Guo Feng (Airs of the States)
式微，式微，胡不歸？微君之故，胡為乎中露！
Decline, decline, why do we not go back? If it were not for the sake of our lord, why would we be in the dew!
式微，式微，胡不歸？微君之躬，胡為乎泥中！
Decline, decline, why do we not go back? If it were not for our lord's own person, why would we be in the mud!
旄丘之葛兮，何誕之節兮。叔兮伯兮，何多日也？
The kudzu on Maoqiu hill, how long its joints are. O uncles, O elders, why so many days?
何其處也？必有與也！何其久也？必有以也！
Why do you stay still? You must have companions! Why so long? There must be a reason!
狐裘蒙戎，匪車不東。叔兮伯兮，靡所與同。
The fox fur is shaggy and disordered, it is not that the carriages do not go east. O uncles, O elders, none has the same heart as I.
瑣兮尾兮，流離之子。叔兮伯兮，褎如充耳。
So small and tiny, those who have lost their homes. O uncles, O elders, in splendid clothes you act as if your ears were stopped.
簡兮簡兮，方將萬舞。日之方中，在前上處。
Music played simply, they are about to dance the Wan dance. The sun is just at noon, and he stands in the front row, in the high place.
碩人俁俁，公庭萬舞。有力如虎，執轡如組。
The tall man dances the Wan dance in the ducal court. He has strength like a tiger, and holds the reins as evenly as woven silk cords.
左手執龠，右手秉翟。赫如渥赭，公言錫爵。
In his left hand he holds a flute, in his right a pheasant feather. His face is red as if daubed with ochre, and the duke says to give him a cup of wine.
山有榛，隰有苓。雲誰之思？西方美人。彼美人兮，西方之人兮。
On the hill there are hazel trees, in the low ground there is licorice. Who do I long for? The fair one of the west. That fair one, that person of the west.
毖彼泉水，亦流於淇。有懷於衛，靡日不思。孌彼諸姬，聊與之謀。
That spring water trickles and flows into the Qi. I long for Wei, and there is not a day I do not think of it. Those fine ladies of the Ji clan, let me consult with them.
出宿於泲，飲餞於禰。女子有行，遠父母兄弟，問我諸姑，遂及伯姊。
Going out, we lodge at Ji, and drink a farewell at Ni. A girl goes to be married far away, far from parents and brothers; ask after my aunts, and also ask after my eldest sister.
出宿於幹，飲餞於言。載脂載轄，還車言邁。遄臻於衛，不瑕有害？
Going out, we lodge at Gan, and drink a farewell at Yan. Grease the axle and fit the linchpin, turn the carriage and go forward. We will soon reach Wei, surely there is no harm?
我思肥泉，茲之永嘆。思須與漕，我心悠悠。駕言出遊，以寫我憂。
I think of the Fei spring, and sigh long over it. I think of Xu and Cao, and my heart goes on and on. I will drive out to roam, to pour out my sorrow.
出自北門，憂心殷殷。終窶且貧，莫知我艱。已焉哉！天實為之，謂之何哉！
Coming out of the north gate, my heart is heavy with grief. Both cold and poor, no one knows my hardship. Enough! It was truly made by Heaven, what can I do!
王事適我，政事一埤益我。我入自外，室人交遍謫我。已焉哉！天實為之，謂之何哉！
The king's business falls on me, the government's tasks are all added onto me. When I come in from outside, the household take turns scolding me. Enough! It was truly made by Heaven, what can I do!
王事敦我，政事一埤遺我。我入自外，室人交遍摧我。已焉哉！天實為之，謂之何哉！
The king's business presses me, the government's tasks are all left to me. When I come in from outside, the household take turns humiliating me. Enough! It was truly made by Heaven, what can I do!
北風其涼，雨雪其雱。惠而好我，攜手同行。其虛其邪？既亟只且！
The north wind is cold, the snow falls thick and heavy. Those who love me and are fond of me, let us go together hand in hand. Still hesitating, still delaying? It is already urgent!
北風其喈，雨雪其霏。惠而好我，攜手同歸。其虛其邪？既亟只且！
The north wind whistles hard, the snow falls fine and dense. Those who love me and are fond of me, let us go home together hand in hand. Still hesitating, still delaying? It is already urgent!
莫赤匪狐，莫黑匪烏。惠而好我，攜手同車。其虛其邪？既亟只且！
Nothing that is not red is a fox, nothing that is not black is a crow. Those who love me and are fond of me, let us ride in the same carriage. Still hesitating, still delaying? It is already urgent!
靜女其姝，俟我於城隅。愛而不見，搔首踟躕。
The quiet girl is so lovely, she waits for me at the corner of the city wall. Hiding where I cannot see her, I scratch my head and pace back and forth.
靜女其孌，貽我彤管。彤管有煒，說懌女美。
The quiet girl is so lovely, she gives me a red pipe. The red pipe is glossy, I love your beauty.
自牧歸荑，洵美且異。匪女之為美，美人之貽。
From the pasture she brought back a reed shoot, truly lovely and rare. It is not the reed shoot itself that is lovely, it is a gift from a beauty.
新臺有泚，河水瀰瀰。燕婉之求，蘧篨不鮮。
The new tower is bright and shining, the river swells full. He sought a fine match, but got one as ugly as a toad.
新臺有灑，河水浼浼。燕婉之求，蘧篨不殄。
The new tower is tall and steep, the river swells wide. He sought a fine match, but got one like a toad that will not go away.
魚網之設，鴻則離之。燕婉之求，得此戚施。
A fish net was set, but a wild goose was caught in it. He sought a fine match, but got this hunchbacked man.
二子乘舟，泛泛其景。願言思子，中心養養！
The two sons go by boat, their shadows drifting far. May my thoughts of you both leave my heart sorrowing and unsettled!
二子乘舟，泛泛其逝。願言思子，不瑕有害？
The two sons go by boat, drifting far away. May my thoughts of you both be so, surely no harm will come?
泛彼柏舟，在彼中河。髧彼兩髦，實維我儀。之死矢靡它。母也天只，不諒人只！
That cypress boat drifts in the middle of the river. The young man with his hair hanging in two tufts is truly my mate. Until death I swear to have no second heart. O mother, O Heaven, you do not understand people!
泛彼柏舟，在彼河側。髧彼兩髦，實維我特。之死矢靡慝。母也天只，不諒人只！
That cypress boat drifts at the side of the river. The young man with his hair hanging in two tufts is truly my match. Until death I swear to have no wicked thought. O mother, O Heaven, you do not understand people!
牆有茨，不可掃也。中冓之言，不可道也。所可道也，言之醜也。
On the wall there are thorny caltrops, they cannot be swept away. The words within the palace cannot be spoken. What can be spoken would be shameful to say.
牆有茨，不可襄也。中冓之言，不可詳也。所可詳也，言之長也。
On the wall there are thorny caltrops, they cannot be removed. The words within the palace cannot be told in detail. What can be told in detail would take too long to say.
牆有茨，不可束也。中冓之言，不可讀也。所可讀也，言之辱也。
On the wall there are thorny caltrops, they cannot be bundled away. The words within the palace cannot be read out. What can be read out would be disgraceful to say.
君子偕老，副笄六珈。委委佗佗，如山如河，象服是宜。子之不淑，雲如之何？
The gentleman was to grow old with her, her false hair set with a hairpin and six jade pendants. Her bearing is graceful and stately, like mountains and rivers, her ceremonial dress is just right. You are so unkind, what can anyone do?
玼兮玼兮，其之翟也。鬒髮如云，不屑髢也。玉之瑱也，象之揥也，揚且之晳也。胡然而天也！胡然而帝也。
Bright and splendid, her pheasant-feather robe. Her black hair is like clouds, and she scorns false hair. Jade earplugs, an ivory hairpin, and her brow is fair. Why like a goddess! Why like a divine ruler!
瑳兮瑳兮，其之展也。蒙彼縐絺，是紲袢也。子之清揚，揚且之顏也。展如之人兮，邦之媛也！
Vivid and bright, her fine robe. Over it is the crinkled fine cloth, and next to the skin her undergarment. Your eyes and brows are clear and lovely, and your brow is fair. Truly such a person is the beauty of the state!
爰採唐矣？沬之鄉矣。雲誰之思？美孟姜矣。期我乎桑中，要我乎上宮，送我乎淇之上矣。
Where does one pick the dodder? In the village of Mei. Who do I long for? The lovely Meng Jiang. She arranged to meet me in the mulberry grove, invited me to the upper palace, and saw me off at the banks of the Qi.
爰採麥矣？沬之北矣。雲誰之思？美孟弋矣。期我乎桑中，要我乎上宮，送我乎淇之上矣。
Where does one pick the wheat? North of Mei. Who do I long for? The lovely Meng Yi. She arranged to meet me in the mulberry grove, invited me to the upper palace, and saw me off at the banks of the Qi.
爰採葑矣？沬之東矣。雲誰之思？美孟庸矣。期我乎桑中，要我乎上宮，送我乎淇之上矣。
Where does one pick the turnip? East of Mei. Who do I long for? The lovely Meng Yong. She arranged to meet me in the mulberry grove, invited me to the upper palace, and saw me off at the banks of the Qi.
鶉之奔奔，鵲之彊彊。人之無良，我以為兄！
The quail flies fast, the magpie flies strong. This man is not good, and I still treat him as an elder brother!
鵲之彊彊，鶉之奔奔。人之無良，我以為君！
The magpie flies strong, the quail flies fast. This man is not good, and I still treat him as my lord!
定之方中，作於楚宮。揆之以日，作於楚室。樹之榛栗，椅桐梓漆，爰伐琴桑。
The Ying Shi star is at the zenith, and the palace at Chuqiu is built. By measuring the sun's shadow, the dwellings at Chuqiu are built. Plant hazel and chestnut, catalpa and lacquer trees, and then cut them to make zithers.
升彼虛矣，以望楚矣。望楚與堂，景山與京。降觀於桑，卜雲其吉，終然允臧。
Climbing that ruined mound, to look out toward Chuqiu. Looking at Chuqiu and Tangyi, the great hills and high mounds. Coming down to look at the mulberry fields, divination said it was auspicious, and in the end it was sound and good.
靈雨既零，命彼倌人，星言夙駕，說於桑田。匪直也人，秉心塞淵，騋牝三千。
The good rain has fallen, and he tells the man in charge of the carriage, when the sky clears, to yoke the carriage early and halt at the mulberry field. It is not only this man, whose heart is full and deep, with tall horses and mares three thousand in number.
蝃蝀在東，莫之敢指。女子有行，遠父母兄弟。
The rainbow is in the east, and no one dares to point at it. A girl goes to be married far away, far from her parents and brothers.
朝隮於西，崇朝其雨。女子有行，遠兄弟父母。
The rainbow mist is in the west in the morning, and it rains all morning. A girl goes to be married far away, far from her brothers and parents.
乃如之人也，懷婚姻也。大無信也，不知命也！
To think there is such a person, who thinks of marriage. So without good faith, and not knowing the mandate of Heaven!
相鼠有皮，人而無儀！人而無儀，不死何為？
Look at the rat, it still has skin, yet people have no dignity! A person without dignity, why not die?
相鼠有齒，人而無止！人而無止，不死何俟？
Look at the rat, it still has teeth, yet people have no restraint! A person without restraint, why not die and wait no more?
相鼠有體，人而無禮，人而無禮！胡不遄死？
Look at the rat, it still has limbs, yet people have no ritual, people have no ritual! Why not die quickly?
孑孑幹旄，在浚之郊。素絲紕之，良馬四之。彼姝者子，何以畀之？
The tall banner of ox tails, in the outskirts of Jun. Edged with white silk, four fine horses follow. That excellent person, what shall I give him?
孑孑幹旟，在浚之都。素絲組之，良馬五之。彼姝者子，何以予之？
The tall banner of falcons, in the city of Jun. Woven with white silk cords, five fine horses follow. That excellent person, what shall I give him?
孑孑幹旌，在浚之城。素絲祝之，良馬六之。彼姝者子，何以告之？
The tall banner of feathers, inside the walls of Jun. Tied with white silk, six fine horses follow. That excellent person, what shall I tell him?
載馳載驅，歸唁衛侯。驅馬悠悠，言至於漕。大夫跋涉，我心則憂。
Galloping and driving, I go back to condole with the Marquis of Wei. Driving the horses, the road is long, and I have only now reached Cao. A great officer has come trudging, and my heart is sorrowful.
既不我嘉，不能旋反。視爾不臧，我思不遠。
Since they do not approve of me, I cannot go back right away. Seeing that you are not sound in your plans, my thoughts are not distant.
既不我嘉，不能旋濟？視爾不臧，我思不閟。
Since they do not approve of me, can I not cross the river and return right away? Seeing that you are not sound in your plans, my thoughts are not blocked.
陟彼阿丘，言採其蝱。女子善懷，亦各有行。許人尤之，眾稚且狂。
Climbing that hill, I pick the fritillary. A woman is full of sorrow and feeling, and each has her own reasons. The people of Xu blame her, and the crowd is childish and arrogant.
我行其野，芃芃其麥。控於大邦，誰因誰極？大夫君子，無我有尤。百爾所思，不如我所之。
I walk in the wilds, and the wheat is thick and lush. I appeal to a great state, but whom can I rely on, whom can I turn to? Great officers and gentlemen, do not blame me. All the hundred things you think of are not as good as the direction I am headed.
瞻彼淇奧，綠竹猗猗。有匪君子，如切如磋，如琢如磨，瑟兮僴兮，赫兮咺兮。有匪君子，終不可諼兮。
Looking at that bend in the Qi, the green bamboo is lovely and lush. The gentleman of refinement is like something cut and filed, carved and polished, dignified and broad-minded, brilliant and magnificent. The gentleman of refinement can never be forgotten.
瞻彼淇奧，綠竹青青。有匪君子，充耳秀瑩，會弁如星。瑟兮僴兮。赫兮咺兮，有匪君子，終不可諼兮。
Looking at that bend in the Qi, the green bamboo is fresh and green. The gentleman of refinement, his earplugs are fine and shining, and where the seams of his leather cap meet are like stars. Dignified and broad-minded. Brilliant and magnificent, the gentleman of refinement can never be forgotten.