Well, go back now! As the fields and gardens in home will be lying waste, why yet not go back! Since I have been familiar with that my heart has been put to be toiled by my body, why will be disconsolate and sad for myself alone? Now that I have been aware of the mistakes in past are already unable to rescue, but I have known the future life can retrieve. Really only going astray by accident but not too far, therefore, I have understood today's right and yesterday's wrong.

The returning boat went forward fluttering on the river, and the gentle breeze was gently blowing and moving my upper outer garment. Asking pedestrian on the way in front, I hated the dawn light was still too faint and misted. When looking at the house after landing, I went straight forward with incomparable happy. And then I had seen the houseboys were running towards me and welcoming me with joy. After a while, I also saw the children were greeting me at the door. Entering the house, I found that the pathway has lay waste but it was deserved to be pleased for the pines and chrysanthemums still survived there. Leading the children I walked into the inner room, in which were placed the wine goblets that were full of sweet liquor. Taking up the wine pot and cup, I drank by myself. Looking at the trees in the courtyard then I really felt relaxed and happy. Leaning on the south window, I placed my feelings to look down upon the world. I began to feel that only living in the humble room, then can be easy to get a quiet mind. Every day I take a walk in the courtyard and get pleasure from nature. Although the garden door is established, however, it is often closed. Leaning on a cane, I stroll along the pathway or take the rest leisurely everywhere. Occasionally, I raise my head to look at faraway place and then I can find that cloud and mist are blown out from the cave very naturally. I think, even the birds are aware of returning back when they have flown tired. After a while, when the sun light is dim gradually as sunset soon, but I still gently stroked the solitary pine and enjoy myself so much as to forget leaving.

Well, go back home. I want to stop making friends and refuse taking part in traveling for pleasure. Since the common customs are disagreed with me, what can spur me to drive vehicle and go out on tour? A lot of understanding words talking between relatives make me with pleasure; playing a musical instrument and reading books can divert me from boredom and remove my grief. Before long, the farmers told me the spring has come and I should go to west for cultivating farmland. Then, some people push their wheelbarrows and others paddle their little boats. Sometimes I go into the mountain valley along a meandered stream and sometimes follow a rugged path to go by a massif. The trees are growing up luxuriantly and the spring water begins to pour trickling sluggishly. I admire all things on earth can meet the opportunities given by heaven but I sign of emotion that my whole life will be over quickly.

Let it go at that! I don't know how much time I can live in the world! Why can't I let down my heart to let my life and death naturally? Is it necessary for me to go wherever searching something in a hurry? Seeking for riches and honor is not my wish and looking further for paradise is unable to anticipate. I am always longing for a nice weather that can let me stick my cane in the earth by the field and going for weeding and planting seedling. Or ascend the high hill at east to shout at the top of my lungs with sound reproduction, or face to the clear flowing water to recite poems. Merely, let me move towards the end of life along with the change of the nature. I believe that every happening in one's life is determined by fate and is inevitable; therefore one should be always content with circumstances and have no worries. I consider this conviction may be without doubt!

林語堂英譯陶淵明的《歸去來兮辭》

Ah, homeward bound I go!
Why not go home, seeing that my field
and gardens are overgrown?
Myself have made my soul serf to my body:
why have vain regrets and mourn alone?

Fret not over bygones
and the forward journey take.
Only a short distance have I gone astray,
and I know today I am right,
if yesterday was a complete mistake.

Lightly floats and drifts the boat,
and gently flows and flaps my gown.
I inquire the road of a wayfarer,
and sulk at the dimness of the dawn.

Then when I catch sight of my old roofs,
joy will my steps quicken.
Servants will be there to bid me welcome,
and waiting at the door are the greeting children.

Gone to seed, perhaps, are my garden paths,
but there will still be
the chrysanthemums and the pine!
I shall lead the youngest boy in by the hand,
and on the table there stands a cup full of wine!

Holding the pot and cup, I give myself a drink,
happy to see in the courtyard the hanging bough.
I lean upon the southern window with an immense satisfaction,
and note that the little place is cosy enough to walk around.

The garden grows more familiar
and interesting with the daily walks.
What if no one knocks at the always closed door!
Carrying a cane I wander at peace,
and now and then look aloft to gaze at the blue above.

There the clouds idle away from their mountain recesses
without any intent or purpose,
and birds, when tired of their wandering flights,
will think of home.
Darkly then fall the shadows and, ready to come home,
I yet fondle the lonely pines and loiter around.

Ah, homeward bound I go!
Let me from now on learn to live alone!
The world and I are not made for one another,
and why go round like one looking for what he has not found?

Content shall I be with conversations with my own kin,
and there will be music and books
to while away the hours.
The farmers will come and tell me that spring is here
and there will be work to do at the western farm.

Some order covered wagons;
some row in small boats.
Sometimes we explore quiet, unknown ponds,
and sometimes we climb over steep, rugged mounds.

There the trees, happy of heart, grow marvelously green,
and spring water gushes forth with a gurgling sound.
I admire how things grow and prosper
according to their seasons,
and feel that thus, too, shall my life go its round.

Enough!
How long yet shall I this mortal shape keep?
Why not take life as it comes,
and why hustle and bustle like one on an errand bound?

Wealth and power are not my ambitions,
and unattainable is the abode of the gods!
I would go forth alone on a bright morning,
or perhaps, planting my cane,
begin to pluck the weeds and till the ground.

Or I would compose a poem beside a clear stream,
or perhaps go up to Tungkao
and make a long-drawn call on top of the hill.
So would I be content to live and die,
and without questionings of the heart,
gladly accept Heaven's will.

-- excerpted from The Importance of Living, by Lin Yutang

原文：

陶淵明《歸去來兮辭》原文及白話譯文

歸去來兮，田園將蕪胡不歸！既自以心為形役，奚惆悵而獨悲？悟已往之不諫，知來者之可追。實迷途其未遠，覺今是而昨非。

白話：回去吧，田園快要荒蕪了，為什么還不回！既然自認為心志被形體所役使，又為什么惆悵而獨自悲傷？認識到過去的錯誤已不可挽救，知道了未來的事情尚可追回。實在是誤入迷途還不算太遠，已經覺悟到今天“是”而昨天“非”。

舟遙遙以輕飏，風飄飄而吹衣。問征夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。乃瞻衡宇，載欣載奔。僮仆歡迎，稚子候門。三徑就荒，松菊猶存。攜幼入室，有酒盈樽。引壺觴以自酌，眄庭柯以怡顏。倚南窗以寄傲，審容膝之易安。園日涉以成趣，門雖設而常關。策扶老以流憩，時矯首而遐觀。云無心以出岫，鳥倦飛而知還。景翳翳以將入，撫孤松而盤桓。

白話：歸舟輕快地飄蕩前進，微風徐徐地吹著上衣。向行人打聽前面的道路，恨晨光還是這樣微弱迷離。望見家鄉的陋屋，我高興得往前直奔。童仆歡喜地前來迎接，幼兒迎候在家門。庭院小路雖將荒蕪，卻喜園中的松菊尚存。我拉著幼兒走進內室，屋里擺著盛滿酒的酒樽。拿過酒壺酒杯來自斟自飲，看著庭院里的樹枝真使我開顏。靠著南窗寄托著我的傲世情懷，覺得身居陋室反而容易心安。天天在園子里散步自成樂趣，盡管設有園門卻常常閉關。拄著手杖或漫步或悠閑地隨處休息，不時地抬起頭來向遠處看看。云煙自然而然地從山洞飄出，鳥兒飛倦了也知道回還。日光漸暗太陽將快要下山，我撫摸著孤松而流連忘返。

歸去來兮，請息交以絕遊。世與我而相違，復駕言兮焉求？悅親戚之情話，樂琴書以消憂。農人告余以春及，將有事于西疇。或命巾車，或棹孤舟。既窈窕以尋壑，亦崎嶇而經邱。木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。善萬物之得時，感吾生之行休。

白話：回去吧，我要斷絕與外人的交游。既然世俗與我乖違相悖，我還駕車出游有什么可求？親戚間說說知心話兒叫人心情歡悅，撫琴讀書可藉以解悶消愁。農人們告訴我春天已經來臨，我將要到西邊去耕耘田畝。有的人駕著篷布小車，有的人劃著一葉小舟。時而沿著蜿蜒的溪水進入山谷，時而循著崎嶇的小路走過山丘。樹木長得欣欣向榮，泉水開始涓涓奔流。我羨慕物得逢天時，感嘆自己的一生行將罷休。

遑遑欲何之？富貴非吾愿，帝鄉不可期。懷良辰以孤往，或植杖而耘耔。登東皋以舒嘯，臨清流而賦詩。聊乘化以歸盡，樂夫天命復奚疑！

白話：算了吧！寄身于天地間還有多少時日！何不放下心來聽憑生死？為什么還要遑遑不安想去哪里？企求富貴不是我的心愿，尋覓仙境不可期冀。只盼好天氣我獨自外出，或者將手杖插在田邊去除草培苗。登上東邊的高崗放聲長嘯，面對清清的流水吟誦詩篇。姑且隨著大自然的變化走向生命的盡頭，樂天安命還有什么值得懷疑！