Guo Feng (Airs of the States)
子之昌兮，遭我乎狃之陽兮。並驅從兩狼兮，揖我謂我臧兮。
How strong and fine you are, meeting me south of Mount Nao. We drove side by side chasing two wolves, and you bowed and said I was fine.
俟我於著乎而，充耳以素乎而，尚之以瓊華乎而。
He waits for me at the gate screen, his ear-plugs of white silk, with a gem of fine jade added.
俟我於庭乎而，充耳以青乎而，尚之以瓊瑩乎而。
He waits for me in the courtyard, his ear-plugs of green silk, with a gem of bright jade added.
俟我於堂乎而，充耳以黃乎而，尚之以瓊英乎而。
He waits for me in the hall, his ear-plugs of yellow silk, with a gem of flower-like jade added.
東方之日兮，彼姝者子，在我室兮。在我室兮，履我即兮。
The sun in the east, that lovely one, is in my room. She is in my room, and she came treading on my footsteps.
東方之月兮，彼姝者子，在我闥兮。在我闥兮，履我發兮。
The moon in the east, that lovely one, is inside my door. She is inside my door, and she left treading on my footsteps.
東方未明，顛倒衣裳。顛之倒之，自公召之。
The east is not yet bright, and I have put on my clothes upside down. Upside down and inside out, because the lord summons me.
東方未晞，顛倒裳衣。倒之顛之，自公令之。
The east has not yet shown the sun, and I have put on my clothes upside down. Inside out and upside down, because the lord orders it.
折柳樊圃，狂夫瞿瞿。不能辰夜，不夙則莫。
They break willow branches to fence the vegetable garden, and the mad fellow stares with wide eyes. They cannot keep proper times for work and rest, either too early or too late.
南山崔崔，雄狐綏綏。魯道有蕩，齊子由歸。既曰歸止，曷又懷止？
The Southern Mountain rises tall and steep, and the male fox wanders slowly. The road of Lu is level, and the Qi girl came out from here to be married. Since she has already been married, why does he still long for her?
葛屨五兩，冠緌雙止。魯道有蕩，齊子庸止。既曰庸止，曷又從止？
Five pairs of kudzu shoes, and paired cap strings. The road of Lu is level, and the Qi girl goes along here. Since she has already gone, why does he still follow her?
蓺麻如之何？衡從其畝。取妻如之何？必告父母。既曰告止，曷又鞠止？
How does one plant hemp? Lay out the field rows crosswise and lengthwise. How does one take a wife? One must tell one’s parents. Since he has already told them, why does he go to such extremes and run wild?
析薪如之何？匪斧不克。取妻如之何？匪媒不得。既曰得止，曷又極止？
How does one split firewood? It cannot be done without an axe. How does one take a wife? It cannot be done without a matchmaker. Since he has already got her, why does he go to extremes?
無田甫田，維莠驕驕。無思遠人，勞心忉忉。
Do not plow that great field, for only weeds grow tall and rank. Do not long for the one who is far away, for the laboring heart is troubled and anxious.
無田甫田，維莠桀桀。無思遠人，勞心怛怛。
Do not plow that great field, for only weeds grow tall and thick. Do not long for the one who is far away, for the laboring heart aches with pain.
婉兮孌兮。總角丱兮。未幾見兮，突而弁兮！
How lovely, how lovely. His boyish topknots stood up like the horns of a lamb. Not long after, I saw him again, and suddenly he was wearing the leather cap!
盧令令，其人美且仁。
The bells on the black dog ring clearly, and that man is handsome and kind.
盧重環，其人美且鬈。
The black dog wears a double ring, and that man is handsome and has fine hair.
盧重鋂，其人美且偲。
The black dog wears a triple ring, and that man is handsome and talented.
敝笱在梁，其魚魴鰥。齊子歸止，其從如雲。
The broken fish trap is on the fish weir, and the fish inside are bream and big fish. The Qi lady has gone back, and her attendants are as many as clouds.
敝笱在梁，其魚魴鱮。齊子歸止，其從如雨。
The broken fish trap is on the fish weir, and the fish inside are bream and tench. The Qi lady has gone back, and her attendants are as many as rain.
敝笱在梁，其魚唯唯。齊子歸止，其從如水。
The broken fish trap is on the fish weir, and the fish go in and out freely. The Qi lady has gone back, and her attendants are as many as water.
載驅薄薄，簟茀朱鞹。魯道有蕩，齊子發夕。
The carriage drives swiftly, with a bamboo-mat screen and red leather trim. The road of Lu is level, and the Qi lady set out before it was light.
四驪濟濟，垂轡沵沵。魯道有蕩，齊子豈弟。
The four black horses are sleek and orderly, and the reins hang soft and supple. The road of Lu is level, and the Qi lady is gentle and at ease.
汶水湯湯，行人彭彭。魯道有蕩，齊子翱翔。
The Wen River is wide and flowing, and the passersby are many and busy. The road of Lu is level, and the Qi lady is roaming freely.
汶水滔滔，行人儦儦。魯道有蕩，齊了遊敖。
The Wen River flows with a rushing sound, and the passersby are numerous. The road of Lu is level, and the Qi lady is wandering at leisure. (The received text has “Qi liao” here, where “liao” is an error for “zi.”)
猗嗟昌兮，頎而長兮。抑若揚兮，美目揚兮。巧趨蹌兮，射則臧兮。
Ah, how strong and fine, how tall and slender. Handsome as raised eyebrows, with bright eyes lifted. His nimble steps are deft, and his archery is excellent.
猗嗟名兮，美目清兮。儀既成兮，終日射侯，不出正兮，展我甥兮。
Ah, how famous, with clear and lovely eyes. The ceremony is complete, and all day he shoots at the target, his arrows never leaving the bull’s-eye; truly he is my nephew.
猗嗟孌兮，清揚婉兮。舞則選兮，射則貫兮，四矢反兮，以御亂兮。
Ah, how fair, with bright and graceful brows and eyes. His dancing keeps the rhythm, his shots pierce through, and all four arrows return to the same place, enough to ward off disorder.
糾糾葛屨，可以履霜？摻摻女手，可以縫裳？要之襋之，好人服之。
The tightly woven kudzu shoes, can one tread on frost in them? The slender hands of the woman, can they sew clothes? She makes the waist and makes the collar, so that a good man may wear it.
好人提提，宛然左闢，佩其象揥。維是褊心，是以為刺。
The good man is serene and, with a graceful turn, steps aside to the left, wearing an ivory hairpin. It is because of this narrow-mindedness that this poem was made as a satire.
彼汾沮洳，言採其莫。彼其之子，美無度。美無度，殊異乎公路。
In that damp place by the Fen, they go to pick sorrel. That man is beautiful beyond measure. Beautiful beyond measure, he is utterly unlike the officials of the public road.
彼汾一方，言採其桑。彼其之子，美如英。美如英，殊異乎公行。
On that side of the Fen, they go to pick mulberry leaves. That man is beautiful as a flower. Beautiful as a flower, he is utterly unlike the officials of the public retinue.
彼汾一曲，言採其藚。彼其之子，美如玉。美如玉，殊異乎公族。
At that bend of the Fen, they go to pick water plantain. That man is beautiful as jade. Beautiful as jade, he is utterly unlike the officials of the ducal clan.
園有桃，其實之餚。心之憂矣，我歌且謠。不知我者，謂我士也驕。
In the garden there are peaches, and their fruit can be eaten as a vegetable. The sorrow in my heart, I sing and I chant. Those who do not know me say this scholar is proud.
彼人是哉，子曰何其？心之憂矣，其誰知之？其誰知之，蓋亦勿思！
Those people say they are right, and what do you say should be done? The sorrow in my heart, who knows it? Who knows it; why not simply stop thinking of it!
園有棘，其實之食。心之憂矣，聊以行國。不知我者，謂我士也罔極。
In the garden there are jujubes, and their fruit can be eaten. The sorrow in my heart, I wander for now through the state. Those who do not know me say this scholar has no rules.
彼人是哉，子曰何其？心之憂矣，其誰知之？其誰知之，蓋亦勿思！
Those people say they are right, and what do you say should be done? The sorrow in my heart, who knows it? Who knows it; why not simply stop thinking of it!
陟彼岵兮，瞻望父兮。父曰：嗟！予子行役，夙夜無已。上慎旃哉，猶來！無止！
I climb that wooded hill and look toward my father. My father says: Alas! My son is away on service, from morning to night without rest. Take care, and still come back! Do not stay there!
陟彼屺兮，瞻望母兮。母曰：嗟！予季行役，夙夜無寐。上慎旃哉，猶來！無棄！
I climb that bare hill and look toward my mother. My mother says: Alas! My youngest son is away on service, from morning to night without sleep. Take care, and still come back! Do not be cast aside!
陟彼岡兮，瞻望兄兮。兄曰：嗟！予弟行役，夙夜必偕。上慎旃哉，猶來！無死！
I climb that high ridge and look toward my elder brother. My brother says: Alas! My younger brother is away on service, from morning to night he must go along with his comrades. Take care, and still come back! Do not die there!
十畝之間兮，桑者閒閒兮，行與子還兮。
Within the ten mu, the mulberry pickers are at leisure and unhurried, and I will go back with you.
十畝之外兮，桑者洩洩兮，行與子逝兮。
Beyond the ten mu, the mulberry pickers are many and at ease, and I will go on ahead with you.
坎坎伐檀兮，置之河之幹兮。河水清且漣猗。不稼不穡，胡取禾三百廛兮？
With a chopping sound he cuts sandalwood and lays it by the riverside. The river is clear and rippling. He neither sows nor reaps; why does he get three hundred chan of grain?
不狩不獵，胡瞻爾庭有縣貆兮？彼君子兮，不素餐兮！
He does not hunt in winter or any season; why do we see badgers hanging in your courtyard? Those gentlemen do not eat for nothing!
坎坎伐輻兮，置之河之側兮。河水清且直猗。不稼不穡，胡取禾三百億兮？
With a chopping sound he cuts wheel spokes and lays them by the riverside. The river is clear and runs straight. He neither sows nor reaps; why does he get three hundred yi of grain?
不狩不獵，胡瞻爾庭有縣特兮？彼君子兮，不素食兮！
He does not hunt in winter or any season; why do we see big game hanging in your courtyard? Those gentlemen do not eat for nothing!
坎坎伐輪兮，置之河之漘兮。河水清且淪猗。不稼不穡，胡取禾三百囷兮？
With a chopping sound he cuts wheels and lays them on the riverbank. The river is clear and rippling. He neither sows nor reaps; why does he get three hundred qun of grain?
不狩不獵，胡瞻爾庭有縣鶉兮？彼君子兮，不素飧兮！
He does not hunt in winter or any season; why do we see quail hanging in your courtyard? Those gentlemen do not eat their dinners for nothing!
碩鼠碩鼠，無食我黍！三歲貫女，莫我肯顧。逝將去女，適彼樂土。樂土樂土，爰得我所。
Big rat, big rat, do not eat my millet! I served you for three years, and you were unwilling to look after me. I am about to leave you and go to that happy land. Happy land, happy land, there I will get my own place.
碩鼠碩鼠，無食我麥！三歲貫女，莫我肯德。逝將去女，適彼樂國。樂國樂國，爰得我直。
Big rat, big rat, do not eat my wheat! I served you for three years, and you were unwilling to remember my kindness. I am about to leave you and go to that happy realm. Happy realm, happy realm, there I will get what I deserve.
碩鼠碩鼠，無食我苗！三歲貫女，莫我肯勞。逝將去女，適彼樂郊。樂郊樂郊，誰之永號？
Big rat, big rat, do not eat my seedlings! I served you for three years, and you were unwilling to comfort me. I am about to leave you and go to that happy countryside. Happy countryside, happy countryside, who would go on wailing there?
蟋蟀在堂，歲聿其莫。今我不樂，日月其除。無已大康，職思其居。好樂無荒，良士瞿瞿。
The cricket is in the hall, and the year is near its end. If I am not merry now, the days and months will pass. But do not be too carefree; think of the duties of one’s position. Love pleasure but do not go to waste; the good man looks on with care.
蟋蟀在堂，歲聿其逝。今我不樂，日月其邁。無已大康，職思其外。好樂無荒，良士蹶蹶。
The cricket is in the hall, and the year is about to go by. If I am not merry now, the days and months will stride away. But do not be too carefree; think of the matters beyond one’s position. Love pleasure but do not go to waste; the good man is diligent and quick.
蟋蟀在堂，役車其休。今我不樂，日月其慆。無以大康。職思其憂。好樂無荒，良士休休。
The cricket is in the hall, and the service carts are about to rest. If I am not merry now, the days and months will fade away. But do not be too carefree. Think of troubles to come. Love pleasure but do not go to waste; the good man is calm and at ease.
山有樞，隰有榆。子有衣裳，弗曳弗婁。子有車馬，弗馳弗驅。宛其死矣，他人是愉。
On the mountain there are shu trees, in the lowland there are elms. You have robes and do not wear them or put them on. You have carriages and horses and do not drive or ride them. When you suddenly die, others will enjoy them.
山有栲，隰有杻。子有廷內，弗灑弗掃。子有鐘鼓，弗鼓弗考。宛其死矣，他人是保。
On the mountain there are kao trees, in the lowland there are niu trees. You have a courtyard and halls and do not sprinkle or sweep them. You have bells and drums and do not beat or strike them. When you suddenly die, others will possess them.
山有漆，隰有栗。子有酒食，何不日鼓瑟？且以喜樂，且以永日。宛其死矣，他人入室。
On the mountain there are lacquer trees, in the lowland there are chestnuts. You have wine and food; why do you not play the zither every day? Use them for pleasure, use them to lengthen your days. When you suddenly die, others will enter your house.
揚之水，白石鑿鑿。素衣朱襮，從子於沃。既見君子，云何不樂？
The surging water, with white stones bright and clear. In a white robe with a red collar, I follow you to Quwo. Having seen my lord, how could I not be happy?
揚之水，白石皓皓。素衣朱繡，從子於鵠。既見君子，云何其憂？
The surging water, with white stones glistening white. In a white robe with red embroidery, I follow you to Hu. Having seen my lord, how could I still be sad?