Li Shangyin courtesy name Yishan (Chinese: 義山), was a Chinese poet and politician of the late Tang dynasty

 

贾生[1]

宣室[2]求贤访逐臣[3],

贾生才调更无伦。

可怜夜半虚前席,

不问苍生问鬼神。

贾生即贾谊,西汉著名的文学家。年少时就才名远扬。一方面,诗人仿佛是在颂扬文帝虚怀若谷、求贤若渴,在听取贤才建议时态度诚恳;另一方面,读者似乎身临其境,感受到了贾谊口若悬河、侃侃而谈、才气四溢的场景。同时,借贾谊的遭遇,诗人书写了自己怀才不遇的感慨。

注释:

[1]贾生:贾谊(前200年—前168年),西汉初年著名政论家、文学家,世称贾生。贾谊少有才名,文帝时任博士,迁太中大夫,受大臣周勃、灌婴排挤,谪为长沙王太傅,故后世亦称贾长沙、贾太傅。三年后被召回长安,为梁怀王太傅。梁怀王坠马而死,贾谊深自歉疚,抑郁而亡,时仅三十三岁。

[2]宣室:汉代长安城中未央宫前殿的正室。

[3]逐臣:被放逐之臣,指贾谊曾被贬谪。

A Bright Scholar

The emperor recalled the banished scholar bright,

Peerless in eloquence and in ability.

Alas!His Majesty drew near him at midnight

To consult not on man but on divinity.

Note:The poet compares himself with the bright scholar whom the Han emperor consulted on divinity and not on state affairs,while he himself is not consulted at all.