Guo Feng (Airs of the States)

關關雎鳩，在河之洲。窈窕淑女，君子好逑。

The ospreys call guan-guan to each other, on a sandbar in the river. The quiet and lovely maiden is a fine mate for the gentleman.

參差荇菜，左右流之。窈窕淑女，寤寐求之。

The water plant, long and short, drifts left and right. The quiet and lovely maiden, awake or asleep he seeks her.

求之不得，寤寐思服。悠哉悠哉，輾轉反側。

He seeks her but cannot find her, awake or asleep he longs for her. How long, how long the night, he tosses and turns and cannot sleep.

參差荇菜，左右采之。窈窕淑女，琴瑟友之。

The water plant, long and short, he gathers it left and right. The quiet and lovely maiden, with zithers he befriends her.

參差荇菜，左右芼之。窈窕淑女，鐘鼓樂之。

The water plant, long and short, he picks it left and right. The quiet and lovely maiden, with bells and drums he delights her.

葛之覃兮，施於中谷，維葉萋萋。黃鳥于飛，集於灌木，其鳴喈喈。

The kudzu vines spread out, reaching into the valley, their leaves lush and thick. The yellow birds fly and settle in the bushes, their calls ring out in harmony.

葛之覃兮，施於中谷，維葉莫莫。是刈是濩，為絺為綌，服之無斁。

The kudzu vines spread out, reaching into the valley, their leaves dense and heavy. Then they are cut and then boiled, and made into fine cloth and coarse cloth, and one wears it without tiring of it.

言告師氏，言告言歸。薄汙我私，薄浣我衣。害浣害否，歸寧父母。

Tell my governess, tell her I am going home. I will wash my underclothes a little, I will wash my outer clothes a little. Which need washing and which do not, then I go home to greet my parents.

采采卷耳，不盈頃筐。嗟我懷人，置彼周行。

I pick and pick the cocklebur, and cannot fill my shallow basket. Sighing for the one I long for, I set the basket by the great road.

陟彼崔嵬，我馬虺隤。我姑酌彼金罍，維以不永懷。

I climb that rough high hill, and my horse is weak in the legs. I pour myself wine from the golden cup, just so as not to think of him long.

陟彼高岡，我馬玄黃。我姑酌彼兕觥，維以不永傷。

I climb that high ridge, and my horse is dark and yellow, sick. I pour myself wine from the rhinoceros-horn cup, just so as not to grieve long.

陟彼砠矣，我馬瘏矣，我僕痡矣，云何籲矣。

I climb that rocky hill, and my horse is too sick to go, my servant is sick with weariness, and what can I do, how can I dispel my sorrow.

南有樛木，葛藟累之。樂只君子，福履綏之。

In the south there is a tree that bends down, and kudzu creepers cling to it. The joyful gentleman, may fortune comfort him.

南有樛木，葛藟荒之。樂只君子，福履將之。

In the south there is a tree that bends down, and kudzu creepers cover it. The joyful gentleman, may fortune support him.

南有樛木，葛藟縈之。樂只君子，福履成之。

In the south there is a tree that bends down, and kudzu creepers twine round it. The joyful gentleman, may fortune complete him.

螽斯羽，詵詵兮。宜爾子孫，振振兮。

The wings of the locust, so many they are. May your children and grandchildren be flourishing and kind.

螽斯羽，薨薨兮。宜爾子孫。繩繩兮。

The wings of the locust, how they hum. May your children and grandchildren go on unbroken.

螽斯羽，揖揖兮。宜爾子孫，蟄蟄兮。

The wings of the locust, gathered together. May your children and grandchildren be at peace and many.

桃之夭夭，灼灼其華。之子于歸，宜其室家。

The peach tree is young and lovely, its blossoms bright and glowing. This girl goes to be married, and will suit her new home.

桃之夭夭，有蕡其實。之子于歸，宜其家室。

The peach tree is young and lovely, its fruit hangs round and full. This girl goes to be married, and will suit her new home.

桃之夭夭，其葉蓁蓁。之子于歸，宜其家人。

The peach tree is young and lovely, its leaves are lush and thick. This girl goes to be married, and will suit her new family.

肅肅兔罝，椓之丁丁。赳赳武夫，公侯干城。

A tightly woven rabbit net, the stakes are driven in with a ding-ding. The stalwart warriors are the defenders of the lord's walls.

肅肅兔罝，施於中逵。赳赳武夫，公侯好仇。

A tightly woven rabbit net, spread at the crossroads. The stalwart warriors are the lord's good helpers.

肅肅免罝，施於中林。赳赳武夫，公侯腹心。

A tightly woven rabbit net, spread in the forest. The stalwart warriors are the lord's trusted confidants.

采采芣苡，薄言採之。采采芣苡，薄言有之。

Gathering and gathering the plantain, we go to pick it. Gathering and gathering the plantain, we have picked it.

采采芣苡，薄言掇之。采采芣苡，薄言捋之。

Gathering and gathering the plantain, we pick up the seeds one by one. Gathering and gathering the plantain, we strip them off by the handful.

采采芣苡，薄言袺之。采采芣苡，薄言襭之。

Gathering and gathering the plantain, we hold up our skirts to carry it. Gathering and gathering the plantain, we tuck our skirts to fill them.

南有喬木，不可休息。漢有遊女，不可求思。漢之廣矣，不可泳思。江之永矣，不可方思。

In the south there is a tall tree, but one cannot rest beneath it. By the Han there are maidens out strolling, but one cannot win them. The Han is too wide to swim across. The Yangtze is too long to cross on a raft.

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。

The tall, tangled brushwood, I go and cut the thorn twigs. This girl goes to be married, and I will feed her horses. The Han is too wide to swim across. The Yangtze is too long to cross on a raft.

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。

The tall, tangled brushwood, I go and cut the wormwood. This girl goes to be married, and I will feed her colts. The Han is too wide to swim across. The Yangtze is too long to cross on a raft.

遵彼汝墳，伐其條枚。未見君子，惄如調饑。

Along the embankment of the Ru river, I chop its branches. Not yet seeing my lord, I am as anxious as one hungry in the morning.

遵彼汝墳，伐其條肄。既見君子，不我遐棄。

Along the embankment of the Ru river, I chop its new shoots. Now that I have seen my lord, he has not cast me far away.

魴魚赬尾，王室如毀。雖則如毀，父母孔邇。

The bream's tail is red with weariness, and the royal house is like a blaze. Though it is like a blaze, my parents are very near.

麟之趾，振振公子，于嗟麟兮。

The unicorn's hoof, the kind young lord, ah, the unicorn.

麟之定，振振公姓，于嗟麟兮。

The unicorn's brow, the kind young man of the ducal clan, ah, the unicorn.

麟之角，振振公族，于嗟麟兮。

The unicorn's horn, the kind ducal kinsmen, ah, the unicorn.

維鵲有巢，維鳩居之。之子于歸，百兩御之。

The magpie has a nest, and the dove goes to live in it. This girl goes to be married, and a hundred carriages go to meet her.

維鵲有巢，維鳩方之。之子于歸，百兩將之。

The magpie has a nest, and the dove goes to occupy it. This girl goes to be married, and a hundred carriages go to escort her.

維鵲有巢，維鳩盈之。之子于歸，百兩成之。

The magpie has a nest, and the dove goes to fill it. This girl goes to be married, and a hundred carriages complete the wedding.

於以采蘩？於沼於沚。於以用之？公侯之事。

Where does one pick the white mugwort? By the ponds, on the islets. What is it used for? For the sacrifices of the lord.

於以采蘩？於澗之中。於以用之？公侯之宮。

Where does one pick the white mugwort? In the mountain stream. What is it used for? For the lord's ancestral temple.

被之僮僮，夙夜在公。被之祁祁，薄言還歸。

Her false hair is combed neat, from early morning to night she serves in the public hall. Her false hair is thick and hanging, and only then does she go home.

喓喓草蟲，趯趯阜螽。未見君子，憂心忡忡。亦既見止，亦既覯止，我心則降。

The grass insects chirp, the grasshoppers leap. Not having seen my lord, my heart is anxious. Now that I have seen him, now that I have met him, my heart is at rest.

陟彼南山，言採其蕨。未見君子，憂心惙惙。亦既見止，亦既覯止，我心則說。

I climb that southern hill and pick the bracken. Not having seen my lord, my heart is troubled. Now that I have seen him, now that I have met him, my heart is glad.

陟彼南山，言採其薇。未見君子，我心傷悲。亦既見止，亦既覯止，我心則夷。

I climb that southern hill and pick the vetch. Not having seen my lord, my heart is sad. Now that I have seen him, now that I have met him, my heart is calm.

於以採蘋？南澗之濱。於以採藻？於彼行潦。

Where does one pick the duckweed? By the water of the southern stream. Where does one pick the pondweed? In that flowing pool.

於以盛之？維筐及筥。於以湘之？維錡及釜。

What is used to hold it? Square baskets and round baskets. What is used to boil it? Three-legged pots and legless cauldrons.

於以奠之？宗室牖下。誰其屍之？有齊季女。

Where is the offering made? Beneath the window of the ancestral temple. Who presides over the sacrifice? A reverent young maiden.

蔽芾甘棠，勿翦勿伐，召伯所茇。

The luxuriant pear tree, do not trim it, do not cut it, for the Duke of Shao once lodged here.

蔽芾甘棠，勿翦勿敗，召伯所憩。

The luxuriant pear tree, do not trim it, do not harm it, for the Duke of Shao once rested here.

蔽芾甘棠，勿翦勿拜，召伯所說。

The luxuriant pear tree, do not trim it, do not bend it, for the Duke of Shao once stopped here.

厭浥行露，豈不夙夜，謂行多露。

The dew on the road is soaking wet; would I not want to travel early and late? I only fear there is too much dew on the road.

誰謂雀無角？何以穿我屋？誰謂女無家？何以速我獄？雖速我獄，室家不足！

Who says the sparrow has no horn? How else could it pierce my house? Who says you have no home? How else could you bring me to court? Even if you bring me to court, the rites of marriage are not yet enough!

誰謂鼠無牙？何以穿我墉？誰謂女無家？何以速我訟？雖速我訟，亦不女從！

Who says the rat has no teeth? How else could it pierce my wall? Who says you have no home? How else could you bring me to a lawsuit? Even if you bring me to a lawsuit, I still will not follow you!

羔羊之皮，素絲五紽。退食自公，委蛇委蛇。

The lambskin robe, five seams sewn with white silk. Retiring from court to eat, at ease and self-possessed, at ease and self-possessed.

羔羊之革，素絲五緎。委蛇委蛇，自公退食。

The lambskin hide, five stitches sewn with white silk. At ease and self-possessed, at ease and self-possessed, retiring from court to eat.

羔羊之縫，素絲五總。委蛇委蛇，退食自公。

The lambskin sewing, five bundles sewn with white silk. At ease and self-possessed, at ease and self-possessed, retiring from court to eat.

殷其雷，在南山之陽。何斯違斯，莫敢或遑？振振君子，歸哉歸哉！

The thunder rumbles on the south side of Nan Mountain. Why leave here at such a time, not daring to take a moment's rest? Kind gentleman, come back, come back!

殷其雷，在南山之側。何斯違斯，莫敢遑息？振振君子，歸哉歸哉！

The thunder rumbles at the side of Nan Mountain. Why leave here at such a time, not daring to rest awhile? Kind gentleman, come back, come back!

殷其雷，在南山之下。何斯違斯，莫或遑處？振振君子，歸哉歸哉！

The thunder rumbles at the foot of Nan Mountain. Why leave here at such a time, not daring to settle? Kind gentleman, come back, come back!