University of Virginia Library

I would have galloped my horses and whipt them ,
Returning to condole with the marquis of Wei .
I would have urged them all the long way ,
Till I arrived at Cao .
A great officer has gone , over the hills and through the rivers ;
But my heart is full of sorrow .
You disapproved of my [proposal] ,
And I cannot return to [Wei] ;
But I regard you as in the wrong ,
And cannot forget my purpose .
You disapproved of my purpose ,
But I cannot return across the streams ;
But I regard you as in the wrong ,
And cannot shut out my thoughts .
I will ascend that mound with the steep side ,
And gather the mother-of-pearl lilies .
I might, as a woman , have many thoughts ,
But every one of them was practicable .
The people of Xu blame me ,
But they are all childish and hasty [in their conclusions] .
I would have gone through the country ,
Amidst the wheat so luxuriant .
I would have carried the case before the great State .
On whom should I have relied ? Who would come [to the help of Wei] ?
Ye great officers and gentlemen ,
The hundred plans you think of
Are not equal to the course I was going to take .