「道州民－美臣遇明主也」白居易

道州民，多侏儒，长者不过三尺馀。市作矮奴年进送，

号为道州任土贡。任土贡，宁若斯，不闻使人生别离，

老翁哭孙母哭儿。一自阳城来守郡，不进矮奴频诏问。

城云臣按六典书，任土贡有不贡无。道州水土所生者，

只有矮民无矮奴。吾君感悟玺书下，岁贡矮奴宜悉罢。

道州民，老者幼者何欣欣。父兄子弟始相保，

从此得作良人身。道州民，民到于今受其赐，

欲说使君先下泪。仍恐儿孙忘使君，生男多以阳为字。

THE PEOPLE OF TAO-CHOU 

In the land of Tao-chou 

Many of the people are dwarfs ; 

The tallest of them never grow to more than three feet. 

They were sold in the market as dwarf slaves and yearly sent to Court; 

Described as "an offering of natural products from the land of Tao-chou." 

A strange "offering of natural products"; I never heard of one yet 

That parted men from those they loved, never to meet again! 

Old men — weeping for their grandsons ; mothers for their children ! 

One day — Yang Ch'eng came to govern the land ; 

He refused to send up dwarf slaves in spite of incessant mandates. 

He replied to the Emperor " Your servant finds in the Six Canonical Books 

' In offering products, one must offer what is there, and not what isn't there ' 

On the waters and lands of Tao-chou, among all the things that live 

I only find dwarfish people ; no dwarfish slaves." 

The Emperor's heart was deeply moved and he sealed and sent a scroll 

"The yearly tribute of dwarfish slaves is henceforth annulled." The people of Tao-chou, 

Old ones and young ones, how great their joy! 

Father with son and brother with brother henceforward kept together; 

From that day for ever more they lived as free men. 

The people of Tao-chou 

Still enjoy this gift. 

And even now when they speak of the Governor.

Tears start to their eyes. 

And lest their children and their children s children should forget the Governor's name, 

When boys are born the syllable "Yang" is often used in their forename.