Guo Feng (Airs of the States)
我車既攻，我馬既同。四牡龐龐，駕言徂東。
My chariot is already sturdy, my horses are already well matched. The four stallions are big and strong, and we drive eastward.
田車既好，田牡孔阜。東有甫草，駕言行狩。
The hunting chariots are already fine, and the hunting stallions are tall and large. In the east there is the grass of Fu field, and we drive off to hunt.
之子於苗，選徒囂囂。建旐設旄，搏獸於敖。
This man goes to the summer hunt, counting the crowd amid the din. The dragon banner is raised and the yak-tail banner set up, and beasts are fought at Ao.
駕彼四牡，四牡奕奕。赤芾金舄，會同有繹。
Driving those four stallions, the four stallions are at ease and graceful. With red knee-covers and golden shoes, the meetings and assemblies follow one after another.
決拾既佽，弓矢既調。射夫既同，助我舉柴。
The archer's thumb ring and arm guard are comfortable, the bows and arrows are in good order. The archers are in accord, and help me lift up the game and pile it high.
四黃既駕，兩驂不猗。不失其馳，舍矢如破。
The four yellow horses are harnessed, and the horses at the sides do not stray. Driving and galloping follow the rules, and the arrows fly as if breaking through.
蕭蕭馬鳴，悠悠旆旌。徒御不驚，大庖不盈。
The horses neigh, the banners flutter. The foot soldiers and charioteers are not startled, and the great kitchen is not overfilled.
之子於徵，有聞無聲。允矣君子，展也大成。
This man goes on campaign, with renown but no clamor. Truly trustworthy gentleman, truly a great accomplishment.
吉日維戊，既伯既禱。田車既好，四牡孔阜。升彼大阜，從其群醜。
The auspicious day is the wu day, we have already sacrificed to the horse ancestor and prayed. The hunting chariots are already fine, and the four stallions are tall and large. We climb that great mound and follow the herds of beasts.
吉日庚午，既差我馬。獸之所同，麀鹿麌麌。漆沮之從，天子之所。
The auspicious day is the gengwu day, and we have already chosen my horses. Where the beasts gather, the does and stags are numerous. Along the Qi and Ju rivers, there is where the Son of Heaven is.
瞻彼中原，其祁孔有。儦儦俟俟，或群或友。悉率左右，以燕天子。
Looking out over the plains, they are vast and full of game. Running in swarms, walking at ease, some in herds and some in pairs. We lead all those left and right, to feast and delight the Son of Heaven.
既張我弓，既挾我矢。發彼小豝，殪此大兕。以御賓客，且以酌醴。
I have already drawn my bow and nocked my arrow. I shoot the little wild boar and shoot down this great wild buffalo. We use them to offer to the guests, and also to pour the sweet wine.
鴻雁于飛，肅肅其羽。之子於徵，劬勞於野。爰及矜人，哀此鰥寡。
The wild geese fly, their wings whirring. These men go on campaign and toil in the wilds. Pity extends to those in distress, and compassion for these widowers and widows.
鴻雁于飛，集於中澤。之子於垣，百堵皆作。雖則劬勞，其究安宅？
The wild geese fly and settle in the marsh. These men go to build walls, and a hundred walls rise up. Though they toil, will they at last have settled homes?
鴻雁于飛，哀鳴嗷嗷。維此哲人，謂我劬勞。維彼愚人，謂我宣驕。
The wild geese fly and cry out mournfully. Only these wise people say that I toil. Those foolish people say that I am showing off arrogance.
夜如何其？夜未央，庭燎之光。君子至止，鸞聲將將。
How goes the night? The night is not yet at its end, and there is the light of torches in the courtyard. The lord is coming, and the bells jingle.
夜如何其？夜未艾，庭燎晣晣。君子至止，鸞聲噦噦。
How goes the night? The night is not yet over, and the courtyard torches shine bright. The lord is coming, and the bells chime.
夜如何其？夜鄉晨，庭燎有輝。君子至止，言觀其旗。
How goes the night? The night nears the morning, and the courtyard torches have a lingering glow. The lord is coming, and we see his banners.
沔彼流水，朝宗於海。鴥彼飛隼，載飛載止。嗟我兄弟，邦人諸友。莫肯念亂，誰無父母？
The brimming water flows to pay court to the sea. The swift falcon flies and settles again. Alas, my brothers, and friends of the states. If you will not think of the disorder, who does not have parents?
沔彼流水，其流湯湯。鴥彼飛隼，載飛載揚。念彼不跡，載起載行。心之憂矣，不可弭忘。
The brimming water flows in great surges. The swift falcon flies and rises again. I think of those who do not follow the right path, who rise and walk on. The sorrow in my heart cannot be stilled or forgotten.
鴥彼飛隼，率彼中陵。民之訛言，寧莫之懲？我友敬矣，讒言其興。
The swift falcon flies along the hills. The people's rumors, is there no one to rebuke them? My friends are on guard, yet slander arises.
鶴鳴於九皋，聲聞於野。魚潛在淵，或在於渚。樂彼之園，爰有樹檀，其下維蘀。他山之石，可以為錯。
The crane cries in the winding marsh, and its voice carries to the wilds. The fish lie hidden in the deep pool, or are on the small islet. I love that garden, where there is a sandalwood tree, and fallen leaves beneath it. The stones from other mountains can be used as whetstones.
鶴鳴於九皋，聲聞於天。魚在於渚，或潛在淵。樂彼之園，爰有樹檀，其下維谷。他山之石，可以攻玉。
The crane cries in the winding marsh, and its voice carries to heaven. The fish are on the islet, or lie hidden in the deep pool. I love that garden, where there is a sandalwood tree, and a paper mulberry beneath it. The stones from other mountains can be used to work jade.
祈父，予王之爪牙。胡轉予於恤，靡所止居？
Minister of War, I am the king's claws and teeth. Why did you turn me into this distress, with no place to stay?
祈父，予王之爪士。胡轉予於恤，靡所厎止？
Minister of War, I am the king's guard. Why did you turn me into this distress, with no place where it ends?
祈父，亶不聰。胡轉予於恤？有母之尸饔。
Minister of War, you are truly not wise. Why did you turn me into this distress? I have a mother, and I must cook for her myself.
皎皎白駒，食我場苗。縶之維之，以永今朝。所謂伊人，於焉逍遙？
The bright white colt eats the seedlings in my field. Tether him, bind him, to lengthen this morning. The one of whom I speak, where does he roam at ease?
皎皎白駒，食我場藿。縶之維之，以永今夕。所謂伊人，於焉嘉客？
The bright white colt eats the bean leaves in my field. Tether him, bind him, to lengthen this evening. The one of whom I speak, where is he an honored guest?
皎皎白駒，賁然來思。爾公爾侯，逸豫無期？慎爾優遊，勉爾遁思。
The bright white colt comes in splendid haste. You are a duke, you are a marquis; is your ease and joy without limit? Be careful in your leisure, and restrain your thoughts of escape.
皎皎白駒，在彼空谷。生芻一束，其人如玉。毋金玉爾音，而有遐心。
The bright white colt is in that empty valley. A bundle of fresh grass, and that man is like jade. Do not treat your letters as gold and jade, and so have a distant heart.
黃鳥黃鳥，無集於谷，無啄我粟。此邦之人，不我肯谷。言旋言歸，復我邦族。
Yellow bird, yellow bird, do not settle on the paper mulberry, do not peck my millet. The people of this state are unwilling to treat me well. I say I will return, return to my own clan.
黃鳥黃鳥，無集於桑，無啄我粱。此邦之人，不可與明。言旋言歸，復我諸兄。
Yellow bird, yellow bird, do not settle on the mulberry, do not peck my sorghum. The people of this state cannot be allied with. I say I will return, return to my elder brothers.
黃鳥黃鳥，無集於栩，無啄我黍。此邦之人，不可與處。言旋言歸，復我諸父。
Yellow bird, yellow bird, do not settle on the oak, do not peck my broomcorn millet. The people of this state cannot be lived with. I say I will return, return to my uncles.
我行其野，蔽芾其樗。婚姻之故，言就爾居。爾不我畜，復我邦家。
I walk in that wild place, where the stinking ailanthus grows lush. Because of the marriage tie, I came to live with you. You do not care for me, so I return to my own state and family.
我行其野，言採其蓫。婚姻之故，言就爾宿。爾不我畜，言歸斯復。
I walk in that wild place, gathering sheep's-foot greens. Because of the marriage tie, I came to lodge with you. You do not care for me, so I say I will go home and I go.
我行其野，言採其葍。不思舊姻，求爾新特。成不以富，亦祗以異。
I walk in that wild place, gathering the fu weed. You do not think of your old marriage, but seek your new match. It is not because she is rich, but only because you have changed your heart.
秩秩斯干，幽幽南山。如竹苞矣，如松茂矣。兄及弟矣，式相好矣，無相猶矣。
The stream runs in orderly flow, the Southern Mountain is dim and deep. Like bamboo growing in clumps, like pines flourishing. Brothers, be on good terms, do not plot against one another.
似續妣祖，築室百堵，西南其戶。爰居爰處，爰笑爰語。
Continuing the work of the late mother and ancestors, build a house of a hundred walls, with doors and windows facing southwest. Here we dwell, here we settle, here we laugh and talk.
約之閣閣，椓之橐橐。風雨攸除，鳥鼠攸去，君子攸芋。
The rammed-earth boards are bound with a clatter, the stakes are pounded with a thud. Wind and rain are thereby kept out, birds and rats are driven away, and the lord is thereby sheltered.
如跂斯翼，如矢斯棘，如鳥斯革，如翬斯飛，君子攸躋。
Like one standing on tiptoe in reverence, like an arrow with sharp corners, like a bird spreading its wings, like a pheasant in flight, the lord thereby ascends.
殖殖其庭，有覺其楹。噲噲其正，噦噦其冥。君子攸寧。
The courtyard is level and even, the pillars are tall and sturdy. The main hall is bright, the inner rooms are deep and wide. The lord thereby is at peace.
下莞上簟，乃安斯寢。乃寢乃興，乃占我夢。吉夢維何？維熊維羆，維虺維蛇。
Rush mats below and bamboo mats above, and so he sleeps in peace. He sleeps, and he rises, and interprets my dream. What is the auspicious dream? Bears and brown bears, vipers and snakes.
大人占之：維熊維羆，男子之祥；維虺維蛇，女子之祥。
The grand diviner interprets: bears and brown bears are the omen of bearing sons; vipers and snakes are the omen of bearing daughters.
乃生男子，載寢之床。載衣之裳，載弄之璋。其泣喤喤，朱芾斯皇，室家君王。
So a son is born, and he is laid on a bed. He is dressed in robes and given jade scepters to play with. His cries are loud, and his red knee-covers are so splendid, the future lord of the household.
乃生女子，載寢之地。載衣之裼，載弄之瓦。無非無儀，唯酒食是議，無父母詒罹。
So a daughter is born, and she is laid on the floor. She is wrapped in swaddling clothes and given a spinning whorl to play with. May she have no faults and no self-willed ways; may she attend only to wine and food, and give her parents no worry.
誰謂爾無羊？三百維群。誰謂爾無牛？九十其犉。爾羊來思，其角濈濈。爾牛來思，其耳溼溼。
Who says you have no sheep? Three hundred in a flock. Who says you have no oxen? Ninety great oxen. Your sheep come, their horns crowded together. Your oxen come, their ears flapping wetly.
或降於阿，或飲於池，或寢或訛。爾牧來思，何蓑何笠，或負其餱。三十維物，爾牲則具。
Some go down to the mountain bend, some drink at the pond, some sleep and some move about. Your herdsmen come, wearing straw rain capes and bamboo hats, some carrying dry provisions. Thirty colors of coat, and your sacrificial animals are complete.
爾牧來思，以薪以蒸，以雌以雄。爾羊來思，矜矜兢兢，不騫不崩。麾之以肱，畢來既升。
Your herdsmen come, carrying firewood and kindling, bringing females and males. Your sheep come, cautious and careful, not diminished and not scattered. With a wave of the arm, they all come, they all go up.
牧人乃夢，眾維魚矣，旐維旟矣，大人占之；眾維魚矣，實維豐年；旐維旟矣，室家溱溱。
The herdsman then dreams: many people have become fish, and the dragon banner has become a falcon banner; the grand diviner interprets: many people becoming fish truly means a bumper harvest; the dragon banner becoming the falcon banner means the household will flourish.
節彼南山，維石巖巖。赫赫師尹，民具爾瞻。憂心如惔，不敢戲談。國既卒斬，何用不監！
The Southern Mountain is lofty, its rocks are craggy. Glorious Grand Tutor Yin, all the people look up to you. My heart burns like fire, and I dare not joke. The state is at last cut off; why do you not see it?
節彼南山，有實其猗。赫赫師尹，不平謂何。天方薦瘥，喪亂弘多。民言無嘉，慘莫懲嗟。
The Southern Mountain is lofty, its slopes are full. Glorious Grand Tutor Yin, why is there such unfairness? Heaven is just now sending plague, and death and disorder are great and many. The people's words have no praise, yet the suffering is not met with reproof or sighs.
尹氏大師，維周之氐；秉國之鈞，四方是維。天子是毗，俾民不迷。不弔昊天，不宜空我師。
The Yin family, the Grand Tutor, is the foundation of Zhou; he holds the scales of the state, and the four quarters are held together by him. The Son of Heaven relies on him for support, so that the people are not confused. Unkind Heaven, you should not hollow out our multitudes.
弗躬弗親，庶民弗信。弗問弗仕，勿罔君子。式夷式已，無小人殆。瑣瑣姻亞，則無膴仕。
If he does not act in person and take charge himself, the common people will not trust him. If he does not inquire and does not appoint, do not deceive the gentleman. Be even and stop; do not be harmed by petty people. As for petty relatives by marriage, do not give them rich posts.
昊天不傭，降此鞠訩。昊天不惠，降此大戾。君子如屆，俾民心闋。君子如夷，惡怒是違。
August Heaven is not even-handed, sending down this extreme calamity. August Heaven is not kind, sending down this great perversity. If the gentleman were to come, he would put the people's hearts at rest. If the gentleman were upright, hatred and anger would depart.
不弔昊天，亂靡有定。式月斯生，俾民不寧。憂心如酲，誰秉國成？不自為政，卒勞百姓。
Unkind August Heaven, the disorder is not settled. Month by month it grows like this, and the people are not at peace. My heart is troubled as with drunkenness; who holds the established laws of the state? He does not govern himself, and in the end the common people toil.
駕彼四牡，四牡項領。我瞻四方，蹙蹙靡所騁。
Driving those four stallions, the four stallions have thick necks. I look out to the four quarters, hemmed in, with no place to gallop.
方茂爾惡，相爾矛矣。既夷既懌，如相酬矣。
Just when your hatred is flourishing, I see your spear. When it is already calmed and already pleased, it is as if you are urging one another to drink.
昊天不平，我王不寧。不懲其心，覆怨其正。
August Heaven is not even, and my king is not at peace. He does not reprove his own heart, but instead resents those who are upright.
家父作誦，以究王訩。式訛爾心，以畜萬邦。
Jia Fu makes this recitation, to trace the king's wickedness. If you change your heart, you can nurture the myriad states.
正月繁霜，我心憂傷。民之訛言，亦孔之將。念我獨兮，憂心京京。哀我小心，癙憂以癢。
In the first month there is much frost, and my heart is grieved. The people's rumors are also great. I think of my loneliness, and my heart is heavy with sorrow. I pity my own timid heart, with hidden grief to the point of illness.