遊人初樂歲華新。
人閒正好路旁飲,
Excursionists are glad to enjoy new year’s pleasure. People may drink by the roadside as they have leisure,
麥短未怕游車輪。
城中居人厭城郭,
Short wheat are not afraid of the wheels of the chaise. Townsfolk are tired of living within city wall,
喧閬曉出空四鄰。
歌鼓驚山草木動,
They make much noise on leaving their house in the morn. Songs and drums jar the hills and shake trees, grass and thorn;
箏飄散野烏鴦馴。
何人聚眾稱道人?
Picnic baskets invite tame birds, crows, kites and all. Who is there drawing round a crowd, barring the ways?
遮道賣符色怒嗔。
宜蠶使汝蛬如瓮,
It is a Taoist priest who sells his charms and says: “Buy my charms and your cocoon will sure grow as big
宜畜使汝羊如糜。
路人未必信此語,
As a jar and your sheep as a pig.” Passers-by may not believe in his words so fine,
強為買服禳新春。
道人得錢徑沽酒,
They buy charms anyway to consecrate the spring. The priest gets money and goes to a shop of wine,
醉倒自謂吾符神!
Drunken, he boasts his charms are wonder-working thing.