔」；「山林二十年」写隐居山林二十年，「山林」见其隐居之乐、远离尘嚣。两句以「昔岁」之太平、「二十年」之悠长，写尽昔日之安居乐业，与下文「忽然遭世变」之乱离形成强烈对比——太平之乐愈深，乱离之痛愈重。诗人不直写今日之悲，而以此昔日之乐起笔，正是「以昔衬今」的笔法，为全诗定下了对比鲜明的基调。

The first two lines write the former seclusion's joy, opening in present-past contrast. In former years I lived in peaceful times writes the then-peaceful age; peaceful shows the times' stability, the poem's past of contrast. Dwelling in the hills for twenty years writes seclusion in the mountains and forests for twenty years; hills shows the seclusion's joy, far from the dust. The two lines use the former years' peace and the twenty years' length to exhaust the former settled life, forming strong contrast with the later suddenly meeting the world's change - the deeper the peaceful joy, the heavier the exile's pain. The poet does not directly write today's grief, but opens with this former joy; precisely the method of using the past to set off the present, setting the poem's sharply contrasted keynote.

井税有常期，日晏犹得眠。

The field tax had fixed dates; late into the day I could still sleep.

井税有固定的期限，日头老高还可得安眠。

The land tax had its fixed season; even late I could sleep on.

此二句写昔日赋税有常、安居无忧之乐，是全诗对比之关键。「井税有常期」写田税有固定的期限，「有常期」见赋税之不过、不苛，按常期征收，百姓心安；「日晏犹得眠」写日头老高仍可安眠，「日晏犹得眠」见其无催科之忧、无徭役之扰，可以高卧安眠。两句一写赋税之有常、一写安眠之得享，以昔日赋税之宽仁，反衬后文「今彼征敛者，迫之如火煎」之横暴——同是征敛，昔者有常期，今日如火煎，对照之下，苛政之暴愈显，是「以昔衬今」的典范之笔。

These two lines write the former tax's fixedness and the carefree peace, the key to the poem's contrast. The land tax had its fixed season writes the field tax's fixed dates; fixed dates shows the tax's not-exceeding, not-harsh, collected on schedule, the people's hearts at ease. Even late I could sleep on writes sleeping soundly when the sun is high; shows no tax-collecting anxiety, no conscription disturbance, able to lie high and sleep. The two lines one write the tax's fixedness, one the enjoyed sleep; using the former tax's leniency to set off the later now those who levy press the people as if fired - same as levying, the former on fixed dates, today as if fired; under the contrast, the harsh government's violence all the more apparent - the model brush of using the past to set off the present.

城小贼不屠，人贫伤可怜。

The town was small, the bandits did not massacre it; the people are poor, pitiful to see.

城小，贼寇不来屠掠；百姓贫穷，令人可怜。

The town is small, the bandits spared its slaughter; the people are poor, pitiful to behold.

此二句写道州之民贫贼不屠，是全诗写百姓之悲的关键。「城小贼不屠」写道州城小，贼寇不来屠掠，「城小」见其不足为贼所贪，「不屠」见贼寇尚有此「仁」；「人贫伤可怜」写百姓贫穷，令人可怜，「人贫」写百姓之贫苦已极，「伤可怜」写诗人对之的深切哀悯。两句一写贼不屠之幸、一写民贫穷之悲，而「人贫伤可怜」一句尤见分量——百姓贫穷，以至贼寇都不屑屠掠，其贫苦之极、民生之凋敝，尽在「人贫」二字。诗人不直写苛政，而以此贼不屠、民贫穷写之，为下文直斥苛敛之吏作铺垫，是「蓄势而后发」的笔法。

These two lines write Daozhou's people-poverty and bandit-sparing, the key to the poem's writing of the people's grief. The town is small, the bandits spared its slaughter writes Daozhou's small town, the bandits not coming to massacre; small shows its not worth the bandits' greed; spared shows the bandits still had this mercy. The people are poor, pitiful to behold writes the people's poverty, pitiable; poor writes the people's destitution to the extreme; pitiful writes the poet's deep compassion for them. The two lines one write the bandits' sparing good fortune, one the people's poverty grief; and the people are poor, pitiful to behold line most weighty - the people are so poor that even bandits disdain to massacre them; their destitution's extreme, livelihood's decay, all in the people are poor. The poet does not directly write harsh government, but uses this bandit-sparing and people-poverty to write it, preparing the later direct denunciation of the harsh-levying officials; the method of storing force then releasing.

使臣将王命，岂不如贼焉。

The, envoy, bringing, the, king's, command, would, he, not, be, worse, than, the, bandits.

使臣奉王命而来，难道还不如贼寇吗？

The imperial envoy bears the king's commands - is he not worse than the bandits?

此二句是全文最痛切处，直斥苛敛之吏甚于贼寇。「使臣将王命」写朝廷使臣奉王命而来，「将王命」见其以王命自居、名正言顺；「岂不如贼焉」以反问直斥其不如贼寇——贼寇尚且「城小贼不屠」，不屠此州，而朝廷使臣却横征暴敛、害民更甚，岂不是连贼寇都不如！这一问，如当头棒喝，把苛敛之吏的暴行与贼寇对照，直斥其贼之不若，正气凛然，是全诗讽刺之锋最锐处，也是元结为民请命、敢言直谏的体现。

These two lines are the whole text's most poignant place, directly denouncing the harsh-levying officials as worse than bandits. The imperial envoy bears the king's commands writes the court's envoy coming with the royal mandate; bears the royal mandate shows his presuming on the king's orders, ostensibly justified. Is he not worse than the bandits? uses rhetorical question to directly denounce his being worse than bandits - bandits at least the town small, bandits spared its slaughter, not massacring this prefecture; yet the court's envoy levies harshly, harming the people even more - is he not worse than bandits! This question, like a blow on the head, sets the harsh-levying officials' violence against the bandits, directly denouncing their being less than bandits; righteously awe-inspiring, the poem's satire's sharpest edge, also the embodiment of Yuan Jie pleading for the people and daring to speak straight.

思欲委符节，引竿自刺船。

I think of throwing down my seal, taking a pole, and poling my boat away.

我想放弃符节官印，撑竿自刺小舟离去。

I long to lay down my seal and credentials, take a pole, and pole my boat away.

此二句写弃官归隐之志，是诗人对苛政的无声抗议。「思欲委符节」写想放弃符节官印，「委符节」即辞官弃印，符节为地方长官之凭证，委而弃之，见其决绝；「引竿自刺船」写撑竿自刺小舟，「引竿」「刺船」写其自撑小舟、飘然而去之状。两句一写弃印、一写刺船，写尽诗人不愿与苛敛之吏同流合污、决意归隐之志。这归隐不是消极避世，而是对苛政的无声抗议——既不能救民于水火，唯有洁身而退。以弃官明志，含蓄而坚决，是全文境界最高的收束之笔，也见元结宁归隐而不媚上的节操。

These two lines write the resolve to abandon office and retire, the poet's silent protest against harsh government. I long to lay down my seal and credentials writes wishing to give up the seal and credentials - laying down the seal means resigning and abandoning the seal; the credentials are the local chief's token, laid down and abandoned, showing his resolve. Taking a pole, and poling my boat away writes taking a punt pole and poling a small boat; taking the pole and poling the boat write his self-punting the small boat, drifting off. The two lines one write abandoning the seal, one poling the boat, exhausting the poet's unwillingness to share the harsh officials' stream and his resolved retirement. This retirement is not passive world-avoidance, but the silent protest against harsh government - since he cannot save the people from fire and water, only retreat clean. Using abandonment of office to declare resolve, reserved yet firm; the whole text's highest-realm closing brush, also showing Yuan Jie's integrity of preferring retirement to flattering superiors.

Study

Word focus

亲戎旃 A key expression in the poem. Read it as an image, mood, or grammar point in context. 「亲戎旃」写亲身经历军旅，「亲」字见其亲身经历、非旁观者，「戎旃」以军旗代指军旅。三字写尽安史之乱以来诗人亲历战乱、备尝艰辛之况。着一「亲」字，见其于乱世中亲历亲为、身当其难，为后文「今来典斯郡」的临民之难与对苛政的痛斥作了铺垫，是「以一字写尽乱离」的妙笔。「亲戎旃」一字之用而全篇生色，与诗中情韵相为表里，正见诗人炼字之精与匠心之独运。读者于此等处若细细体会，自能领会其于平淡之中见功力、于寻常处见神奇之妙。

伤 A key expression in the poem. Read it as an image, mood, or grammar point in context. 「伤」字写诗人对百姓贫穷之哀悯，「人贫伤可怜」着一「伤」，既是写百姓之贫苦令人伤心，亦是写诗人见之而伤心。「伤」字含诗人主观之哀悯，见其为民之心——百姓贫穷已极，诗人触目伤怀。着一「伤」字，把客观之贫苦与主观之哀悯融为一体，是全文仁政思想的情感落点。「伤」一字之用而全篇生色，与诗中情韵相为表里，正见诗人炼字之精与匠心之独运。读者于此等处若细细体会，自能领会其于平淡之中见功力、于寻常处见神奇之妙。

火煎 A key expression in the poem. Read it as an image, mood, or grammar point in context. 「火煎」写苛敛逼迫百姓如火烧煎熬，「火」写其暴烈，「煎」写其煎熬。今彼征敛者，迫之如火煎——以火煎写苛敛之酷烈，百姓受逼迫如受火之煎熬，不堪承受。「火煎」二字，比喻贴切而触目惊心，把横征暴敛之暴写得具体可感，是全文最有力的比喻，也是直斥苛政的关键词。「火煎」一字之用而全篇生色，与诗中情韵相为表里，正见诗人炼字之精与匠心之独运。读者于此等处若细细体会，自能领会其于平淡之中见功力、于寻常处见神奇之妙。

委 A key expression in the poem. Read it as an image, mood, or grammar point in context. 「委」字写放弃符节官印，「委符节」着一「委」，写其弃印而去、义无反顾。「委」即弃置、放下，着一「委」字，见其对官位之无所留恋、去意之决绝——不愿与苛敛之吏同流合污，宁弃官印而归隐。一字写尽诗人宁归隐而不媚上的节操，是全文明志之关键。「委」一字之用而全篇生色，与诗中情韵相为表里，正见诗人炼字之精与匠心之独运。读者于此等处若细细体会，自能领会其于平淡之中见功力、于寻常处见神奇之妙。