Guo Feng (Airs of the States)

酌彼康爵，以奏爾時。

Fill that great cup, to present your timely shot.

賓之初筵，溫溫其恭。其未醉止，威儀反反。曰既醉止，威儀幡幡。

When the guests have just taken their seats, they are gentle and respectful. Before they are drunk, their dignity is careful and repeated. When they say they are drunk, their dignity turns flighty and light.

舍其坐遷，屢舞仙仙。其未醉止，威儀抑抑。曰既醉止，威儀抑抑。

They leave their seats and move about, and dance again and again with fluttering steps. Before they are drunk, their dignity is composed and careful. When they say they are drunk, their dignity is still composed.

是曰既醉，不知其秩。

This is to say that they are drunk, and do not know the order.

賓既醉止，載號載呶。亂我籩豆，屢舞僛僛。是曰既醉，不知其郵。

The guests are already drunk, and shout and clamor. They disturb my dishes, and dance again and again, tilting and swaying. This is to say that they are drunk, and do not know their faults.

側弁之俄，屢舞傞傞。既醉而出，並受其福。醉而不出，是謂伐德。

The leather caps are askew, and they dance on and on without stopping. If one who is drunk goes out, all share his blessing. If one who is drunk does not go out, this is called ruining virtue.

飲酒孔嘉，維其令儀。

Drinking is good, only if there is good deportment.

凡此飲酒，或醉或否。既立之監，或佐之史。彼醉不臧，不醉反恥。

In all this drinking, some get drunk and some do not. A supervisor has been set up, perhaps assisted by a scribe. Those who are drunk are not good, and those who are not drunk are instead ashamed.

式勿從謂，無俾大怠。匪言勿言，匪由勿語。由醉之言，俾出童羖。

Do not follow and urge more drink, and do not make him too negligent. Do not say what should not be said, and do not speak what is not in accord with reason. Following the drunken talk, he will bring out a hornless ram.

三爵不識，矧敢多又。

After three cups he no longer knows anyone, so how dare one urge him on further.

魚在在藻，有頒其首。王在在鎬，豈樂飲酒。

The fish are in the pondweed, their heads big and broad. The king is at Haojing, joyfully drinking.

魚在在藻，有莘其尾。王在在鎬，飲酒樂豈。

The fish are in the pondweed, their tails long and lovely. The king is at Haojing, drinking in joy.

魚在在藻，依於其蒲。王在在鎬，有那其居。

The fish are in the pondweed, resting by the rushes. The king is at Haojing, his dwelling so peaceful and at ease.

采菽采菽，筐之莒之。君子來朝，何錫予之？雖無予之？路車乘馬。又何予之？玄袞及黼。

Gather the beans, gather the beans, with baskets round and square. The gentleman comes to court; what shall we give him? Though we have nothing to give him, we give a great carriage and the horses that draw it. What more do we give him? A dark ceremonial robe and an embroidered lower garment.

觱沸檻泉，言採其芹。君子來朝，言觀其旗。其旗淠淠，鸞聲嘒嘒。載驂載駟，君子所屆。

The bubbling spring flows; we gather the cress. The gentleman comes to court, and we see his banners. The banners flutter, and the phoenix bells chime. Three horses or four horses, where the gentleman arrives.

赤芾在股，邪幅在下。彼交匪紓，天子所予。樂只君子，天子命之。樂只君子，福祿申之。

The red knee-cover is on his thighs, the leg wrappings below his calves. In dealings he is not careless, and it is bestowed by the Son of Heaven. The joyful gentleman, the Son of Heaven appoints him. The joyful gentleman, blessings and rank are given to him again and again.

維柞之枝，其葉蓬蓬。樂只君子，殿天子之邦。樂只君子，萬福攸同。平平左右，亦是率從。

The branches of the oak, the leaves are thick. The joyful gentleman guards the state of the Son of Heaven. The joyful gentleman, ten thousand blessings gather to him. Those left and right are well ordered and, for this reason, obedient.

泛泛楊舟，紼纚維之。樂只君子，天子葵之。樂只君子，福祿膍之。優哉遊哉，亦是戾矣。

The poplar boat drifts, a great rope ties it. The joyful gentleman, the Son of Heaven takes his measure. The joyful gentleman, blessings and rank are given thickly. Leisurely and at ease, they too have come for this.

騂騂角弓，翩其反矣。兄弟婚姻，無胥遠矣。

The horn bow is tightly strung, and when turned over it springs back. Brothers and in-laws, do not be distant from one another.

爾之遠矣，民胥然矣。爾之教矣，民胥效矣。

If you grow distant, the people all do the same. If you instruct them, the people all imitate.

此令兄弟，綽綽有裕。不令兄弟，交相為愈。

These good brothers have ample to spare. The bad brothers harm each other in turn.

民之無良，相怨一方。受爵不讓，至於已斯亡。

The people are not good, and resent each other in one quarter. They accept rank without yielding, and so they perish by their own act.

老馬反為駒，不顧其後。如食宜饇，如酌孔取。

The old horse is treated as a colt, with no thought for what comes after. Like eating one must be full, like pouring wine one takes a great deal.

毋教猱升木，如塗塗附。君子有徽猷，小人與屬。

Do not teach a monkey to climb trees, like plastering mud on top of mud. The gentleman has fine plans, and petty people attach themselves to him.

雨雪瀌瀌，見晛曰消。莫肯下遺，式居婁驕。

The rain and snow fall thickly, and at the sight of the sun they say it has melted. They are unwilling to humble themselves and yield, but settle down and are arrogant again and again.

雨雪浮浮，見晛曰流。如蠻如髦，我是用憂。

The rain and snow fall in flakes, and at the sight of the sun they say it has flowed away. Like the Man and the Mao tribes, I grieve because of this.

有菀者柳，不尚息焉。上帝甚蹈，無自暱焉。俾予靖之，後予極焉。

The willow is lush, and still you do not want to rest beneath it. The Lord on High is greatly changeable; do not draw near of yourself. Though I had settled him, afterward he treated me as extreme.

有菀者柳，不尚愒焉。上帝甚蹈，無自瘵焉。俾予靖之，後予邁焉。

The willow is lush, and still you do not want to take shelter beneath it. The Lord on High is greatly changeable; do not bring sickness on yourself. Though I had settled him, afterward he sent me far away.

有鳥高飛，亦傅於天。彼人之心，於何其臻。曷予靖之，居以兇矜。

A bird flies high, reaching up to heaven. That man's heart, where has it gone? Why did I settle him, only to be placed in danger and fear?

彼都人士，狐裘黃黃。其容不改，出言有章。行歸於周，萬民所望。

The men of that capital wore fox furs, yellow and bright. Their bearing did not change, and their speech had grace. About to return to Zhou, they were what the myriad people looked up to.

彼都人士，臺笠緇撮。彼君子女，綢直如發。我不見兮，我心不說。

The men of that capital wore sedge hats and black cloth caps. The daughters of those gentlemen had hair thick and straight. I cannot see them, and my heart is not glad.

彼都人士，充耳琇實。彼君子女，謂之尹吉。我不見兮，我心苑結。

The men of that capital had ear-plugs filled with fine jade. The daughters of those gentlemen were called Yin and Ji. I cannot see them, and my heart is knotted.

彼都人士，垂帶而厲。彼君子女，捲髮如蠆。我不見兮，言從之邁。

The men of that capital had belts hanging with trailing ends. The daughters of those gentlemen had curled hair like a scorpion's tail. I cannot see them, and they are said to follow others far away.

匪伊垂之，帶則有餘。匪伊卷之，發則有旟。我不見兮，云何盱矣。

They did not let them hang on purpose; the belt just had length to spare. They did not curl it on purpose; the hair just turned up. I cannot see them; what can I do, how can I not grieve.

終朝采綠，不盈一匊。予發曲局，薄言歸沐。

All morning I gather the king-grass, and I cannot fill a handful. My hair is curled and tangled, so I go home to wash it.

終朝採藍，不盈一襜。五日為期，六日不詹。

All morning I gather the indigo, and I cannot fill my lap. We agreed on five days, and at six days I still do not see him.

之子於狩，言韔其弓。之子於釣，言綸之繩。

If this man goes hunting, I will put the bow in its case. If this man goes fishing, I will put the fishing line in order.

其釣維何？維魴及鱮。維魴及鱮，薄言觀者。

What is he fishing for? Bream and tench. When it is bream and tench, then I will go and look.

芃芃黍苗，陰雨膏之。悠悠南行，召伯勞之。

The millet seedlings are lush and thick, and the rain moistens them. Far away goes the journey south, and the Lord of Shao comforts them.

我任我輦，我車我牛。我行既集，蓋雲歸哉。

I carry loads, I pull carts, I drive carriages, I drive oxen. My journey is done, and surely it is time to return.

我徒我御，我師我旅。我行既集，蓋雲歸處。

I go on foot, I drive chariots, I am in the division, I am in the brigade. My journey is done, and surely it is time to return and rest.

肅肅謝功，召伯營之。烈烈徵師，召伯成之。

Solemn is the work at Xie city, which the Lord of Shao laid out. Mighty were the marching armies, and the Lord of Shao accomplished it.

原隰既平，泉流既清。召伯有成，王心則寧。

The plains and lowlands have been put in order, and the springs are clear. The Lord of Shao has his achievement, and the king's heart is at peace.

隰桑有阿，其葉有難。既見君子，其樂如何。

The mulberries in the lowland are graceful and tender, their leaves lush. Having seen the gentleman, how great is my joy.

隰桑有阿，其葉有沃。既見君子，云何不樂。

The mulberries in the lowland are graceful and tender, their leaves glossy and moist. Having seen the gentleman, how could I not be glad.

隰桑有阿，其葉有幽。既見君子，德音孔膠。

The mulberries in the lowland are graceful and tender, their leaves dark and deep. Having seen the gentleman, his good words are firmly fixed.

心乎愛矣，遐不謂矣？中心藏之，何日忘之！

My heart loves him; why do I not say so? I hold it in my heart; what day shall I forget it!

白華菅兮，白茅束兮。之子之遠，俾我獨兮。

The white flowers are rush, and the white thatch binds them. This man has gone far away, and leaves me alone.

英英白云，露彼菅茅。天步艱難，之子不猶。

Bright white clouds, the dew wets the rush and thatch. The steps of heaven are hard, and this man cannot be compared.

滮池北流，浸彼稻田。嘯歌傷懷，念彼碩人。

The Biao pool flows north, soaking those rice fields. I whistle and sing in sorrow, thinking of that tall man.

樵彼桑薪，卬烘於煁。維彼碩人，實勞我心。

I cut those mulberry branches and dry them over the stove. That tall man truly toils my heart.

鼓鍾於宮，聲聞於外。念子懆懆，視我邁邁。

A bell is struck in the palace, and the sound is heard outside. I think of you and am restless; you look at me and are displeased.

有鶖在梁，有鶴在林。維彼碩人，實勞我心。

There is a marabou on the fish weir, and a crane in the forest. That tall man truly toils my heart.

鴛鴦在梁，戢其左翼。之子無良，二三其德。

The mandarin ducks are on the fish weir, with their left wing tucked in. This man is not good, and is of two minds.

有扁斯石，履之卑兮。之子之遠，俾我疧兮。

There is a flat stone, and treading on it one feels it is low. This man has gone far away, and makes me ill.

綿蠻黃鳥，止於丘阿。道之雲遠，我勞如何。飲之食之，教之誨之。命彼後車，謂之載之。

The yellow bird, mian man, rests on the hill's bend. The road is so far, how weary I am. Give him drink, give him food, teach him and instruct him. Command the spare carriage, and have it carry him.

綿蠻黃鳥，止於丘隅。豈敢憚行，畏不能趨。飲之食之。教之誨之。命彼後車，謂之載之。

The yellow bird, mian man, rests at the hill's corner. How dare I fear the road; I fear only that I cannot go fast. Give him drink, give him food. Teach him and instruct him. Command the spare carriage, and have it carry him.

綿蠻黃鳥，止於丘側。豈敢憚行，畏不能極。飲之食之，教之誨之。命彼後車，謂之載之。

The yellow bird, mian man, rests at the hill's side. How dare I fear the road; I fear only that I cannot arrive. Give him drink, give him food, teach him and instruct him. Command the spare carriage, and have it carry him.

幡幡瓠葉，採之亨之。君子有酒，酌言嘗之。

The gourd leaves flutter; pick them and boil them. The gentleman has wine; pour it and taste it.

有兔斯首，炮之燔之。君子有酒，酌言獻之。

There is a hare's head like this; wrap it and roast it, broil it. The gentleman has wine; pour it and offer it.