Guo Feng (Airs of the States)
父母生我，胡俾我瘉？不自我先，不自我後。好言自口，莠言自口。憂心愈愈，是以有侮。
My father and mother gave birth to me; why did they make me suffer? Not before me, not after me. Good words come from the mouth, and bad words come from the mouth. My heart grows ever more sorrowful, and so I am insulted.
憂心惸惸，念我無祿。民之無辜，並其臣僕。哀我人斯，於何從祿？瞻烏爰止？於誰之屋？
My heart is lonely and sorrowful, thinking that I have no blessing or fortune. The people have no guilt, yet even the servants are caught up in the calamity. Pity us here; from where can we seek blessing? Look where the crow settles. On whose roof?
瞻彼中林，侯薪侯蒸。民今方殆，視天夢夢。既克有定，靡人弗勝。有皇上帝，伊誰雲憎？
Looking out at those woods, there is firewood and kindling. The people are now in great danger, and I look to Heaven, dim and unseen. Once it can be settled, there is no one who cannot overcome. August God on high, whom do you truly hate?
謂山蓋卑，為岡為陵。民之訛言，寧莫之懲。召彼故老，訊之占夢。具曰予聖，誰知烏之雌雄！
They say the mountain is low, yet it is a ridge and a hill. The people's rumors, is there no one to rebuke them? I summon the old men and ask them to interpret dreams. All say I am a sage, but who can tell the crow's male from female!
謂天蓋高，不敢不局。謂地蓋厚，不敢不蹐。維號斯言，有倫有脊。哀今之人，胡為虺蜴？
They say Heaven is high, yet I dare not but bend my back. They say earth is thick, yet I dare not but tread lightly. Crying out these words, they have order and a backbone. Pity the people of today; why are they like vipers and lizards?
瞻彼阪田，有菀其特。天之杌我，如不我克。彼求我則，如不我得。執我仇讎，亦不我力。
Looking at that sloping field, there are sprouts standing out luxuriantly. Heaven shakes me like this, as if afraid it cannot overcome me. When they sought me, it was as if afraid of not getting me. Having got me, they treat me as an enemy, and do not use my strength.
心之憂矣，如或結之。今茲之正，胡然厲矣？燎之方揚，寧或滅之？赫赫宗周，褒姒滅之！
The sorrow in my heart is as if something were knotted there. Now these who govern, why are they so violent? The fire burns fiercely; can anyone put it out? The glorious Zhou capital, Bao Si has destroyed it!
終其永懷，又窘陰雨。其車既載，乃棄爾輔。載輸爾載，將伯助予！
At last long sorrowing, and again troubled by rain and clouds. The cart is already loaded, yet you cast away your side-boards. When the load is about to fall, please, elder brother, help me!
無棄爾輔，員於爾輻。屢顧爾僕，不輸爾載。終逾絕險，曾是不意。
Do not cast away your side-boards, strengthen your spokes. Often look after your charioteer, and do not let your load fall. At last you cross the great peril, yet you do not take this to heart.
魚在於沼，亦匪克樂。潛雖伏矣，亦孔之炤。憂心慘慘，念國之為虐！
The fish in the pond cannot be happy either. Though hidden and lying low, they are quite visible. My heart is full of grief, thinking of the state's cruelty!
彼有旨酒，又有嘉餚。洽比其鄰，婚姻孔雲。念我獨兮，憂心殷殷。
They have fine wine and also good dishes. They are harmonious and close with their neighbors, and their marriages are well arranged. I think of my loneliness, and my heart is deeply troubled.
佌佌彼有屋，蔌蔌方有谷。民今之無祿，天夭是椓。哿矣富人，哀此惸獨。
Petty little people have houses, mean little people just now have grain. The people now have no blessing, and Heaven ravages them like this. Happy are the rich; pity these lonely ones.
十月之交，朔月辛卯。日有食之，亦孔之醜。彼月而微，此日而微；今此下民，亦孔之哀。
In the tenth month, at the meeting of sun and moon, on the new moon day xinmao, the sun was eclipsed, and it was a very ugly sign. The moon grew dim, and the sun grew dim; now these common people are also much to be pitied.
日月告兇，不用其行。四國無政，不用其良。彼月而食，則維其常；此日而食，於何不臧。
The sun and moon announce a bad omen, not following their courses. The states of the four quarters lack good government, and do not use good men. The moon being eclipsed is still a common thing; but the sun being eclipsed, what is not wrong in it.
燁燁震電，不寧不令。百川沸騰，山冢崒崩。高岸為谷，深谷為陵。哀今之人，胡慘莫懲？
The flashing thunder and lightning are neither peaceful nor good. The hundred rivers boil over, and the mountain peaks suddenly collapse. High banks become valleys, and deep valleys become hills. Pity the people of today; why do they suffer so and yet are not warned?
皇父卿士，番維司徒，家伯維宰，仲允膳夫，棸子內史，蹶維趣馬，楀維師氏。醘妻煽方處。
Huangfu is the minister, Fan is the Minister of Education, Jiabo is the steward, Zhongyun is the chief cook, Zouzi is the inner scribe, Jue is the master of horses, and Yu is the master of the army. His beautiful wife is in full blaze and lives alongside them.
抑此皇父，豈曰不時？胡為我作，不即我謀？徹我牆屋，田卒汙萊。曰予不戕，禮則然矣。
This Huangfu, could he say it is not fitting? Why does he make works at my expense, and not come to consult me? He tears down my walls and houses, and my fields end up flooded and overgrown with weeds. Yet he says I am not harmed, that this is what ritual requires.
皇父孔聖，作都於向。擇三有事，亶侯多藏。不憖遺一老，俾守我王。擇有車馬，以居徂向。
Huangfu is very wise, and is building a capital at Xiang. He chose three officials, who are truly men who hoard much. He was unwilling to leave a single old and experienced man to guard my king. He chose those who had chariots and horses, and moved them to live at Xiang.
黽勉從事，不敢告勞。無罪無辜，讒口囂囂。下民之孽，匪降自天。噂沓背憎，職競由人。
Working diligently, I dare not complain of toil. I have no crime and no fault, yet slander is loud. The disasters of the common people do not come down from Heaven. Talking and laughing to your face, hating behind your back, they are made entirely by people competing with each other.
悠悠我裡，亦孔之痗。四方有羨，我獨居憂。民莫不逸，我獨不敢休。天命不徹，我不敢效我友自逸。
Far away is my village, and I am quite ill. The four quarters have surplus and abundance, while I alone am in sorrow. Of the people, none are not at ease, while I alone dare not rest. Heaven's mandate does not follow the constant way; I dare not imitate my friends in taking my own ease.
浩浩昊天，不駿其德。降喪饑饉，斬伐四國。旻天疾威，弗慮弗圖。舍彼有罪，既伏其辜。若此無罪，淪胥以鋪。
Vast August Heaven does not make its virtue last. It sends down death, disorder and famine, and cuts down the states of the four quarters. Heaven in autumn is swift in wrath, without thought or planning. It lets go those who are guilty, and has already concealed their guilt. Like these who are innocent, one after another they sink and suffer.
周宗既滅，靡所止戾。正大夫離居，莫知我勩。三事大夫，莫肯夙夜。邦君諸侯，莫肯朝夕。庶曰式臧，覆出為惡。
The royal house of Zhou has perished, and there is no place to rest. The chief officers have left their posts, and no one knows my toil. The three high ministers are unwilling to work from morning to night. The lords of states are unwilling to attend morning and evening. They say they hope to do good, yet go out and do evil.
如何昊天，辟言不信。如彼行邁，則靡所臻。凡百君子，各敬爾身。胡不相畏，不畏於天？
What can be done, Heaven? Words of law and measure are not believed. It is like walking on a road with no place to arrive. All you gentlemen, each be respectful and careful of your own persons. Why do you not fear one another, and not fear Heaven?
戎成不退，飢成不遂。曾我暬御，慘慘日瘁。凡百君子，莫肯用訊。聽言則答，譖言則退。
The war is already begun yet does not withdraw; the famine is already come yet does not abate. Once I was one of these close attendants, grieving, wasting away day by day. All you gentlemen are unwilling to remonstrate. To pleasant words you respond; from slanderous words you shrink back.
哀哉不能言，匪舌是出，維躬是瘁。哿矣能言，巧言如流，俾躬處休！
It is sad that one cannot speak, not through any fault of the tongue, but because one wastes away from it. Happy are those who can speak, with clever words like flowing water, keeping themselves in ease!
維曰予仕，孔棘且殆。雲不何使，得罪於天子；亦云可使，怨及朋友。
Though I say I am to take office, it is very urgent and dangerous. If I say I cannot go on a mission, I will offend the Son of Heaven; if I also say I can go, resentment will fall on my friends.
謂爾遷於王都。曰予未有室家。鼠思泣血，無言不疾。昔爾出居，誰從作爾室？
You are told to move to the royal capital. Yet I say I still have no household there. Rats think and weep tears of blood, and there is not a word that does not hurt. In the past when you went out to live, who followed to build you a house?
旻天疾威，敷於下土。謀猶回遹，何日斯沮？謀臧不從，不臧覆用。我視謀猶，亦孔之邛。
Autumn Heaven is swift in wrath, spreading over the lower earth. Its plans are crooked and perverse; what day will they stop? Good plans are not followed, and bad ones are used instead. When I look at these plans, I am greatly troubled.
潝潝訿訿，亦孔之哀。謀之其臧，則具是違。謀之不臧，則具是依。我視謀猶，伊於胡厎。
They chime in together and slander one another, which is also pitiable. If a plan is sound, they all go against it. If a plan is not sound, they all follow it. When I look at these plans, where will they end up?
我龜既厭，不我告猶。謀夫孔多，是用不集。發言盈庭，誰敢執其咎？如匪行邁謀，是用不得於道。
My tortoise is already weary and does not tell me the plans. The planners are many, and so nothing is accomplished. Speech fills the courtyard, but who dares take the blame? It is like consulting without walking, so one cannot find the road.
哀哉為猶，匪先民是程，匪大猶是經。維邇言是聽，維邇言是爭。如彼築室於道謀，是用不潰於成。
Sad is this way of planning, which does not take the former people as the model, nor the great way as the plan. They only listen to shallow words and only argue over shallow words. It is like building a house by the road and asking passersby, so it cannot be completed.
國雖靡止，或聖或否。民雖靡膴，或哲或謀，或肅或艾。如彼泉流，無淪胥以敗。
Though the state has no fixed place, some are sage and some are not. Though the people are not numerous, some are clear-sighted, some are good planners, some are reverent and some are orderly. Like that spring flowing, do not sink one after another and be ruined.
不敢暴虎，不敢馮河。人知其一，莫知其他。戰戰兢兢，如臨深淵，如履薄冰。
One dares not hit a tiger with bare hands or cross a river on foot. People know this, but do not know the rest. Trembling and cautious, as if on the brink of a deep pool, as if treading on thin ice.
宛彼鳴鳩，翰飛戾天。我心憂傷，念昔先人。明發不寐，有懷二人。
The small turtledove flies high into the sky. My heart is grieved, thinking of the ancestors of former times. At dawn I cannot sleep, and think of those two.
人之齊聖，飲酒溫克。彼昏不知，一醉日富。各敬爾儀，天命不又。
If a person is clear, sage and wise, he can drink wine with gentleness and restraint. Those who are dull and know nothing think after one drink that they are daily wealthy. Each of you, be respectful of your bearing; the mandate of Heaven does not come again.
中原有菽，庶民採之。螟蛉有子，蜾蠃負之。教誨爾子，式谷似之。
In the fields there are beans, which the common people gather. The mulberry caterpillar has its larvae, which the wasp carries off. Teach your son, and make him like the good.
題彼脊令，載飛載鳴。我日斯邁，而月斯徵。夙興夜寐，毋忝爾所生。
Look at that wagtail, flying and calling. I advance like this every day, and you travel far like this every month. Rise early and sleep late, and do not disgrace those who bore you.
交交桑扈，率場啄粟。哀我填寡，宜岸宜獄。握粟出卜，自何能谷？
The little finches chirp, pecking millet along the threshing floor. Pity me, poor, sick, lonely and widowed, fit to be in prison. Holding millet in my hand I go out to divine; from where can I get good?
溫溫恭人，如集於木。惴惴小心，如臨於谷。戰戰兢兢，如履薄冰。
Gentle and respectful people are like those gathered in a tree. Fearful and careful, as if on the brink of a valley. Trembling and cautious, as if treading on thin ice.
弁彼鷽斯，歸飛提提。民莫不穀，我獨於罹。何辜於天？我罪伊何？心之憂矣，雲如之何？
The flying jackdaws come home in leisurely flight. Of the people, none are not good, while I alone am in distress. What have I done wrong to Heaven? What is my crime? The sorrow in my heart, what am I to do?
踧踧周道，鞫為茂草。我心憂傷，惄焉如搗。假寐永嘆，維憂用老。心之憂矣，疢如疾首。
The level great road, at its end is overgrown with lush grass. My heart is grieved, sorrowing as if being pounded. Sleeping in my clothes I sigh long, growing old from sorrow alone. The sorrow in my heart, like a fever, like a headache.
維桑與梓，必恭敬止。靡瞻匪父，靡依匪母。不屬於毛？不罹於裡？天之生我，我辰安在？
The mulberry and the catalpa must be treated with respect. What I look up to is none other than my father, and what I rely on is none other than my mother. Do I not belong to the outside? Am I not connected to the inside? Heaven gave birth to me; where is my fate?
菀彼柳斯，鳴蜩嘒嘒，有漼者淵，萑葦淠淠。譬彼舟流，不知所屆，心之憂矣，不遑假寐。
The lush willow, with cicadas singing, there is a deep pool, and reeds grow thick. Like a boat drifting along, not knowing where it will arrive, the sorrow in my heart leaves no leisure even to sleep in my clothes.
鹿斯之奔，維足伎伎。雉之朝雊，尚求其雌。譬彼壞木，疾用無枝。心之憂矣，寧莫之知？
The deer run, their feet moving slowly. The pheasant calls in the morning, still seeking its mate. Like that decayed tree, so sick it has no branches. The sorrow in my heart, is there no one who knows?
相彼投兔，尚或先之。行有死人，尚或墐之。君子秉心，維其忍之。心之憂矣，涕既隕之。
Look at that hare caught in the net; someone first set it free. On the road there is a dead man; someone buried him with earth. The gentleman's heart is set so, yet so cruel. The sorrow in my heart, my tears have already fallen.
君子信讒，如或酬之。君子不惠，不舒究之。伐木掎矣，析薪扡矣。舍彼有罪，予之佗矣。
The gentleman believes slander, as if someone were urging him to drink. The gentleman does not show kindness, and does not slowly inquire. When chopping trees, hold them back; when splitting firewood, follow the grain. He lets go of those who are guilty, yet lays the guilt on me.
莫高匪山，莫浚匪泉。君子無易由言，耳屬於垣。無逝我梁，無發我笱。我躬不閱，遑恤我後。
There is no mountain that is not high, no spring that is not deep. Gentleman, do not speak lightly, for an ear is pressed to the wall. Do not go to my fish weir, do not open my fish basket. I myself am not tolerated; how can I care about what happens after I am gone.
悠悠昊天，曰父母且。無罪無辜，亂如此幠。昊天已威，予慎無罪。昊天大幠，予慎無辜。
Far-off August Heaven, called father and mother. I have no crime and no fault, yet the disorder is so great. August Heaven is already angry, but I truly have no crime. August Heaven is too great, but I truly have no fault.
亂之初生，僭始既涵。亂之又生，君子信讒。君子如怒，亂庶遄沮。君子如祉，亂庶遄已。
When disorder first arose, slander was beginning to be tolerated. When disorder arose again, the gentleman believed slander. If the gentleman were to be angry, the disorder would perhaps soon cease. If the gentleman were to bestow blessings, the disorder would perhaps soon end.
君子屢盟，亂是用長。君子信盜，亂是用暴。盜言孔甘，亂是用餤。匪其止共，維王之邛。
The gentleman repeatedly swears oaths, and so disorder grows. The gentleman believes robbers, and so disorder becomes violent. The robbers' words are sweet, and so disorder deepens. It is not that they are respectful in their duties; it is only the king's sickness.
奕奕寢廟，君子作之。秩秩大猷，聖人莫之。他人有心，予忖度之。躍躍毚兔，遇犬獲之。
The grand ancestral temple was built by the gentleman. The orderly great plans were established by the sages. When others have thoughts, I can fathom them. The leaping cunning hare, when meeting a dog, is caught.
荏染柔木，君子樹之。往來行言，心焉數之。蛇蛇碩言，出自口矣。巧言如簧，顏之厚矣。
The soft, fine tree was planted by the gentleman. Rumors come and go, and my heart counts them. Shallow big talk comes out of the mouth. Clever words are like a reed organ, and the face is thick.
彼何人斯？居河之麋。無拳無勇，職為亂階。既微且尰，爾勇伊何？為猶將多，爾居徒幾何？
What kind of man is he? He lives by the river. He has no strength and no courage, and only makes steps for disorder. With sores on his legs and swollen feet, where is your courage? Your plans are many, but how many are your followers?
彼何人斯？其心孔艱。胡逝我梁，不入我門？伊誰雲從？維暴之雲。
What kind of man is he? His heart is dangerous. Why does he pass my fish weir yet not enter my gate? Following whom? He says Lord Bao.
二人從行，誰為此禍？胡逝我梁，不入唁我？始者不如今，雲不我可
Two people walk together; who caused this calamity? Why do you pass my fish weir and not come in to console me? At first it was not like now; you say I cannot be allowed.
彼何人斯？胡逝我陳？我聞其聲，不見其身。不愧於人？不畏於天？
What kind of man is he? Why does he pass along my courtyard path? I hear his voice but cannot see his person. Is he not ashamed before others? Does he not fear Heaven?
彼何人斯？其為飄風。胡不自北？胡不自南？胡逝我梁？絺攪我心。
What kind of man is he? He is like a whirlwind. Why does he not come from the north? Why does he not come from the south? Why does he pass my fish weir? He stirs up my heart.
爾之安行，亦不遑舍。爾之亟行，遑脂爾車。一者之來，云何其盱。
You walk slowly, yet have no leisure to stop. You hurry, yet have time to grease the cart. Once you come, why so worried?
爾還而入，我心易也。還而不入，否難知也。一者之來，俾我絺也。
If you return and enter the door, my heart is at peace. If you return but do not enter the door, it is hard to know. Once you come, my heart is stirred up.
伯氏吹壎，仲氏吹篪。及爾如貫，諒不我鄭出此三物，以詛爾斯。
The elder brother blows the xun, the younger brother blows the chi. Joined with you like beads on one string, surely you do not fail to understand me. (The base text reads "谅不我郑出此三物" and a passage seems to be missing; it is translated here following the reading "谅不我知。出此三物".) Bring out these three sacrificial animals, to swear a curse against you in this way.