In the spring of the fourth year of Qinglei, Teng Zijing was demoted to govern Baling County. The following year, the government was smooth and the people were harmonious, all affairs flourished, so he rebuilt the Yueyang Tower, expanded its old structure, inscribed the poems and essays of Tang sages and contemporary people on it, and entrusted me to write an account to commemorate it.
I observed that the beautiful scenery of Baling lies in the Dongting Lake. It embraces distant mountains, swallows the Yangtze River, vast and mighty, stretching endlessly, with morning sunshine and evening shadows, presenting myriad atmospheric phenomena; this is the grand view of Yueyang Tower, as described by predecessors. However, the north connects to Wuxia, and the south reaches Xiaoxiang, many exiled officials and poets gather here, how can their feelings towards the scenery be the same?
As for the heavy rain pouring down, not stopping for months, with angry winds howling, muddy waves surging, the sun and stars hidden, mountains and hills obscured, merchants cannot travel, masts lean and oars break, dusk is dark and dim, tigers roar and monkeys cry. Climbing this tower, one feels the longing for home and country, worries about slander and fear of ridicule, with a desolate view all around, leading to deep sorrow.
But when spring is warm and the scenery bright, the waves are calm, the sky and water are one blue expanse, sandpipers soar and gather, colorful fish swim, the banks are fragrant with orchids, lush and green. Sometimes, the long smoke disappears, the bright moon shines for a thousand miles, floating light leaps like gold, still shadows sink like jade, fishermen's songs echo back and forth, what joy is this! Climbing this tower, one feels relaxed and carefree, forgetting both honor and disgrace, raising a glass to the wind, filled with joy.
Alas! I have sought the heart of ancient benevolent people, perhaps different from these two states, why is that? Not delighted by external things, nor saddened by oneself, when in the high halls, worrying for the people, when in the distant rivers and lakes, worrying for the ruler. Thus, whether advancing or retreating, there is worry. So when can one be joyful? It must be said, "Worry for the world before the world worries, and rejoice after the world rejoices!" Alas! Without such a person, whom can I rely on?
On the fifteenth day of the ninth month in the sixth year.