寻西山隐者不遇

邱为

绝顶一茅茨， 直上三十里。

扣关无僮仆， 窥室惟案几。

若非巾柴车， 应是钓秋水。

差池不相见， 黾勉空仰止。

草色新雨中， 松声晚窗里。

及兹契幽绝， 自足荡心耳。

虽无宾主意， 颇得清净理。

兴尽方下山， 何必待之子。

AFTER MISSING THE RECLUSE¹ ON THE WESTERN MOUNTAIN

Qiu Wei

To your hermitage here on the top of the mountain

I have climbed, without stopping, these ten miles.

I have knocked at your door, and no one answered;

I have peeped into your room, at your seat beside the table.

Perhaps you are out riding in your canopied² chair,

Or fishing, more likely, in some autumn pool.

Sorry though I am to be missing you,

You have become my meditation³ --

The beauty of your grasses, fresh with rain,

And close beside your window the music of your pines.

I take into my being all that I see and hear,

Soothing⁴ my senses, quieting my heart;

And though there be neither host nor guest,

Have I not reasoned a visit complete?

…After enough, I have gone down the mountain.

Why should I wait for you any longer?