Translation: Dear Confucius, you have been toiling all your life, traveling around the world. What did you want to achieve? Today, this place is still the city of Lu County. You are finally buried in the land where you were born. However, your old house was destroyed by later generations and rebuilt into the palace of King Lu. When you were alive, the phoenix did not come, and you sighed that your fate was bad; when the unicorn appeared, you were sad and complained, lamenting that the world was in chaos and the way was poor. You have not lived a happy life. Today, you are sitting between the two pillars in front of the hall, accepting the worship and sacrifice of later generations, just like what you saw in your dream before you died. I believe you should feel a little comforted.
This poem laments Confucius’s complicated and bumpy life, and expresses deep sympathy for Confucius’s experience during his lifetime and expresses deep condolences to him. The poem uses several classics in succession, which summarizes Confucius’ life of great ambitions but never achieving his goals. It shows respect for Confucius and reflects the Confucian thought in Chinese feudal society. The whole poem has a solemn meaning, ingenious conception, simple language and a somber style.
译文：尊敬的孔老夫子，你一生劳碌奔波，周游列国，究竟想要做成什么呢?如今这地方还是鄹县的城邑，你终被安葬在了出生的土地，然而你的旧宅曾被后人毁坏，改建为鲁王宫。在你生活的当时，凤鸟不至，你叹息命运不好；麒麟出现，你又忧伤哀怨，感叹世乱道穷。你一生不如意，看今日你端坐在堂前两楹间，接受后人的顶礼祭奠，正如同你生前梦境中所见的一样，想必你也该稍感慰藉了吧。
此诗嗟叹了孔子复杂坎坷、栖遑不遇的一生，对孔子生前的际遇深表同情，对他寄予了深深的悼念。诗中连用数典，比较集中地概括了孔子心怀壮志而始终不得志的一生，表现了对孔子的尊崇，是中国封建社会中尊儒思想的反映。全诗命意严正，构思精巧，语言朴实，风格沉郁。
唐玄宗·《经鲁祭孔子而叹之》
夫子何为者？栖栖一代中。
地犹鄹氏邑，宅即鲁王宫。
叹凤嗟身否，伤麟怨道穷！
今看两楹奠，当与梦时同。
Sacrificing to Confucius and Mourning Him When Passing Through Lu
Emperor Xuanzong
For what did you so busily strive, my Sage,
Expounding hard your doctrine in your age?
This is the shire called Lu in bygone days;
A palace in this house Duke Lu did raise.
The absence of the Phoenix made you sad,
And you complained aloud your luck was bad.
The Unicorn’s death found you in a heavy state;
You did the failure of your teaching berate.
As people poured libations in a stream,
I’m sure it must be like your former dream.
