《燕燕》       The Swallow

燕燕于飞，    The swallow is on the wing.

差池其羽。    In the sky it freely swings.

之子于归，    To her state she's returning

远送于野。    By the road the wind zings

瞻望弗及，    My heart her leave wrings.

泣涕如雨。    Tears fall like rain strings.

燕燕于飞，    Swallows are on the wing.

颉之颃之。    Up and down they swing.

之子于归，    To her state she's returning.

远于将之。    May forever run the parting.

瞻望弗及，    My heart her leave wrings.

伫立以泣。    My cheeks tear is bathing.

燕燕于飞，    Swallows are on the wing.

下上其音。    Low and high they sing.

之子于归，    To her state she's returning.

远送于南。    At south gate we're parting

瞻望弗及，    My heart her leave wrings.

实劳我心。    As if great grief stings.

仲氏任只，    She's staid and confiding.

其心塞渊。    Never ends her feeling

终温且惠，    Gentle and unassuming

淑慎其身。    Virtuous and pleasing

先君之思，    Of our late lord in thinking

以勖寡人。    Me she's ever stimulating.

《诗经·邶风·燕燕》

英译文乃东海仙子原创

白话译文网络版

燕子飞翔天上，
参差舒展翅膀。
妹子今日远嫁，
相送郊野路旁。
瞻望不见人影，
泪流纷如雨降。

燕子飞翔天上，
身姿忽下忽上。
妹子今日远嫁，
相送不嫌路长。
瞻望不见人影，
伫立满面泪淌。

燕子飞翔天上，
鸣音呢喃低昂。
妹子今日远嫁，
相送远去南方。
瞻望不见人影，
实在痛心悲伤。

二妹诚信稳当，
思虑切实深长。
温和而又恭顺，
为人谨慎善良。
常常想着父王，
叮咛响我耳旁。

James Legge  译：

The swallows go flying about,

With their wings unevenly displayed.

The lady was returning [to her native state],

And I escorted her far into the country.

I looked till I could no longer see her,

And my tears fell down like rain.

The swallows go flying about,

Now up, now down.

The lady was returning [to her native state],

And far did I accompany her.

I looked till I could no longer see her,

And long I stood and wept.

The swallows go flying about;

From below, from above, comes their twittering.

The lady was returning [to her native state] ,

And far did I escort her to the south.

I looked till I could no longer see her,

And great was the grief of my heart.

Lovingly confiding was lady Zhong;

Truly deep was her feeling.

Both gentle was she and docile,

Virtuously careful of her person.

In thinking of our deceased lord,

She stimulated worthless me.