Shi Ji Zhuan :: :: University of Virginia Library

It floats about , that boat of cypress wood ;
Yea , it floats about on the current .
Disturbed am I and sleepless ,
As if suffering from a painful wound .
It is not because I have no wine ,
And that I might not wander and saunder about .

My mind is not a mirror ; —
It cannot [equally] receive [all impressions] .
I , indeed , have brothers ,
But I cannot depend on them ,
I meet with their anger .

My mind is not a stone ; —
It cannot be rolled about .
My mind is not a mat ; —
It cannot be rolled up .
My deportment has been dignified and good ,
With nothing wrong which can be pointed out .

My anxious heart is full of trouble ;
I am hated by the herd of mean creatures ;
I meet with many distresses ;
I receive insults not a few .
Silently I think of my case ,
And , starting as from sleep , I beat my breast .

There are the sun and moon , —
How is it that the former has become small , and not the latter ?
The sorrow cleaves to my heart ,
Like an unwashed dress .
Silently I think of my case ,
But I cannot spread my wings and fly away .

27. 綠衣 LU YI

綠兮衣兮、綠兮黃裏。
心之憂矣、曷維其已。

綠兮衣兮、綠兮黃裳。
心之憂矣、曷維其亡。

綠兮絲兮、女所治兮。
我思古人、俾無訧兮。

稀兮綌兮、淒其以風。
我思古人、實獲我心。

Green is the upper robe ,
Green with a yellow lining !
The sorrow of my heart , —
How can it cease ?

Green is the upper robe ,
Green the upper , and yellow the lower garment !
The sorrow of my heart , —
How can it be forgotten ?

[Dyed] green has been the silk ; —
It was you who did it .
[But] I think of the ancients ,
That I may be kept from doing wrong .

Linen , fine or coarse ,
Is cold when worn in the wind .
I think of the ancients ,
And find what is in my heart .

28. 燕燕 YAN YAN

燕燕于飛、差池其羽。
之子于歸、遠送于野。
瞻望弗及、泣涕如雨。

燕燕于飛、頡之頏之。
之子于歸、遠于將之。
瞻望弗及、佇立以泣。

燕燕于飛、下上其音。
之子于歸、遠送于南。
瞻望弗及、實勞我心。

仲氏任只、其心塞淵。
終溫且惠、淑慎其身。
先君之思、以勗寡人。

The swallows go flying about ,
With their wings unevenly displayed .
The lady was returning [to her native state] ,
And I escorted her far into the country .
I looked till I could no longer see her ,
And my tears fell down like rain .

The swallows go flying about ,
Now up , now down .
The lady was returning [to her native state] ,
And far did I accompany her .
I looked till I could no longer see her ,
And long I stood and wept .

The swallows go flying about ;
From below , from above , comes their twittering .
The lady was returning [to her native state] ,
And far did I escort her to the south .
I looked till I could no longer see her ,
And great was the grief of my heart .

Lovingly confiding was lady Zhong ;
Truly deep was her feeling .
Both gentle was she and docile ,
Virtuously careful of her person .
In thinking of our deceased lord ,
She stimulated worthless me .

29. 日月 RI YUE

日居月諸、照臨下土。
乃如之人兮、逝不古處。
胡能有定、寧不我顧。

日居月諸、下土是冒。
乃如之人兮、逝不相好。
胡能有定、寧不我報。

日居月諸、出自東方。
乃如之人兮、德音無良。
胡能有定、俾也可忘。

日居月諸、東方自出。
父兮母兮、畜我不卒。
胡能有定、報我不述。

O sun ; O moon ,
Which enlightens this lower earth !
Here is the man ,
Who treats me not according to the ancient rule .
How can he get his mind settled ?
Would he then not regard me ?

O sun ; O moon ,
Which overshadow this lower earth !
Here is this man ,
Who will not be friendly with me .
How can he get his mind settled ?
Would he then not respond to me ?

O sun ; O moon ,
Which come forth from the east !
Here is the man ,
With virtuous words , but really not good .
How can he get his mind settled ?
Would he then allow me to be forgotten ?

O sun ; o moon ,
From the east which come forth !
O father , O mother ,
There is no sequel to your nourishing of me .
How can he get his mind settled ?
Would he then respond to me , contrary to all reason ?

30. 終風 ZHONG FENG

終風且暴、顧我則笑。
謔浪笑敖、中心是悼。

終風且霾、惠然肯來。
莫往莫來、悠悠我思。

終風且曀、不日有曀。
寤言不寐、願言則嚏。

曀曀其陰、虺虺其雷。
寤言不寐、願言則懷。

The wind blows and is fierce ,
He looks at me and smiles ,
With scornful words and dissolute , — the smile of pride .
To the center of my heart I am grieved .

The wind blows , with clouds of dust .
Kindly he seems to be willing to come to me ;
[But] he neither goes nor comes .
Long , long , do I think of him .

The wind blew , and the sky was cloudy ;
Before a day elapses , it is cloudy again .
I awake , and cannot sleep ;
I think of him , and gasp .

All cloudy is the darkness ,
And the thunder keeps muttering .
I awake and cannot sleep ;
I think of him , and my breast is full of pain .

31. 擊鼓 JI GU

擊鼓其鏜、踊躍用兵。
土國城漕、我獨南行。

從孫子仲、平陳與宋。
不我以歸、憂心有忡。

爰居爰處、爰喪其馬。
于以求之、于林之下。

死生契闊、與子成說。
執子之手、與子偕老。

于嗟闊兮、不我活兮。
于嗟洵兮、不我信兮。

Hear the roll of our drums !
See how we leap about , using our weapons !
Those do the fieldwork in the State , or fortify Cao ,
While we alone march to the south .

We followed Sun Zizhong ,
Peace having been made with Chen and Song;
[But] he did not lead us back ,
And our sorrowful hearts are very sad .

Here we stay , here we stop ;
Here we lose our horses ;
And we seek for them ,
Among the trees of the forest .

For life or for death , however separated ,
To our wives we pledged our word .
We held their hands ; —
We were to grow old together with them .

Alas for our separation !
We have no prospect of life .
Alas for our stipulation !
We cannot make it good .

32. 凱風 KAI FENG

凱風自南、吹彼棘心。
棘心夭夭、母氏劬勞。

凱風自南、吹彼棘薪。
母氏聖善、我無令人。

爰有寒泉、在浚之下。
有子七人、母氏勞苦。

睍睆黃鳥、載好其音。
有子其人、莫慰母心。

The genial wind from the south
Blows on the heart of that jujube tree ,
Till that heart looks tender and beautiful .
What toil and pain did our mother endure !

The genial wind from the south
Blows on the branches of that jujube tree ,
Our mother is wise and good ;
But among us there is none good .

There is the cool spring
Below [the city of] Jun .
We are seven sons ,
And our mother is full of pain and suffering .

The beautiful yellow birds
Give forth their pleasant notes .
We are seven sons ,
And cannot compose our mother's heart .

33. 雄雉 XIONG ZHI

雄雉于飛、泄泄其羽。
我之懷矣、自詒伊阻。

雄雉于飛、下上其音。
展矣君子、實勞我心。

瞻彼日月、悠悠我思。
道之云遠、曷云能來。

百爾君子、不知德行。
不忮不求、何用不臧。

The male pheasant flies away ,
Lazily moving his wings .
The man of my heart ! —
He has brought on us this separation .

The pheasant has flown away ,
But from below, from above, comes his voice .
Ah ! the princely man ! —
He afflicts my heart .

Look at that sun and moon !
Long , long do I think .
The way is distant ;
How can he come to me ?

All ye princely men ,
Know ye not his virtuous conduct ?
He hates none ; he covets nothing ; —
What does he which is not good ?

34. 匏有苦葉 PAO YOU KU YE

匏有苦葉、濟有深涉。
深則厲、淺則揭。

有瀰濟盈、有鷕雉鳴。
濟盈不濡軌、雉鳴求起牡。

雝雝鳴鴈、旭日始旦。
士如歸妻、迨冰未泮。

招招舟子、人涉卬否。
人涉卬否、卬須我友。

The gourd has [still] its bitter leaves ,
And the crossing at the ford is deep .
If deep , I will go through with my clothes on ;
If shallow , I will do so , holding them up .

The ford is full to overflowing ;
There is the note of the female pheasant .
The full ford will not wet the axle of my carriage ;
It is the pheasant calling for her mate .

The wild goose , with its harmonious notes ,
At sunrise , with the earliest dawn ,
By the gentleman , who wishes to bring home his bride ,
[Is presented] before the ice is melted .

The boatman keeps beckoning ;
And others cross with him , but I do not .
Others cross with him, but I do not ; —
I am waiting for my friend .

35. 谷風 GU FENG

習習谷風、以陰以雨。
黽勉同心、不宜有怒。
采封采菲、無以下體。
德音莫違、及爾同死。

行道遲遲、中心有違。
不遠伊邇、薄送我畿。
誰謂荼苦、其甘如薺。
宴爾新昏、如兄如弟。

涇以渭濁、湜湜其沚。
宴爾新昏、不我屑以。
毋逝我梁、毋發我笱。
我躬不閱、遑恤我後。

就其深矣、方之舟之。
就其淺矣、泳之游之。
何有何亡、黽勉求之。
凡民有喪、匍匐救之。

不我能慉、反以我為讎。
既阻我德、賈用不售。
昔育恐育鞫、及爾顛覆。
既生既育、比予于毒。

我有旨蓄、亦以御冬。
宴爾新昏、以我御窮。
有洸有潰、既詒我肄。
不念昔者、伊余來塈。

Gently blows the east wind ,
With cloudy skies and with rain .
[Husband and wife] should strive to be of the same mind ,
And not let angry feelings arise .
When we gather the mustard plant and earth melons ,
We do not reject them because of their roots .
While I do nothing contrary to my good name ,
I should live with you till our death .

I go along the road slowly , slowly ,
In my inmost heart reluctant .
Not far , only a little way ,
Did he accompany me to the threshold .
Who says that the sowthistle is bitter ?
It is as sweet as the shepherd's purse .
You feast with your new wife ,
[Loving] as brothers .

The muddiness of the King appears from the Wei ,
But its bottom may be seen about the islets .
You feast with your new wife ,
And think me not worth being with
Do not approach my dam ,
Do not move my basket .
My person is rejected ; —
What avails it to care for what may come after ?

Where the water was deep ,
I crossed it by a raft or a boat .
Where it was shallow ,
I dived or swam across it .
Whether we had plenty or not ,
I exerted myself to be getting .
When among others there was a death ,
I crawled on my knees to help them .

You cannot cherish me ,
And you even count me as an enemy .
You disdain my virtues , —
A pedlar's wares which do not sell .
Formerly , I was afraid our means might be exhausted ,
And I might come with you to destitution .
Now , when your means are abundant ,
You compare me to poison .

My fine collection of vegetables ,
Is but a provision against the winter .
Feasting with your new wife ,
You think of me as a provision [only] against your poverty .
Cavalierly and angrily you treat me ;
You give me only pain .
You do not think of the former days ,
And are only angry with me .

36. 式微 SHI WEI

式微式微、胡不歸。
微君之故、胡為乎中露。

式微式微、胡不歸。
微君之躬、胡為乎泥中。

Reduced ! Reduced !
Why not return ?
If it were not for your sake , O prince ,
How should we be thus exposed to the dew ?

Reduced ! Reduced !
Why not return ?
If it were not for your person , O prince ,
How should we be here in the mire ?

37. 旄丘 MAO QIU

旄丘之葛兮、何誕之節兮。
叔兮伯兮、何多日也。

何其處也、必有與也。
何其久也、必有以也。

狐裘蒙戎、匪車不東。
叔兮伯兮、靡所與同。

瑣兮尾兮、流離之子。
叔兮伯兮、褎如充耳。

The dolichos on that high and sloping mound ; —
How wide apart are [now] its joints !
O ye uncles ,
Why have ye delayed these many days ?

Why do they rest without stirring ?
It must be they expect allies .
Why do they prolong the time ?
There must be a reason for their conduct .

Our fox-furs are frayed and worn .
Came our carriages not eastwards ?
O ye uncles ,
You do not sympathize with us .

Fragments , and a remnant ,
Children of dispersion [are we] !
O ye uncles ,
Notwithstanding your full robes , your ears are stopped .

38. 簡兮 JIAN XI

簡兮簡兮、方將萬舞。
日之方中、在前上處。

碩人俁俁、公庭萬舞。
有力如虎、執轡如組。

左手執籥、右手秉翟。
赫如渥赭、公言錫爵。

山有榛、隰有苓。
云誰之思、西方美人。
彼美人兮、西方之人兮。

Easy and indifferent ! easy and indifferent !
I am ready to perform in all dances ,
Then when the sun is in the meridian ,
There in that conspicious place .

With my large figure ,
I dance in the ducal courtyard .
I am strong [also] as a tiger ;
The reins are in my grasp like ribbons .

In my left hand I grasp a flute ;
In my right I hold a pheasant's feather .
I am red as if I were rouged ;
The duke gives me a cup [of spirits] .

The hazel grows on the hills ,
And the liquorice in the marshes .
Of whom are my thoughts ?
Of the fine men of the west .
O those fine men !
Those men of the west !

39. 泉水 QUAN SHUI

毖彼泉水、亦流于淇。
有懷于衛、靡日不思。
孌彼諸姬、聊與之謀。

出宿于泲、飲餞于禰。
女子有行、遠父母兄弟。
問我諸姑、遂及伯姊。

出宿于干、飲餞于言。
載脂載牽、還車言邁。
遄臻于衛、不瑕有害。

我思肥泉、茲之永歎。
思須與漕、我心悠悠。
駕言出游、以寫我憂。

How the water bubbles up from that spring ,
And flows away to the Qi !
My heart is in Wei ;
There is not a day I do not think of it .
Admirable are those , my cousins ;
I will take counsel with them .

When I came forth , I lodged in Ji ,
And we drank the cup of convoy at Ni .
When a young lady goes [to be married] ,
She leaves her parents and brothers ;
[But] I would ask for my aunts ,
And then for my elder sister .

I will go forth and lodge in Gan,
And we drink the cup of convoy at Yan .
I will grease the axle and fix the pin ,
And the returning chariot will proceed .
Quickly shall we arrive in Wei ; —
But would not this be wrong ?

I think of the Feiquan ,
I am ever sighing about it .
I think of Xu and Cao ,
Long , long , my heart dwells with them .
Let me drive forth and travel there ,
To dissipate my sorrow .

40. 北門 BEI MEN

出自北門、憂心殷殷。
終窶且貧、莫知我艱。
已焉哉、天實為之、謂之何哉。

王事適我、政事一埤益我。
我入自外、室人交遍謫我。
已焉哉、天實為之、謂之何哉。

王事敦我、政事一埤遺我。
我入自外、室人交遍摧我。
已焉哉、天實為之、謂之何哉。

I go out at the north gate ,
With my heart full of sorrow .
Straitened am I and poor ,
And no one takes knowledge of my distress .
So it is !
Heaven has done it ; —
What then shall I say ?

The king's business comes on me ,
And the affairs of our government in increasing measure .
When I come home from abroad ,
The members of my family all emulously reproach me .
So it is !
Heaven has done it ; —
What then shall I say ?

The king's business is thrown on me ,
And the affairs of our government are left to me more and more.
When I come home from abroad ,
The members of my family all emulously thrust at me .
So it is !
Heaven has done it ; —
What then shall I say ?

41. 北風 BEI FENG

北風其涼、雨雪其雱。
惠而好我、攜手同行。
其虛其邪、既亟只且。

北風其喈、雨雪其霏。
惠而好我、攜手同歸。
其虛其邪、既亟只且。

莫赤匪狐、莫黑匪烏。
惠而好我、攜手同車。
其虛其邪、既亟只且。

Cold blows the north wind ;
Thick falls the snow .
Ye who love and regard me ,
Let us join hands and go together .
Is it a time for delay ?
The urgency is extreme !

The north wind whistles ;
The snow falls and drifts about .
Ye who love and regard me ,
Let us join hands , and go away for ever .
Is it a time for delay ?
The urgency is extreme !

Nothing red is seen but foxes ,
Nothing black but crows .
Ye who love and regard me ,
Let us join hands , and go together in our carriages .
Is it a time for delay ?
The urgency is extreme !

42. 靜女 JING NU

靜女其姝、俟我於城隅。
愛而不見、搔首踟躕。

靜女其孌、貽我彤管。
彤管有煒、說懌女美。

自牧歸荑、洵美且異。
匪女以為美、美人之貽。

How lovely is the retiring girl !
She was to await me at a corner of the wall .
Loving and not seeing her ,
I scratch my head , and am in perplexity .

How handsome is the retiring girl !
She presented to me a red tube .
Bright is the red tube ; —
I delight in the beauty of the girl .

From the pasture lands she gave a shoet of the white grass ,
Truly elegant and rare .
It is not you , O grass , that are elegant ; —
You are the gift of an elegant girl .

43. 新臺 XIN TAI

新臺有沘、河水彌彌。
燕婉之求、籧篨不鮮。

新臺有洒、河水浼浼。
燕婉之求、籧篨不殄。

魚網之設、鴻則離之。
燕婉之求、得此戚施。

Fresh and bright is the New Tower ,
On the waters of the He , wide and deep .
A pleasant , genial mate she sought ,
[And has got this] vicious bloated mass !

Lofty is the New Tower ,
On the waters of the He , flowing still .
A pleasant , genial mate she sought ,
[And has got this] vicious bloated mass !

It was a fish net that was set ,
And a goose has fallen into it .
A pleasant , genial mate she sought ,
And she has got this hunchback .

44. 二子乘舟 ER ZI CHENG ZHOU

二子乘舟、汎汎其景。
願言思子、中心養養。

二子乘舟、汎汎其逝。
願言思子、不瑕有害。

The two youths got into their boats ,
Whose shadows floated about [on the water] .
I think longingly of them ,
And my heart is tossed about in uncertainty .

The two youths got into their boats ,
Which floated away [on the stream] .
I think longingly of them ,
Did they not come to harm ?