九歌·湘君

屈原

君不行兮夷犹，

蹇谁留兮中洲？

美要眇兮宜修，

沛吾乘兮桂舟。

令沅湘兮无波，

使江水兮安流。

望夫君兮未来，

吹参差兮谁思？

驾飞龙兮北征，

邅吾道兮洞庭。

薜荔柏兮蕙绸，

荪桡兮兰旌。

望涔阳兮极浦，

横大江兮扬灵。

扬灵兮未极，

女婵媛兮为余太息。

横流涕兮潺湲，

隐思君兮陫侧。

桂櫂兮兰枻，

斲冰兮积雪。

采薜荔兮水中，

搴芙蓉兮木末。

心不同兮媒劳，

恩不甚兮轻绝。

石濑兮浅浅，

飞龙兮翩翩。

交不忠兮怨长，

期不信兮告余以不闲。

鼂骋骛兮江皋，

夕弭节兮北渚。

鸟次兮屋上，

水周兮堂下。

捐余玦兮江中，

遗余佩兮醴浦。

采芳洲兮杜若，

将以遗兮下女。

时不可兮再得，

聊逍遥兮容与。

Ode to the God of River Xiang

By QU Yuan

Alas! Mr. Xiang, why are you reluctant to go?

For whom do you stop over on the ait?

I make my face fairer for you my beau,

And come to date you by bay boat straight.

 

I order Yuan and Xiang to stay with tranquility,

and ask the rivers to slowly and soothingly flow.

To my dismayed discontent I didn’t see you unexpectedly

Therefore I play panpipe to kill my sad sorrow.

 

Cruising far to the north by bowing a dragon-boat,

I make a detour to the Dongting Lake elegant.

I have Melilot nets and Ficus Pumila curtains afloat,

Marvelous Magnolian banners, and odorous oars of bamboo fragrant.

 

Looking at the waterside of Cenyang in the distance,

I feel my heart fly across the Giant River.

My loving handmaid sighs for me in great grievance,

My heart winging a flight has nowhere to anchor.

 

With a heavy heart, thinking of you, my beau,

I am in a flood of tears of sorrow.

Short magnolia paddles and jade oars which I row,

split waves as if holing ice and pushing snow.

 

Ficus Pumila in the river I would like to pluck.

And flowers I want to pick from the lotus tree.

Two hearts in discord give matchmakers rough luck.

A two not deep in love break up easily.

 

Crystal clear stream flows swiftly on the rocky shoal.

Speedily and airily on it my dragon-boat flies true

A faithless love affair brings long-lasting grudge and dole.

Faithlessly you said you were unavailable for our rendezvous.

 

Dawn saw me catch path riverside on southern strand.

Dusk witnessed me park my chariot on the northern shore.

I have feathered creatures that on my eaves stand.

I have a creek bend before my decorated door.

 

Into the river I threw my beauteous jade bracelet.

Behind on the bank of River Li my ornaments I laid.

I’ve picked Pollia Thunb flowers from the fair islet,

I’ll give them as a gift to my handmaid.

The time that is gone can never come back.

Now leisurely I allow myself pace a pace slack.