桃花源记英文版

晋太元中，武陵人捕鱼为业。缘溪行，忘路之远近。忽逢桃花林， 夹（jiá）岸数百步，中无杂树，芳草鲜美，落英缤纷。渔人甚异之。复前行，欲穷其林。

During Taiyuan period of Dongjin Dynasty, people in Wuling lived on fishing. Once a person from Wuling paddled a boat along the stream and after a considerable moment he even forgot how far he had travelled. All of a sudden, he found himself buried in a forest of peach on both sides of the stream. No other trees could be detected except the fallen petals of the peach together with the fragrance of fresh green grass. The fisherman couldn't believe in what had bumped into his eyes. He was so curious in exploring the forest thoroughly that he couldn't help forging ahead.

林尽水源，便得一山。山有小口，仿佛若有光。便舍（shě）船，从口入。初极狭，才通人。复行数十步，豁（huò）然开朗。土地平旷，屋舍（shè）俨（yǎn）然，有良田美池桑竹之属。阡（qiān）陌（mò）交通，鸡犬相闻。其中往来种（zhòng ）作，男女衣着（zhuó），悉如外人。黄发垂髫（tiáo ），并怡然自乐。

After he had covered the space with peach trees he spotted a hill. He searched the hill and discovered accidentally a cave with obscurely sparkling light. The man stepped off his boat and climbed up the hill and entered the cave. The mouth of the cave was not broad but with the deepening of the tunnel it was broadening and was big enough for an adult to crumble through. The man kept on moving for a quarter of a mile

and felt the cave became bright and spacious. He hurried out of the cave and was amazed at another picture. The land was plain and far-reaching, and the village huts scattled were in tight order, fertile fields, pure and green ponds, bamboo and mulberry trees could be found easily here and there. Paths connecting fields were placed in the most convenient way and people might cross them with ease and enjoyment. The barks of dogs and crows of chickens enriched the color of the scene. The man was astonished at the weird dressing style of the males and females living here. They were busy with planting in the day, yet all of them, old or young, felt contented with what they possessed.

见渔人，乃大惊，问所从来。具答之。便要（ yāo ）还家，设酒杀鸡作食。村中闻有此人，咸来问讯。自云先世避秦时乱，率妻子邑（yì）人来此绝境，不复出焉，遂与外人间隔。问今是何世，乃不知有汉，无论魏晋。此人一一为具言所闻，皆叹惋。余人各复延至其家，皆出酒食。停数日，辞去。此中人语（yù）云：“不足为外人道也。” The people living there were astounded at meeting the fisherman and approached to ask where he came from. The man responded without any delay. One of the inhabitants then invited him to be the distinguished guest of his home and served him liquor and chickens. After being informed of the coming of the stranger, nearly all members of the village crowded around the visitor and bombed him with numerous questions. At

this moment, the worried guy was aware that the locals here had, together with their families and kinship, escaped from the turmoil of war in Qin Dynasty and hid themselves here from then on. And in time they hadn’t been willing to return home ever. So it’s no coincidence that they didn't even know anything about Han Dynasty, let alone that about Wei and Jin Dynasty. Being told of the news about the change of dynasties, the folks there sighed and felt quite helpless and annoyed. After that, other families were hospitable as well in ushering the man into their homes and served him wholeheartedly in turn. The man concerned much about his own home and requested the locals to return after several days. As he left, he was told by the villagers not to tell others anything about the mysteries of the village.

既出，得其船，便扶向路，处处志之。及郡下，诣（yì）太守，说如此。太守即遣人随其往，寻向所志，遂迷，不复得路。

Shortly after he came out of the cave, the fisherman found his boat and he then hurried to step into it and started his trip back home. He made signs hither and thither in case he forgot about all he had experienced. As he arrived the town of his county, he called in the Mayor and was urgent in pouring off all that he had heard and seen. The Mayor instantly ordered his subordinates to go to find the village with the fisherman. Unexpectedly, the signs made before could never be found any more and

the team was quite at sea of the route to the village.

南阳刘子骥（jì），高尚士也。闻之，欣然规往，未果，寻病终。后遂无问津者。

There was in Nanyang a noble man named Liu Ziji. He was in high spirits and went on the journey of discovery in no instant after he had got the news. But his effort was also in vain and he himself died of disappointment and disease in the course. From then on, no men had courage or interest in revealing the mystery of the village.