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 menweeping for their grandsons; mothers for their children!
One dayYang Chëng 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 isnt there
On the waters and lands of Tao-chou, among all the things that live
I only find dwarfish people; no dwarfish slaves.
The Emperors 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 childrens children should forget the Governors name,
When boys are born the syllable Yang is often used in their forename.
