The Merit Brush poem

[mecurtin]

In Episode 23 they find an instructional poem about the Merit Brush. It goes:

知我罪我，
分功问过。
同声相应，
同气相求。
因势利导，
顺水流舟。
或跃在渊，
进退无咎。

The poem is written in a very old-fashioned classical style of 4-character lines, rhyming every other line. I'd like to translate this into rhythmic English verses that also rhyme every other line.

Current subs:
Some appreciate me, some criticise me.
Sharing the merit and questioning the sins.
Similar sounds echo each other,
Like attracts like.
Making the best of new opportunities
by pushing the boat with the current.
Choosing to soar or remaining in the deep,
there is nothing to blame by advancing or retreating.

solo's current version:
I know my crime,
I've shared my merit.
Similar sounds will echo,
Like attracts like.
Grasping opportunity
By going with the flow.
Leaping into the deep,
advance or retreat unpunished.

Zhao Yunlan is baffled, and asks Shen Wei to translate. SW says, "the Merit Brush's effects are determined by energy. It can erase the traces of dark energy used by Dixing people. It can even increase their power."

First of all, how does SW get this meaning from the poem? Our goal will be to create English verses that are poetically obscure, but which could possibly convey the sense SW explicates. Oh, and they should rhyme. *headdesk*

Comments

[dayadhvam_triad]

Haha, TPTB basically chained a bunch of idioms/quotes together. Here's my attempt, I translated while trying my best to keep the rhyme.

知我罪我,*
Heedless of praise or blame,
分功问过。
merit is conferred once weighed.
同声相应,
Sounds alike echo in kind,
同气相求。
Breaths alike ask with one mind.
因势利导,
Make the most of new moments,
顺水流舟。
Steer the boat along with the current.
或跃在渊,
Soar aloft or stay in the deep,
进退无咎。
Without wrongs advance or retreat.**

*From Confucius, recorded as "知我者，其惟《春秋》乎！罪我者，其惟《春秋》乎!" - aka something like '"[there will be] those who know me only because of the Spring and Autumn Annals! [there will be] those who condemn/fault me only because of the Spring and Autumn Annals!" but I believe what I do is right and valuable and therefore will continue regardless of others' judgment'
**From I Ching -- "或跃在渊，无咎" wrt "a dragon leaps into the sky or stays in the deep in accordance with changing circumstances that necessitate advance or retreat & won't lead to mistakes"; TPTB added in 进退 to make the meaning more explicit --> "或跃在渊 / 进退无咎"

[mecurtin]

That is *hilarious*. So Shen Wei got the correct interpretation, but only because he knows what these memes are all referring to!

[teaotter]

That makes a lot of sense!

[solo]

Wow, that's really interesting. Thank you for taking the time to explain all this!

[tinny]

awesome! <3