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!

林语堂英译陶渊明的《归去来兮辞》

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：

陶渊明《归去来兮辞》原文及白话译文

归去来兮，田园将芜胡不归！既自以心为形役，奚惆怅而独悲？悟已往之不谏，知来者之可追。实迷途其未远，觉今是而昨非。

白话：回去吧，田园快要荒芜了，为什么还不回！既然自认为心志被形体所役使，又为什么惆怅而独自悲伤？认识到过去的错误已不可挽救，知道了未来的事情尚可追回。实在是误入迷途还不算太远，已经觉悟到今天“是”而昨天“非”。

舟遥遥以轻飏，风飘飘而吹衣。问征夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。乃瞻衡宇，载欣载奔。僮仆欢迎，稚子候门。三径就荒，松菊犹存。携幼入室，有酒盈樽。引壶觞以自酌，眄庭柯以怡颜。倚南窗以寄傲，审容膝之易安。园日涉以成趣，门虽设而常关。策扶老以流憩，时矫首而遐观。云无心以出岫，鸟倦飞而知还。景翳翳以将入，抚孤松而盘桓。

白话：归舟轻快地飘荡前进，微风徐徐地吹着上衣。向行人打听前面的道路，恨晨光还是这样微弱迷离。望见家乡的陋屋，我高兴得往前直奔。童仆欢喜地前来迎接，幼儿迎候在家门。庭院小路虽将荒芜，却喜园中的松菊尚存。我拉着幼儿走进内室，屋里摆着盛满酒的酒樽。拿过酒壶酒杯来自斟自饮，看着庭院里的树枝真使我开颜。靠着南窗寄托着我的傲世情怀，觉得身居陋室反而容易心安。天天在园子里散步自成乐趣，尽管设有园门却常常闭关。拄着手杖或漫步或悠闲地随处休息，不时地抬起头来向远处看看。云烟自然而然地从山洞飘出，鸟儿飞倦了也知道回还。日光渐暗太阳将快要下山，我抚摸着孤松而流连忘返。

归去来兮，请息交以绝遊。世与我而相违，复驾言兮焉求？悦亲戚之情话，乐琴书以消忧。农人告余以春及，将有事于西畴。或命巾车，或棹孤舟。既窈窕以寻壑，亦崎岖而经邱。木欣欣以向荣，泉涓涓而始流。善万物之得时，感吾生之行休。

白话：回去吧，我要断绝与外人的交游。既然世俗与我乖违相悖，我还驾车出游有什么可求？亲戚间说说知心话儿叫人心情欢悦，抚琴读书可藉以解闷消愁。农人们告诉我春天已经来临，我将要到西边去耕耘田亩。有的人驾着篷布小车，有的人划着一叶小舟。时而沿着蜿蜒的溪水进入山谷，时而循着崎岖的小路走过山丘。树木长得欣欣向荣，泉水开始涓涓奔流。我羡慕物得逢天时，感叹自己的一生行将罢休。

遑遑欲何之？富贵非吾愿，帝乡不可期。怀良辰以孤往，或植杖而耘耔。登东皋以舒啸，临清流而赋诗。聊乘化以归尽，乐夫天命复奚疑！

白话：算了吧！寄身于天地间还有多少时日！何不放下心来听凭生死？为什么还要遑遑不安想去哪里？企求富贵不是我的心愿，寻觅仙境不可期冀。只盼好天气我独自外出，或者将手杖插在田边去除草培苗。登上东边的高岗放声长啸，面对清清的流水吟诵诗篇。姑且随着大自然的变化走向生命的尽头，乐天安命还有什么值得怀疑！