Seeing Off My Daughter, Married into the Yang Family
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
出行复悠悠。
女子今有行，
大江溯轻舟。
尔辈苦无恃，
抚念益慈柔。
幼为长所育，
两别泣不休。
对此结中肠，
义往难复留。
自小阙内训，
事姑贻我忧。
赖兹托令门，
任恤庶无尤。
贫俭诚所尚，
资从岂待周。
孝恭遵妇道，
容止顺其猷。
别离在今晨，
见尔当何秋。
居闲始自遣，
临感忽难收。
归来视幼女，
零泪缘缨流。
English translation
All the long day I have been sad at heart, and now you go forth, on and on.
Today my daughter goes to be married, up the great river in a light boat.
You children have suffered, motherless, caring for you I only grew more tender.
The younger was raised by the elder, and now the two of you part, weeping without end.
Facing this, my heart is knotted, duty calls you on, you cannot stay.
From childhood you lacked a mother's teaching, serving his mother will bring me worry.
Thankfully you are pledged to a good house, be trusting and kind, and you should have no blame.
Poverty and thrift are what we truly honor, a dowry need not be complete.
Be filial and respectful, keep a wife's way, let bearing and conduct follow its course.
Our parting is this very morning, what autumn shall I see you again?
In idle hours I had begun to console myself, but at the moment of feeling the tears would not cease.
I come back in and look at my younger daughter, and the falling tears run down my hat-strings.
Meaning
All day long I have been sad and heavy-hearted, for my daughter is to be married far away.
Today she must go far to be a bride, sailing upstream in a light boat upon the river.
You sisters have known the sorrow of losing your mother from childhood, and so I have reared you with redoubled tenderness.
The younger was brought up wholly by her sister; now the two must part, and their tears fall in streams.
At this sight my heart is heavy, yet a grown daughter must marry and cannot long be kept.
From childhood you lacked a mother's teaching, and I am anxious how you will serve your husband's mother.
Happily you may lean upon your husband's good family, who will trust and pity you and not be quick to find fault.
To rest content with poverty and plainness has ever been my rule; how could your dowry be full and rich?
I charge you to honour your elders and keep the ways of a wife; let your bearing and conduct accord with what is proper.
This morning father and daughter must part; who knows when I shall see you again.
In retirement, sorrow may be
Background
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The poet's eldest daughter was about to be married, and in a turmoil of feeling he wrote this poem. According to Tao Min and Wang Yousheng's Annotated Collection of Wei Yingwu's Works, it was written in 782 or 783 (the third or fourth year of the Jianzhong era of Emperor Dezong of Tang), when Wei Yingwu was prefect of Chuzhou (with its seat of government at present-day Chuzhou, Anhui). The poet had lost his wife early, leaving two little daughters dependent upon each other; father and daughters were bound by deep affection.