Guo Feng (Airs of the States)
坎其擊缶，宛丘之道。無冬無夏，值其鷺翿。
Thump, thump goes the earthen jar drum, on the road of Wanqiu. Winter or summer, they hold up egret-feather fans.
東門之枌，宛丘之栩。子仲之子，婆娑其下。
The white elms of the east gate, the oaks of Wanqiu. The daughter of Zizhong dances beneath the trees.
穀旦於差，南方之原。不績其麻，市也婆娑。
A good day has been chosen, in the southern fields. She does not spin her hemp, but dances in the marketplace.
穀旦於逝，越以鬷邁。視爾如荍，貽我握椒。
The good day has come, and all go together. I see you as a mallow flower, and you give me a handful of pepper.
衡門之下，可以棲遲。泌之洋洋，可以樂飢。
Beneath a gate made of a crossbeam, one can rest. The Bi River flows broad, and can make one forget hunger.
豈其食魚，必河之魴？豈其取妻，必齊之姜？
If one eats fish, must it be the bream of the Yellow River? If one takes a wife, must it be a Jiang of Qi?
豈其食魚，必河之鯉？豈其取妻，必宋之子？
If one eats fish, must it be the carp of the Yellow River? If one takes a wife, must it be a Zi of Song?
東門之池，可以漚麻。彼美淑姬，可與晤歌。
The pool by the east gate can be used to soak hemp. That beautiful and good Ji girl, one can sing back and forth with her.
東門之池，可以漚紵。彼美淑姬，可與晤語。
The pool by the east gate can be used to soak ramie. That beautiful and good Ji girl, one can talk back and forth with her.
東門之池，可以漚菅。彼美淑姬，可與晤言。
The pool by the east gate can be used to soak rush. That beautiful and good Ji girl, one can converse with her.
東門之楊，其葉牂牂。昏以為期，明星煌煌。
The poplars by the east gate, their leaves thick and lush. The appointed time was dusk, and the morning star shines brightly.
東門之楊，其葉肺肺。昏以為期，明星晢晢。
The poplars by the east gate, their leaves dense and full. The appointed time was dusk, and the morning star shines clear.
墓門有棘，斧以斯之。夫也不良，國人知之。知而不已，誰昔然矣。
By the tomb gate there are jujube trees, split open with an axe. That man is not good, and the people of the state know it. They know it and still do not stop, and it has been so from before.
墓門有梅，有鴞萃止。夫也不良，歌以訊之。訊予不顧，顛倒思予。
By the tomb gate there are plum trees, and an owl rests on them. That man is not good, and I use a song to question him. He is questioned and does not heed me, and only after he has fallen over does he think of me.
防有鵲巢，邛有旨苕。誰侜予美？心焉忉忉。
On the embankment there is a magpie’s nest, on the hill there is lovely vetch. Who is deceiving my beloved? My heart is troubled and anxious.
中唐有甓，邛有旨鷊。誰侜予美？心焉惕惕。
On the path in the courtyard there are bricks, on the hill there is lovely grass. Who is deceiving my beloved? My heart is fearful and uneasy.
月出皎兮。佼人僚兮。舒窈糾兮。勞心悄兮。
The moon has risen, bright and white. The beautiful one is lovely. Her slow steps are graceful. My laboring heart is quietly sorrowful.
月出皓兮。佼人懰兮。舒憂受兮。勞心慅兮。
The moon has risen, shining pale. The beautiful one is lovely. Her slow steps are composed. My laboring heart is stirred and restless.
月出照兮。佼人燎兮。舒夭紹兮。勞心慘兮。
The moon has risen, shining brightly. The beautiful one is radiant. Her slow steps are slender and graceful. My laboring heart is bitterly pained.
胡為乎株林？從夏南！匪適株林，從夏南！
Why is he at Zhulin? He is following Xia Nan! He is not going to Zhulin; he is following Xia Nan!
駕我乘馬，說於株野。乘我乘駒，朝食於株！
He drives my four horses and halts in the fields of Zhu. He rides my colts, and in the morning eats a meal in the town of Zhu!
彼澤之陂，有蒲與荷。有美一人，傷如之何？寤寐無為，涕泗滂沱。
On the bank of that marsh there are rushes and lotus. There is a beautiful one; how heartbroken I am, what shall I do? Waking or sleeping I have no heart for anything, and tears and snot pour down.
彼澤之陂，有蒲與蕳。有美一人，碩大且卷。寤寐無為，中心悁悁。
On the bank of that marsh there are rushes and orchids. There is a beautiful one, tall and with lovely hair. Waking or sleeping I have no heart for anything, and my heart is sorrowful and worn.
彼澤之陂，有蒲菡萏。有美一人，碩大且儼。寤寐無為，輾轉伏枕。
On the bank of that marsh there are rushes and lotus blossoms. There is a beautiful one, tall and dignified. Waking or sleeping I have no heart for anything, and I toss and lie face down on my pillow.
羔裘逍遙，狐裘以朝。豈不爾思？勞心忉忉。
In a lambskin coat you stroll about, in a fox fur you go to court. How could I not think of you? My laboring heart is troubled and anxious.
羔裘翱翔，狐裘在堂。豈不爾思？我心憂傷。
In a lambskin coat you roam, in a fox fur you are in the hall. How could I not think of you? My heart is sad and sore.
羔裘如膏，日出有曜。豈不爾思？中心是悼。
The lambskin coat is like glossy fat, and when the sun comes out it gleams. How could I not think of you? My heart is grieved because of it.
庶見素冠兮，棘人欒欒兮。勞心慱慱兮。
I hope to see the white cap, the man wasted thin. My laboring heart aches with pain.
庶見素衣兮，我心傷悲兮。聊與子同歸兮。
I hope to see the white robe, and my heart is sad. For now I will go back together with you.
庶見素韠兮，我心蘊結兮。聊與子如一兮。
I hope to see the white knee-cover, and my heart is knotted with grief. For now I will be as one person with you.
隰有萇楚，猗儺其枝，夭之沃沃，樂子之無知。
In the lowland there are carambola vines, their branches soft and graceful, young and glossy, and I envy that you have no feeling.
隰有萇楚，猗儺其華，夭之沃沃。樂子之無家。
In the lowland there are carambola vines, their flowers soft and graceful, young and glossy. I envy that you have no household.
隰有萇楚，猗儺其實，夭之沃沃。樂子之無室。
In the lowland there are carambola vines, their fruit soft and graceful, young and glossy. I envy that you have no household burdens.
匪風發兮，匪車偈兮。顧瞻周道，中心怛兮。
That wind blows fiercely, that carriage speeds hurriedly. Looking back at the road to Zhou, my heart aches with pain.
匪風飄兮，匪車嘌兮。顧瞻周道，中心吊兮。
That wind blows in gusts, that carriage speeds swiftly. Looking back at the road to Zhou, my heart is grieved.
誰能亨魚？溉之釜鬵。誰將西歸？懷之好音。
Who can cook fish? First wash that great cauldron. Who is about to return west? I will send him good news.
蜉蝣之羽，衣裳楚楚。心之憂矣，於我歸處。
The mayfly’s wings, its garments are clear and bright. The sorrow in my heart, it comes to me to return to rest.
蜉蝣之翼，采采衣服。心之憂矣，於我歸息。
The mayfly’s wings, its garments are brilliant and splendid. The sorrow in my heart, it comes to me to rest.
蜉蝣掘閱，麻衣如雪。心之憂矣，於我歸說。
The mayfly comes out of the ground, in hemp robes white as snow. The sorrow in my heart, it comes to me to lodge.
彼候人兮，何戈與祋。彼其之子，三百赤芾。
That attendant at the road, shouldering a lance and a halberd. Those people have three hundred red knee-covers.
維鵜在梁，不濡其翼。彼其之子，不稱其服。
The pelican is on the fish weir, but its wings are not wet. Those people are not worthy of their clothes.
維鵜在梁，不濡其咮。彼其之子，不遂其媾。
The pelican is on the fish weir, but its beak is not wet. Those people cannot fulfill their marriages.
薈兮蔚兮，南山朝隮。婉兮孌兮，季女斯飢。
The clouds gather thick, and in the morning a rainbow rises from the Southern Mountain. How lovely, how lovely, the youngest girl is so hungry.
鳲鳩在桑，其子七兮。淑人君子，其儀一兮。其儀一兮，心如結兮。
The cuckoo is in the mulberry tree, and her young number seven. The good man, the gentleman, his bearing is single-minded. His bearing is single-minded, his heart as if tied in a knot.
鳲鳩在桑，其子在梅。淑人君子，其帶伊絲。其帶伊絲，其弁伊騏。
The cuckoo is in the mulberry tree, and her young are in the plum tree. The good man, the gentleman, his belt is of silk. His belt is of silk, and his leather cap is dark blue.
鳲鳩在桑，其子在棘。淑人君子，其儀不忒。其儀不忒，正是四國。
The cuckoo is in the mulberry tree, and her young are in the jujube tree. The good man, the gentleman, his bearing is without fault. His bearing is without fault, and he sets right the states of the four quarters.
鳲鳩在桑，其子在榛。淑人君子，正是國人，正是國人。胡不萬年？
The cuckoo is in the mulberry tree, and her young are in the hazel tree. The good man, the gentleman, sets right the people of the state, sets right the people of the state. Why should he not live ten thousand years?
冽彼下泉，浸彼苞稂。愾我寤嘆，念彼周京。
The cold spring below soaks that clump of wolf-tail grass. Awake I sigh, thinking of that capital of Zhou.
冽彼下泉，浸彼苞蕭。愾我寤嘆，念彼京周。
The cold spring below soaks that clump of mugwort. Awake I sigh, thinking of that capital Zhou.
冽彼下泉，浸彼苞蓍。愾我寤嘆，念彼京師。
The cold spring below soaks that clump of yarrow. Awake I sigh, thinking of that royal capital.
芃芃黍苗，陰雨膏之。四國有王，郇伯勞之。
The millet seedlings are lush and thick, moistened by the cloudy rain. The states of the four quarters have a king, and the Earl of Xun comforts them.
七月流火，九月授衣。一之日觱發，二之日栗烈。無衣無褐，何以卒歲？
In the seventh month the Fire star goes west, in the ninth month the cold clothes are handed out. In the eleventh month the wind is biting cold, in the twelfth month it is fiercely chill. Without clothes, without coarse cloth, how shall we get through the year?
三之日於耜，四之日舉趾。同我婦子，饁彼南畝。田畯至喜。
In the first month we mend the plows, in the second month we lift our feet to the fields. With my wife and children, we bring food to the southern acres. The field overseer comes and is pleased.
七月流火，九月授衣。春日載陽，有鳴倉庚。女執懿筐，遵彼微行，爰求柔桑。
In the seventh month the Fire star goes west, in the ninth month the cold clothes are handed out. The spring days begin to warm, and the oriole is singing. The girls take deep baskets and follow that small path, to seek tender mulberry leaves.
春日遲遲，采蘩祁祁。女心傷悲，殆及公子同歸。
The spring days are slow and long, and those who gather white mugwort are many. The girl’s heart is sad, fearing she will have to go back together with the young lord.
七月流火，八月萑葦。蠶月條桑，取彼斧斨。以伐遠揚，猗彼女桑。
In the seventh month the Fire star goes west, in the eighth month they harvest reeds. In the silkworm month they prune the mulberry trees, taking up those axes and adzes. They cut off the long, raised branches and pull down the tender mulberry.
七月鳴鵙，八月載績。載玄載黃，我朱孔陽，為公子裳。
In the seventh month the shrike cries, in the eighth month they begin to spin hemp. They dye some black and some yellow, my red is very bright, to make clothes for the young lord.
四月秀葽，五月鳴蜩。八月其獲，十月隕蘀。一之日於貉，取彼狐狸，為公子裘。
In the fourth month the milkwort bears seed, in the fifth month the cicadas sing. In the eighth month is harvest, in the tenth month leaves fall. In the eleventh month they go hunting badgers, taking those foxes, to make furs for the young lord.
二之日其同，載纘武功。言私其豵，獻豜於公。
In the twelfth month they gather together to continue martial exercises. The small pigs are kept for themselves, the big pigs are offered to the lord.
五月斯螽動股，六月莎雞振羽。七月在野，八月在宇，九月在戶，十月蟋蟀，入我床下。
In the fifth month the grasshopper moves its legs, in the sixth month the locust beats its wings. In the seventh month it is in the fields, in the eighth month under the eaves, in the ninth month at the door, and in the tenth month the cricket comes in under my bed.