Guo Feng (Airs of the States)

瞻彼淇奧，綠竹如簀。有匪君子，如金如錫，如圭如璧。寬兮綽兮，猗重較兮。善戲謔兮，不為虐兮。

Looking at that bend in the Qi, the green bamboo is dense as a mat. The gentleman of refinement is like gold and tin, like a jade tablet and a jade disc. Easygoing and at ease, leaning on the carriage with a double rail. He is good at jesting, but never goes so far as cruelty.

考槃在澗，碩人之寬。獨寐寤言，永矢弗諼。

Beating a basin by the mountain stream, the tall one is so broad-minded. Sleeping alone, speaking on waking, he swears forever never to forget.

考槃在阿，碩人之薖。獨寐寤歌，永矢弗過。

Beating a basin by the hillside, the tall one is so gentle. Sleeping alone, singing on waking, he swears forever never to cross the line.

考槃在六，碩人之軸。獨寐寤宿，永矢弗告。

Beating a basin on the high ground (the base text has a variant character for "high ground"; it is an error for the correct one), the tall one lingers and will not leave. Sleeping alone, lodging on waking, he swears forever not to tell anyone.

碩人其頎，衣錦褧衣。齊侯之子，衛侯之妻。東宮之妹，邢侯之姨，譚公維私。

The tall one is so slender, in brocade with a light robe over it. The daughter of the Marquis of Qi, the wife of the Marquis of Wei. The sister of the crown prince, the maternal aunt of the Marquis of Xing, and the Duke of Tan is her brother-in-law.

手如柔荑，膚如凝脂，領如蝤蠐，齒如瓠犀，螓首蛾眉，巧笑倩兮，美目盼兮。

Her hands are like tender reed shoots, her skin like congealed fat, her neck like the grub of the longhorn beetle, her teeth like gourd seeds, with a broad forehead and slender brows, her charming smile showing dimples, her lovely eyes clear in black and white.

碩人敖敖，說於農郊。四牡有驕，朱幩鑣鑣。翟茀以朝。大夫夙退，無使君勞。

The tall one is so long and graceful, her carriage halts in the outskirts. The four stallions are spirited and strong, the red silk on the bits and the bells ring out. The carriage with pheasant feathers comes to the audience. Let the great officers withdraw early, and not tire the ruler.

河水洋洋，北流活活。施罛濊濊，鱣鮪發發。葭菼揭揭，庶姜孽孽，庶士有朅。

The river is vast and wide, flowing north with a gurgle. The nets cast into the water make a splash, the sturgeon and pike leap. The reeds stand tall, the many ladies of the Jiang clan are splendidly dressed, and the many gentlemen are strong and vigorous.

氓之蚩蚩，抱布貿絲。匪來貿絲，來即我謀。送子涉淇，至於頓丘。匪我愆期，子無良媒。將子無怒，秋以為期。

That man was all smiles, carrying cloth to trade for silk. He was not coming to trade for silk, he came to talk over a match with me. I saw you across the Qi, all the way to Dunqiu. It was not that I delayed the date, you had no good matchmaker. Please do not be angry, and let us set autumn as the time.

乘彼垝垣，以望復關。不見覆關，泣涕漣漣。既見覆關，載笑載言。爾卜爾筮，體無咎言。以爾車來，以我賄遷。

Climbing that broken wall, to look toward Fuguan. Not seeing Fuguan, my tears fall in streams. Now that I have seen Fuguan, I laugh and speak. You consulted the tortoise and the stalks, and the signs held no ill word. Come with your carriage and carry off my goods.

桑之未落，其葉沃若。于嗟鳩兮！無食桑葚。于嗟女兮！無與士耽。士之耽兮，猶可說也。女之耽兮，不可說也。

The mulberry leaves have not yet fallen, their leaves are glossy. Ah, doves! Do not eat the mulberries. Ah, girls! Do not indulge with men. If a man indulges, he can still free himself. If a woman indulges, she cannot free herself.

桑之落矣，其黃而隕。自我徂爾，三歲食貧。淇水湯湯，漸車帷裳。女也不爽，士二其行。士也罔極，二三其德。

The mulberry leaves have fallen, yellow and dropping. Since I came to your house, for three years I have eaten poverty. The Qi flows wide, and soaked the curtains of the carriage. The woman had no fault, but the man was double-hearted. The man has no standard, and is of two minds and three.

三歲為婦，靡室勞矣。夙興夜寐，靡有朝矣。言既遂矣，至於暴矣。兄弟不知，咥其笑矣。靜言思之，躬自悼矣。

For three years I was a wife, and no toil of the household did I leave undone. Rising early and sleeping late, not one morning was free. Once he had his wish, it turned to cruelty. My brothers do not know, and laugh and laugh at me. Sitting quietly I think of it, and grieve over myself alone.

及爾偕老，老使我怨。淇則有岸，隰則有泮。總角之宴，言笑晏晏，信誓旦旦，不思其反。反是不思，亦已焉哉！

I was to grow old with you, but growing old only brings me resentment. The Qi has its banks, and the marsh has its edge. The joy of our youth, the talk and laughter and ease, the sincere vows, but I did not think of the outcome. The outcome I did not think of, and let it be, enough!

籊籊竹竿，以釣於淇。豈不爾思？遠莫致之。

A slender bamboo pole, used to fish in the Qi. Do I not think of you? The road is far and I cannot reach you.

泉源在左，淇水在右。女子有行，遠兄弟父母。

The spring source is on the left, the Qi on the right. A girl goes to be married far away, far from brothers and parents.

淇水在右，泉源在左。巧笑之瑳，佩玉之儺。

The Qi is on the right, the spring source on the left. A charming smile shows white teeth, and the jade pendants sound in rhythm as she walks.

淇水滺滺，檜楫松舟。駕言出遊，以寫我憂。

The Qi flows on and on, with cypress oars and pine boat. I will drive out to roam, to pour out my sorrow.

芄蘭之支，童子佩觿。雖則佩觿，能不我知。容兮遂兮，垂帶悸兮。

The branch of the wanlan plant, the boy wears the knot-opening awl. Though he wears the knot-opening awl, he does not understand me. His manner is so self-satisfied, his sash hangs and sways.

芄蘭之葉，童子佩韘。雖則佩韘，能不我甲。容兮遂兮，垂帶悸兮。

The leaf of the wanlan plant, the boy wears the archer's thumb ring. Though he wears the thumb ring, he is no match for me. His manner is so self-satisfied, his sash hangs and sways.

誰謂河廣？一葦杭之。誰謂宋遠？跂予望之。

Who says the Yellow River is wide? A single reed can cross it. Who says Song is far? Standing on tiptoe I can see it.

誰謂河廣？曾不容刀。誰謂宋遠？曾不崇朝。

Who says the Yellow River is wide? It cannot even hold a small boat. Who says Song is far? It would not take even a morning.

伯兮朅兮，邦之桀兮。伯也執殳，為王前驅。

Bo is so martial, a hero of the state. Bo holds the staff, as vanguard for the king.

自伯之東，首如飛蓬。豈無膏沐？誰適為容！

Since Bo went east, my hair is like tumbleweed. Is it that I have no oil and wash? For whom would I make myself up!

其雨其雨，杲杲出日。願言思伯，甘心首疾。

I hope for rain, I hope for rain, but the sun comes out bright. May I think of Bo, and gladly suffer the headache.

焉得諼草？言樹之背。願言思伯。使我心痗。

Where can I get the daylily? I will plant it at the north hall. May I think of Bo, though it makes my heart ache.

有狐綏綏，在彼淇梁。心之憂矣，之子無裳。

There is a fox walking slowly, on the bridge over the Qi. The sorrow in my heart, this man has no skirt.

有狐綏綏，在彼淇厲。心之憂矣，之子無帶。

There is a fox walking slowly, at the shallows of the Qi. The sorrow in my heart, this man has no belt.

有狐綏綏，在彼淇側。心之憂矣，之子無服。

There is a fox walking slowly, by the banks of the Qi. The sorrow in my heart, this man has no clothes.

投我以木瓜，報之以瓊琚。匪報也，永以為好也！

You threw me a quince, and I repay you with a fine jade pendant. It is not for repayment, but to be friends forever!

投我以木桃，報之以瓊瑤。匪報也，永以為好也！

You threw me a peach, and I repay you with a fine jade ornament. It is not for repayment, but to be friends forever!

投我以木李，報之以瓊九。匪報也，永以為好也！

You threw me a plum, and I repay you with a fine black jade. (The base text has a variant character for "black jade"; it is an error for the correct one.) It is not for repayment, but to be friends forever!

彼黍離離，彼稷之苗。行邁靡靡，中心搖搖。知我者，謂我心憂；不知我者，謂我何求。悠悠蒼天，此何人哉？

The millet grows in thick rows, the sorghum is just sprouting. I walk slowly, my heart wavering. Those who know me say my heart is sorrowful; those who do not know me say I am seeking something. O distant blue Heaven, what kind of person is this?

彼黍離離，彼稷之穗。行邁靡靡，中心如醉。知我者，謂我心憂；不知我者，謂我何求。悠悠蒼天，此何人哉？

The millet grows in thick rows, the sorghum is just coming into ear. I walk slowly, my heart as if drunk. Those who know me say my heart is sorrowful; those who do not know me say I am seeking something. O distant blue Heaven, what kind of person is this?

彼黍離離，彼稷之實。行邁靡靡，中心如噎。知我者，謂我心憂；不知我者，謂我何求。悠悠蒼天，此何人哉？

The millet grows in thick rows, the sorghum is already in grain. I walk slowly, my heart as if choked. Those who know me say my heart is sorrowful; those who do not know me say I am seeking something. O distant blue Heaven, what kind of person is this?

君子于役，不知其期。曷至哉？雞棲於塒。日之夕矣，羊牛下來。君子于役，如之何勿思！

My lord is away on service, and I do not know the time. When will he come home? The chickens roost in the holes in the wall. The sun is setting, and the sheep and cattle come down. My lord is away on service, how can I not think of him!

君子于役，不日不月。曷其有佸？雞棲於桀。日之夕矣，羊牛下括。君子于役，苟無飢渴？

My lord is away on service, not counting days or months. When can we meet? The chickens roost on the stakes. The sun is setting, and the sheep and cattle come down to gather. My lord is away on service, I only ask that he not go hungry or thirsty.

君子陽陽，左執簧，右招我由房，其樂只且！

My lord is cheerful and self-satisfied, in his left hand he holds a reed pipe, and with his right he beckons me out of the room, how happy!

君子陶陶，左執翿，右招我由敖，其樂只且！

My lord is joyful and at ease, in his left hand he holds a feather fan, and with his right he beckons me out from where he roams, how happy!

揚之水，不流束薪。彼其之子，不與我戍申。懷哉懷哉，曷月予還歸哉？

The rushing water cannot carry off a bundle of firewood. That person is not on garrison duty at Shen with me. I long, I long, in which month can I go back?

揚之水，不流束楚。彼其之子，不與我戍甫。懷哉懷哉，曷月予還歸哉？

The rushing water cannot carry off a bundle of thorn twigs. That person is not on garrison duty at Fu with me. I long, I long, in which month can I go back?

揚之水，不流束蒲。彼其之子，不與我戍許。懷哉懷哉，曷月予還歸哉？

The rushing water cannot carry off a bundle of rushes. That person is not on garrison duty at Xu with me. I long, I long, in which month can I go back?

中谷有蓷，暵其幹矣。有女仳離，慨其嘆矣。慨其嘆矣，遇人之艱難矣。

In the valley there is motherwort, withered and dry. There is a woman who was cast off, sighing with feeling. Sighing with feeling, she has met the hardship of being a person.

中谷有蓷，暵其修矣。有女仳離，條其歗矣。條其歗矣，遇人之不淑矣。

In the valley there is motherwort, dry and thin. There is a woman who was cast off, whistling long and sighing. Whistling long and sighing, the one she met was unkind.

中谷有蓷，暵其溼矣。有女仳離，啜其泣矣。啜其泣矣，何嗟及矣。

In the valley there is motherwort, dry yet looking soaked. There is a woman who was cast off, sobbing and weeping. Sobbing and weeping, what use is sighing.

有兔爰爰，雉離於羅。我生之初，尚無為；我生之後，逢此百罹。尚寐無吪。

The hare walks slowly, but the pheasant falls into the net. At the beginning of my life, there were not yet these troubles; after my life began, I met all these sorrows. I only wish to sleep and not stir again.

有兔爰爰，雉離於罦。我生之初，尚無造；我生之後，逢此百憂。尚寐無覺。

The hare walks slowly, but the pheasant falls into the cart net. At the beginning of my life, there were not yet these contrivances; after my life began, I met all these worries. I only wish to sleep and not wake again.

有兔爰爰，雉離於罿。我生之初，尚無庸；我生之後，逢此百兇。尚寐無聰。

The hare walks slowly, but the pheasant falls into the covered net. At the beginning of my life, there were not yet these corvee labors; after my life began, I met all these dangers. I only wish to sleep and not hear again.

綿綿葛藟，在河之滸。終遠兄弟，謂他人父。謂他人父，亦莫我顧！

The kudzu creepers spread without end, by the river's edge. Having left my brothers far behind, I call another man father. Calling another man father, he still does not look after me!

綿綿葛爰，在河之藟。終遠兄弟，謂他人母。謂他人母，亦莫我有！

The kudzu creepers spread without end, by the river's edge. (The base text is garbled here, and is rendered here according to the sense of the poem.) Having left my brothers far behind, I call another woman mother. Calling another woman mother, she still does not treat me as a son!

綿綿葛藟，在河之漘。終遠兄弟，謂他人昆。謂他人昆，亦莫我聞！

The kudzu creepers spread without end, on the river bank. Having left my brothers far behind, I call another man elder brother. Calling another man elder brother, he still does not ask after me!

彼采葛兮，一日不見，如三月兮！

That man who gathers kudzu, a day without seeing him is like three months!

彼採蕭兮，一日不見，如三秋兮！

That man who gathers southernwood, a day without seeing him is like three autumns!

彼採艾兮！一日不見，如三歲兮！

That man who gathers mugwort! A day without seeing him is like three years!

大車檻檻，毳衣如菼。豈不爾思？畏子不敢。

The great cart rumbles, the woolen clothes are the color of reed. Do I not think of you? I fear you and dare not.

大車啍啍，毳衣如璊，豈不爾思？畏子不奔。

The great cart rolls slowly, the woolen clothes are the red of jade. Do I not think of you? I fear you and dare not elope.

谷則異室，死則同穴。謂予不信，有如皎日。

While alive we live in separate rooms, and when dead we shall be buried in one grave. If you say I am not sincere, there is the bright sun as my witness.

丘中有麻，彼留子嗟。彼留子嗟，將其來施施。

On the hill there is hemp, the one who kept Zijie there. The one who kept Zijie there, we will ask him to come slowly.

丘中有麥，彼留子國。彼留子國，將其來食。

On the hill there is wheat, the one who kept Ziguo there. The one who kept Ziguo there, we will invite him to come and eat.

丘中有李，彼留之子。彼留之子，貽我佩九。

On the hill there are plum trees, the one who stayed there. The one who stayed there, gave me jade pendants. (The base text has a variant character for "black jade"; it is an error for the correct one.)