Lamenting an Untimely Fate

哀时命之不及古人兮，夫何予生之不遘时！

I grieve that my age and destiny fall short of what the ancients enjoyed: why was I born into so unpropitious a time!

往者不可扳援兮，徠者不可与期。

The worthy age behind me cannot be reached and drawn back, and a better age ahead cannot be appointed and awaited.

志憾恨而不逞兮，杼中情而属诗。

Regret and resentment fill me and my purpose cannot be realised, so I express my inward feelings and join them into poetry.

夜炯炯而不寐兮，怀隐忧而历兹。

At night my eyes stay wide open and I cannot sleep; carrying a hidden sorrow I have lived on until now.

心郁郁而无告兮，众孰可与深谋！

My heart is heavy with no one to tell; who among these people could share a deep plan with me!

欿愁悴而委惰兮，老冉冉而逮之。

Sorrow leaves me wasted, weary and slack, while old age creeps up and overtakes me.

居处愁以隐约兮，志沉抑而不扬。

I live in hardship and grief, keeping to narrow ways; my purpose is pressed down and cannot show itself.

道壅塞而不通兮，江河广而无梁。

The way ahead is blocked and impassable, like a broad river before me with no bridge across it.

愿至昆仑之悬圃兮，采锺山之玉英。

I wish to reach the Hanging Garden, the divine park on Mount Kunlun, and gather the finest jade of Mount Zhong to chew for long life.

揽瑶木之橝枝兮，望阆风之板桐。

I would grasp the long branches of the jade tree and gaze towards Mount Bantong, which rises above Langfeng on Kunlun.

弱水汩其为难兮，路中断而不通。

The Weak Water rushes by, an obstacle I cannot cross; it cuts the road in two and blocks my passage.

势不能凌波以径度兮，又无羽翼而高翔。

I cannot ride over the waves to cross directly, nor have I wings to soar above them.

然隐悯而不达兮，独徙倚而彷徉。

So I hold my hidden pain, unable to make it known, and pace alone, wandering back and forth.

怅惝罔以永思兮，心纡轸而增伤。

Bewildered and dejected I think on and on; my heart twists in knots and the hurt deepens.

倚踌躇以淹留兮，日饥馑而绝粮。

Hesitating, I linger long here, while day by day famine closes in and the food runs out.

廓抱景而独倚兮，超永思乎故乡。

In the open emptiness I stand alone with only my shadow, thinking long of my distant homeland.

廓落寂而无友兮，谁可与玩此遗芳？

All is lonely and still, without a single friend; who is there to share and savour this remaining fragrance with me?

白日晼晼其將入兮，哀余寿之弗将。

The sun sinks towards the horizon, about to set; I grieve that my own life will not be long.

车既弊而马罢兮，蹇邅徊而不能行。

My carriage is worn out and my horses exhausted; I circle helplessly and cannot go on.

身既不容于浊世兮，不知进退之宜当。

Since this corrupt world cannot accommodate me, I no longer know what course of advance or withdrawal is fitting.