Original text:
The first man is four years old, lonely, with poor family and no assets. Mrs. Tai painted the ground with a shovel and taught it with calligraphy. Recite many ancient chapters. Turn learning into poetry. And it's a little longer, and there are no books to read at home, so I borrowed them from scholars or copied them. I can recite his book before I finish copying it, so that I forget to eat and sleep day and night. Only reading is my business. Poetry and prose written since childhood are like adults.
Translation:
Ouyang Xiu's father died when he was four years old. His family is poor and has no money (for his education). His mother wrote on the beach with a reed pole and taught him to write. And taught him to read many ancient chapters. Let (him) learn to write poetry. When I am old and have no books to read at home, I go to the reading room in the neighborhood to borrow books and sometimes copy them. I could recite the article before I finished copying it, so I stayed up all night, forgot to eat and sleep, and just buried myself in reading. Poetry and prose written since childhood are all written at his level (so high).
Article notes:
Gong Xian: Ouyang Xiu.
Loneliness: Losing your father
Thistle: refers to plants such as reeds.
For, come on
Hedgerow: Village and Neighborhood
Scholar: Scholar
Or: sometimes.
Cause: seize the opportunity
About the author:
Ouyang Xiu, a politician and writer in the Northern Song Dynasty, was born in Mianzhou in Jingdezhen for four years (1007).