Shi Ji Zhuan :: :: University of Virginia Library

Here long , there short , is the duckweed ,
To the left , to the right , borne about by the current .
The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : —
Waking and sleeping , he sought her .
He sought her and found her not ,
And waking and sleeping he thought about her .
Long he thought ; oh ! long and anxiously ;
On his side , on his back , he turned , and back again .

Here long , there short , is the duckweed ;
On the left , on the right , we gather it .
The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : —
With lutes , small and large , let us give her friendly welcome .
Here long , there short , is the duckweed ;
On the left , on the right , we cook and present it .
The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : —
With bells and drums let us show our delight in her .

2. 葛覃 GE TAN

葛之覃兮、施于中谷。
維葉萋萋、黃鳥于飛。
集于灌木、其鳴喈喈。

葛之覃兮、施于中谷。
維葉莫莫、是刈是濩。
為絺為綌、服之無斁。

言告師氏、言告言歸。
薄污我私、薄澣我衣。
害澣害否、歸寧父母。

How the dolichos spread itself out ,
Extending to the middle of the valley !
Its leaves were luxuriant ;
The yellow birds flew about ,
And collected on the thickly growing trees ,
Their pleasant notes resounding far .

How the dolichos spread itself out ,
Extending to the middle of the valley !
Its leaves were luxuriant and dense .
I cut it and I boiled it ,
And made both fine cloth and coarse ,
Which I will wear without getting tired of it .

I have told the matron ,
Who will announce that I am going to see my parents .
I will wash my private clothes clean ,
And I will rinse my robes .
Which need to be rinsed , which do not ?
I am going back to visit my parents.

3. 卷耳 JUAN ER

采采卷耳、不盈頃筐。
嗟我懷人、寘彼周行。

陟彼崔嵬、我馬虺隤。
我姑酌彼金罍、維以不永懷。

陟彼高岡、我馬玄黃。
我姑酌彼兕觥、維以不永傷。

陟彼砠矣、我馬瘏矣、我僕痡矣、云何吁矣。

I was gathering and gathering the mouse-ear ,
But could not fill my shallow basket .
With a sigh for the man of my heart ,
I placed it there on the highway .

I was ascending that rock-covered height ,
But my horses were too tired to breast it .
I will now pour a cup from that gilded vase ,
Hoping I may not have to think of him long .

I was ascending that lofty ridge ,
But my horses turned of a dark yellow .
I will now take a cup from that rhinoceros' horn ,
Hoping I may not have long to sorrow .

I was ascending that flat-topped height ,
But my horses became quite disabled ,
And my servants were [also] disabled .
Oh ! how great is my sorrow !

4. 樛木 JIU MU

南有樛木、葛藟纍之。
樂只君子、福履綏之。

南有樛木、葛藟荒之。
樂只君子、福履將之。

南有樛木、葛藟縈之。
樂只君子、福履成之。

In the south are trees with curved drooping branches ,
With the doliches creepers clinging to them .
To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : —
May she repose in her happiness and dignity !

In the south are the trees with curved drooping branches ,
Covered by the dolichos creepers .
To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : —
May she be great in her happiness and dignity !

In the south are the trees with curved drooping branches ,
Round which the dolichos creepers twine .
To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : —
May she be complete in her happiness and dignity !

5. 螽斯 ZHONG SI

螽斯羽、詵詵兮。
宜爾子孫、振振兮。

螽斯羽、薨薨兮。
宜爾子孫、繩繩兮。

螽斯羽、揖揖兮。
宜爾子孫、蟄蟄兮。

Ye locusts , winged tribes ,
How harmoniously you collect together !
Right is it that your descendants
Should be multitudinous !

Ye locusts , winged tribes ,
How sound your wings in flight !
Right is it that your descendents
Should be as in unbroken strings !

Ye locusts , winged tribes ,
How you cluster together !
Right is it that your descendents
Should be in swarms !

6. 桃夭 TAO YAO

桃之夭夭、灼灼其華。
之子于歸、宜其家室。

桃之夭夭、有蕡其實。
之子于歸、宜其室家。

桃之夭夭、其葉蓁蓁。
之子于歸、宜其家人。

The peach tree is young and elegant ;
Brilliant are its flowers .
This young lady is going to her future home ,
And will order well her chamber and house .

The peach tree is young and elegant ;
Abundant will be its fruits .
This young lady is going to her future home ,
And will order well her chamber and house .

The peach tree is young and elegant ;
Luxuriant are its leaves .
This young lady is going to her future home ,
And will order well her family .

7. 兔罝 TU JU

肅肅兔罝、椓之丁丁。
赳赳武夫、公侯干城。

肅肅兔罝、施于中逵。
赳赳武夫、公侯好仇。

肅肅兔罝、施于中林。
赳赳武夫、公侯腹心。

Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets ;
Clang clang go the blows on the pegs .
That stalwart , martial man
Might be shield and wall to his prince .

Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets ,
And placed where many ways meet .
That stalwart , martial man
Would be a good companion for his prince .

Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets ,
And placed in the midst of the forest .
That stalwart , martial man
Might be head and heart to his prince .

8. 芣苡 FOU YI

采采芣苡、薄言采之。
采采芣苡、薄言有之。

采采芣苡、薄言掇之。
采采芣苡、薄言捋之。

采采芣苡、薄言袺之。
采采芣苡、薄言襭之。

We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we may gather them .
We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we have got them .

We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we pluck the ears .
We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we rub out the seeds .

We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we place the seeds in our skirts .
We gather and gather the plantains ;
Now we tuck out skirts under our girdles .

9. 漢廣 HAN GUANG

南有喬木、不可休息。
漢有游女、不可求思。
漢之廣矣、不可泳思。
江之永矣、不可方思。

翹翹錯薪、言刈其楚。
之子于歸、言秣其馬。
漢之廣矣、不可泳思。
江之永矣、不可方思。

翹翹錯薪、言刈其蔞。
之子于歸、言秣其駒。
漢之廣矣、不可泳思。
江之永矣、不可方思。

In the south rise the trees without branches ,
Affording no shelter .
By the Han are girls rambling about ,
But it is vain to solicit them .
The breath of the Han
Cannot be dived across ;
The length of the Jiang
Cannot be navigated with a raft .

Many are the bundles of firewood ;
I would cut down the thorns [to form more] .
Those girls that are going to their future home , —
I would feed their horses .
The breadth of the Han
Cannot be dived across ;
The length of the Jiang ,
Cannot be navigated with a raft .

Many are the bundles of firewood ;
I would cut down the southern wood [to form more] .
Those girls that are going to their future home , —
I would feed their colts .
The breadth of the Han
Cannot be dived across ;
The length of the Jiang
Cannot be navigated with a raft .

10. 汝墳 RU FEN

遵彼汝墳、伐其條枚。
未見君子、惄如調飢。

遵彼汝墳、伐其條肆。
既見君子、不我遐棄。

魴魚赬尾、王室如燬。
雖則如燬、父母孔邇。

Along those raised banks of the Ru ,
I cut down the branches and slender stems .
While I could not see my lord ,
I felt as it were pangs of great hunger .

Along those raised banks of the Ru ,
I cut down the branches and fresh twigs .
I have seen my lord ;
He has not cast me away .

The bream is showing its tail all red ;
The royal House is like a blazing fire .
Though it be like a blazing fire ,
Your parents are very near .

11. 麟之趾 LIN ZHI ZHI

麟之趾、振振公子。
于嗟麟兮。

麟之定、振振公姓。
于嗟麟兮。

麟之角、振振公族。
于嗟麟兮。

The feet of the Lin : —
The noble sons of our prince ,
Ah ! they are the Lin !

The forehead of the Lin : —
The noble grandsons of our prince ,
Ah ! they are the Lin !

The horn of the Lin : —
The noble kindred of our prince ,
Ah ! they are the Lin !