The Drunkard Pavilion's Story by Ouyang Xiu of the Northern Song Dynasty

Selected from "Collected Works of Ouyang Wenzhong"

The surrounding Chu (chú) is surrounded by mountains. The peaks and valleys in its southwest are particularly beautiful, and the one that looks awe-inspiring but deep is Langya. After walking six or seven miles up the mountain, you gradually hear the sound of gurgling water flowing out between the two peaks, which is called Ningquan. On the winding road, there is a pavilion standing over the spring, which is called the Drunkard Pavilion. Who built the pavilion? The monk on the mountain is called Zhixian. Who is named? The prefect calls himself. The prefect and his guests came here to drink, and they often got drunk after drinking. He was the oldest in the family, so he called himself "the drunken old man". The drunkard's intention is not in wine, but in the mountains and rivers. The joy of mountains and rivers is the wine contained in the heart.

If the sun rises and the forest falls, the clouds return and the cave becomes dim, and the twilight changes, this is the morning and dusk in the mountains. The wild fields are fragrant and fragrant, the beautiful trees are beautiful and dark, the wind and frost are noble and pure, the water falls and the rocks emerge, these are the four seasons in the mountains. Going in the morning and returning at dusk, the scenery in the four seasons is different, and the joy is endless.

As for the losers singing on the road, and the travelers resting in the trees, the former calls, and the latter responds, 伛 (yǔ) 廻 (lǚ) supports (xié), those who come and go without stopping, chu (chú) people You also. Fishing near the stream, the stream is deep and the fish are fat, the spring is brewed into wine, the spring is fragrant and the wine is tart (liè), the mountain delicacies (yáo) and wild asparagus (sù) are mixed and aged in advance, this is also the prefect's banquet. The joy of a banquet is neither silk nor bamboo. The one who shoots is in the middle, the one who plays yì wins, the one who drinks wine and drinks crosses each other, the one who stands up and makes a noise is the joy of all the guests. Anyone with a pale face and white hair who looks slumped is a sign that the prefect is drunk.

The sun has set on the mountain, the figures are scattered, the prefect has returned and the guests have followed. The woods are dark, the songs are rising and falling, the tourists are gone and the birds are enjoying themselves. However, birds know the joy of mountains and forests, but they do not know the joy of people; people know the joy of traveling from the prefect, but they do not know the joy of the prefect. He who can enjoy himself when he is drunk and can write about it when he is awake is a prefect. Who does the governor call? Luling Ouyang Xiuye.

Translation

Chuzhou City is surrounded by mountains. Among the various peaks in its southwest, the woods and valleys are especially beautiful. Looking from a distance, the lush trees and deep and beautiful scenery is Langya Mountain. After walking for six or seven miles in the mountains, I gradually heard the sound of gurgling water. From a distance, I saw the Niangquan pouring down from between the two peaks. As the mountain winds around and the road turns, there is a pavilion with its four corners raised like a bird spreading its wings, close to the spring. It is the Drunken Old Pavilion. Who built the pavilion? It is Zhixian, a monk in the mountains. Who named the pavilion? The prefect named it after his own nickname ("Drunkard"). The prefect and the guests came here to drink, and they got drunk after just a few drinks. Besides, he was the oldest at the table, so he nicknamed himself "Drunkard". The drunkard's interest lies not in drinking, but in appreciating the scenery of the mountains and rivers. The pleasure of appreciating mountains and rivers is grasped in the heart and placed on drinking.

When the sun comes out, the fog in the woods dissipates, the smoke clouds gather, and the valleys and caves appear dim; the alternating scenes of (or) darkness and (or) brightness are the scenery in the mountains in the morning and evening. (In spring) the wild flowers bloom and emit a quiet fragrance, (in summer) the beautiful trees grow luxuriantly, forming a rich green shade, (in autumn) the autumn wind is refreshing and the frost is white, (in winter) the scenery of the streams dripping down the rocks is... Four seasons scenery in the mountains. Go to the mountains in the morning and come back in the evening. The scenery is different in the four seasons, so the happiness is endless.

As for people carrying things singing on the road, people walking resting under the trees, people in front shouting, people behind answering, old people walking bent over, children led by adults, come on. There is an endless stream of people, this is Chuzhou people traveling. He came close to the stream to catch fish. The stream was deep and the fish were fat. The spring water was used to make wine. The spring water was clear and the wine was fragrant. Game and wild vegetables were arranged in a staggered pattern in front of him. This was the prefect entertaining guests. The joy of drinking at a banquet does not lie in the music. The player who played pot shot and won, the player who played chess won, the wine glasses and wine chips interacted with each other, and the guests who stood up or sat down and made loud noises showed the joy of the guests. (There was) an old-looking, gray-haired man sitting drunkenly in the middle of the crowd. (That person was) the drunken prefect.

Soon, the setting sun hung on the mountain, and people and shadows were scattered all over the place. The prefect went home and other guests followed. The branches and leaves of the forest are dense and shady, and the birds are singing everywhere. At this time, the tourists are leaving but the birds are happy. But birds understand the happiness of mountains and forests, but not the happiness of people; tourists only know that it is fun to play with the prefect, but they do not know that the prefect takes the happiness of tourists as happiness. The person who can rejoice with everyone when he is drunk, and can write about this joy in articles when he wakes up is a prefect. Who is the governor? It's Ouyang Xiu from Luling County.