Inscription Translation

Artist's inscription, signature, and seal: Under the Yangzi Bridge, where the river flows,/ The willow tendrils show forth their hue, insensitive to an old man’s graying hair./ Throughout the spring, rain and snow have kept away the travelers;/ Yet throughout the Qingming season, the plum blossoms will survive./ Aging and useless, I have become attached to my friends;/ But year after year, my friends have scattered like stars and seagulls./ Suddenly Master Wang turned to me with a short, astonishing exclamation:/ “I am about to leave for Fujian to exploit the scenic beauty of its seashore./ Before then, would you put me in a picture as a preview?”/ Before your eyes, you will see hills and valley in one sweep./ Regardless of how vast the scene is, it will be shown at the tip of my brush;/ They are not ink, nor mist, but rather a way to lodge my pride:/ Your respected father is a great man in a hundred eras./ One word of his spoken to the emperor resulted in storm and thunder./ The emperor has bestowed on him much extraordinary kindness;/ And he is now coming south by the grace of the throne./ [Would he remember] how many poor scholars are awaiting him for recognition?/ We are all counting on his efforts as the “cultivator of talents” for the dragon [king]. Dingchou [1697], Spring, [I] wrote the colophon on the painting to give it to Master Wang Muting, who is to leave for Minhai, while also extending my greeting to his Excellency, Commissioner for Examination, Mr. Sibai. [Signed] Qingxiang Laoren Ji at Daditang. [Seal] Yuanji.