元结·《右溪记》英译
道州城西百余步有小溪，南流数十步，合营溪。水抵两岸，悉皆怪石，攲嵌盘屈，不可名状。清流触石，洄悬激注。休木异竹，垂阴相荫。
此溪若在山野，则宜逸民退士之所游处；在人间，则可为都邑之胜境，静者之林亭。而置州已来，无人赏爱。徘徊溪上，为之怅然。乃疏凿芜秽，俾为亭宇；植松与桂，兼之香草，以裨形胜。
为溪在州右，遂命之曰右溪。刻铭石上，彰示来者。
The Right-hand Stream
Yuan Jie
A hundred or so paces west of the seat of Tao Prefecture1 is a small stream. It flows south for tens of paces and then joins Ying Stream.2 The water strikes against the banks, which are formed by odd-shaped rocks. Jumbled and tilting, they wind along and jut in and out—the scene defies description. When the clear current collides with these rocks, it swirls, surges, becomes excited, and rushes forward. Fine trees and unusual bamboo cast their shadows, covering one another.
If this stream were located in a mountainous wilderness, it would be a suitable spot for eremites and gentlemen out of office to visit. Were it located in a populated place, it could serve as a scenic spot in a city, with a pavilion in a grove for those seeking tranquility. And yet, no one has appreciated it as long as this prefecture has been in existence. As I wound my way upstream, I felt quite sorry for it. So I had it dredged of weeds in order to build a pavilion and a house. I planted pines and cassia trees, adding fragrant plants among them to augment the scenery.
Because the stream is to the right of the city, I named it “The Right-hand Stream” and had a ming inscription carved on one of the rocks to explain this to all who come by. 3
1. Tao Prefecture roughly corresponded to modern Tao District, Hu-nan.
2. Ying Stream (Ying-hsi) originates in the south of modern Ning yuan, Hu-nan, and eventually flows into the Hsiang River in Ling-ling.
3. Translated from Yüan Chieh, Yüan Tz’u-shan chi 9:5b (SPPY ed.). The ming inscription mentioned has not survived.（Richard E. Strassberg 译）
