The Odes Of Chen


陳風  (THE ODES OF CHEN)

136.  宛丘  WAN QIU

子之湯兮、宛丘之上兮。  洵有情兮、而無望兮。

坎其擊鼓、宛丘之下。  無冬無夏、值其鷺羽。

坎其擊缶、宛丘之道。  無冬無夏、值其鷺翿。

How gay and dissipated you are ,  There on the top of Wanqiu !  You are full of kindly affection indeed ,  But you have nothing to make you looked up to !

How your blows on the drum resound ,  At the foot of Wanqiu !  Be it winter , be it summer ,  You are holding your egret's feather !

How you beat your earthen vessel ,  On the way to Wanqiu !  Be it winter , be it summer ,  You are holding your egret-fan !

137.  東門之枌  DONG MEN ZHI FEN

東門之枌、宛丘之栩。  子仲之子、婆娑其下。

穀旦于差、南方之原。  不績其麻、市也婆娑。

穀旦于逝、越以鬷邁。  視爾如荍、貽我握椒。

[There are] the white elms at the east gate .  And the oaks on Wanqiu ;  The daughter of Zizhong ,  Dances about under them .

A good morning having been chosen ,  For the plain in the South ,  She leaves twisting her hemp ,  And dances to it through the market-place .

The morning being good for excursion, They all proceed together.  ' I look on you as the flower of the thorny mallow ;  You give me a stalk of the pepper plant .

138.  衡門  HENG MEN

衡門之下、可以棲遲。  泌之洋洋、可以樂飢。

豈其食魚、必河之魴。  豈其取妻、必齊之姜。

豈其食魚、必河之鯉。  豈其取妻、必宋之子。

Beneath my door made of cross pieces of wood ,  I can rest at my leisure ;  By the wimpling stream from my fountain ,  I can joy amid my hunger .

Why , in eating fish ;  Must we have bream from the He ?  Why , in taking a wife ,  Must we have a Jiang of Qi ?

Why , in eating fish ;  Must we have carp from the He ?  Why , in taking a wife ,  Must we have a Zi of Song ?

139.  東門之池  DONG MEN ZHI CHI

東門之池、可以漚麻。  彼美淑姬、可與晤歌。

東門之池、可以漚紵。  彼美淑姬、可與晤語。

東門之池、可以漚菅。  彼美淑姬、可與晤言。

The moat at the east gate ,  Is fit to steep hemp in .  That beautiful , virtuous , lady ,  Can respond to you in songs .

The moat at the east gate ,  Is fit to steep the boehmeria in .  That beautiful , virtuous , lady ,  Can respond to you in discourse .

The moat at the east gate ,  Is fit to steep the rope-rush in .  That beautiful , virtuous lady ,  Can respond to you in conversation .

140.  東門之楊  DONG MEN ZHI YANG

東門之楊、其葉牂牂。  昏以為期、明星煌煌。

東門之楊、其葉肺肺。  昏以為期、明星晢晢。

On the willows at the east gate ,  The leaves are very luxuriant.  The evening was the time agreed on ,  And the morning star is shining bright .

On the willows at the east gate ,  The leaves are dense .  The evening was the time agreed on ,  And the morning star is shining bright .

141.  墓門  MU MEN

墓門有棘、斧以斯之。  夫也不良、國人知之。  知而不已、誰昔然矣。

墓門有梅、有鴞萃止。  夫也不良、歌以訊之。  訊予不顧、顛倒思予。

At the gate to the tombs there are jujube trees ; --   They should be cut away with an axe .  That man is not good ,  And the people of the State know it .  They know it , but he does not give over ; --   Long time has it been thus with him .

At the gate to the tombs there are plum trees ;  And there are owls collecting on them .  That man is not good ,  And I sing [this song] to admonish him .  I admonish him , but he will not regard me ; --   When he is overthrown , he will think of me .

142.  防有鵲巢  FANG YOU QUE CHAO

防有鵲巢、邛有旨苕。  誰侜予美、心焉忉忉。

中唐有甓、邛有旨鷊。  誰侜予美、心焉惕惕。

On the embankment are magpies' nests ;  On the height grows the beautiful pea .  Who has been imposing on the object of my admiration ?  -- My heart is full of sorrow .

The middle path of the temple is covered with its tiles ;  On the height is the beautiful medallion plant .  Who has been imposing on the object of my admiration ?  -- My heart is full of trouble .

143.  月出  YUE CHU

月出皎兮、佼人僚兮。  舒窈糾兮、勞心悄兮。

月出皓兮、佼人懰兮。  舒懮受兮、勞心慅兮。

月出照兮、佼人燎兮。  舒夭紹兮、勞心慘兮。

The moon comes forth in her brightness ;  How lovely is that beautiful lady !  O to have my deep longings for her relieved !  How anxious is my toiled heart !

The moon comes forth in her splendour ;  How attractive is that beautiful lady !  O to have my anxieties about her relieved !  How agitated is my toiled heart !

The moon comes forth and shines ;  How brilliant is that beautiful lady !  O to have the chains of my mind relaxed !  How miserable is my toiled heart !

144.  株林  ZHU LIN

胡為乎株林、從夏南。  匪適株林、從夏南。

駕我乘馬、說于株野。  乘我乘駒、朝食于株。

What does he in Zhulin ?  He is going after Xianan .  He is not going to Zhulin ;  He is going after Xianan .

' Yoke for me my team of horses ;  I will rest in the country about Zhu .  I will drive my team of colts ,  And breakfast at Zhu .'

145.  澤陂  ZE PO

彼澤之陂、有蒲與荷。  有美一人、傷如之何。  寤寐無為、涕泗滂沱。

彼澤之陂、有蒲與蕑。  有美一人、碩大且卷。  寤寐無為、中心悁悁。

彼澤之陂、有蒲菡萏。  有美一人、碩大且儼。  寤寐無為、 輾轉伏枕。

By the shores of that marsh ,  There are rushes and lotus plants .  There is the beautiful lady ; --   I am tortured for her , but what avails it ?  Waking or sleeping , I do nothing ;  From my eyes and nose the water streams .

By the shores of that marsh ,  There are rushes and the valerian .  There is the beautiful lady ;  Tall and large , and elegant .  Waking or sleeping , I do nothing ;  My inmost heart is full of grief .

By the shores of that marsh ,  There are rushes and lotus flowers .  There is the beautiful lady ;  Tall and large , and majestic .  Waking or sleeping , I do nothing ;  On my side , on my back , with my face on the pillow , I lie .

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