Setting the Course
Wang Bao
Fragrant palace and unsaid feeling
Fragrance and jade fill the halls; feeling remains unspoken.
Distress opens an ascent through fragrant halls, jade and cassia waters. The final view from a rail returns to unspoken devotion, showing the limits of this ideal space.
A human recitation has not been added for this poem yet.
极运兮不中，来将屈兮困穷。
I have sought a lord everywhere but my fortune does not meet the age; henceforth I must bow and withdraw into hardship and want.
余深愍兮惨怛，愿一列兮无从。
Deep within I grieve, pained as if cut by a blade; I long to lay out my loyal counsel just once, yet no road leads it through.
乘日月兮上征，顾游心兮鄗酆。
Riding the sun and moon I ascend towards heaven, yet I look back and let my heart dwell on Hao and Feng, the old capitals of Zhou.
弥览兮九隅，彷徨兮兰宫。
I survey the nine regions on every side, then wander through a palace fragrant with lan herb.
芷闾兮药房，奋摇兮众芳。
Gates ringed with zhi angelica, chambers lined with yao herb, and all the sweet plants stir and sway.
菌阁兮蕙楼，观道兮从横。
Pavilions of jun cassia and towers of hui herb, with roads running lengthwise and crosswise for all to view.
宝金兮委积，美玉兮盈堂。
Precious gold lies heaped in piles, and fine jade fills the hall.
桂水兮潺湲，扬流兮洋洋。
The stream among the cassia trees murmurs on, its lifted waters spreading broad and wide.
蓍蔡兮踊跃，孔鹤兮回翔。
The divining yarrow and the great tortoise Cai leap for joy, while peacocks and cranes wheel in flight.
抚槛兮远望，念君兮不忘。
Resting my hands on the railing I gaze afar, thinking of my lord and unable to forget him.
怫郁兮莫陈，永怀兮内伤。
Loyal words knot up within and find no place to be spoken; long remembrance wounds my heart inside.
Material abundance contrasts with the absence of a hearing.