Honouring the Good

季春兮阳阳，列草兮成行。

In the last month of spring the sunshine is mild, and the ranked grasses grow up in rows.

余悲兮兰生，委积兮从横。

I grieve that the lan herb, though it has grown, lies broken and heaped in tangled disorder.

江离兮遗捐，辛夷兮挤臧。

The fragrant jiangli is cast away and abandoned; the sweet xinyi magnolia is pushed aside and buried.

伊思兮往古，亦多兮遭殃。

I think of the worthies of ancient times: many of them too met with calamity.

伍胥兮浮江，屈子兮沉湘。

Wu Zixu, the loyal minister of Wu, was cast to float on the river; Qu Yuan of Chu sank himself in the Xiang.

运余兮念兹，心内兮怀伤。

I turn these things over in my thoughts, and my heart holds its grief within.

望淮兮沛沛，滨流兮则逝。

I gaze at the Huai River rushing in full flood, and along its stream I would go away and hide.

榜舫兮下流，东注兮磕磕。

Rowing my twin-hulled boat downstream, I pour eastwards while the waves crash and clatter.

蛟龙兮导引，文鱼兮上濑。

Jiao dragons lead the way, and patterned fish help me up through the rapids.

抽蒲兮陈坐，援芙蕖兮为盖。

I pull up rushes to spread as a seat and draw lotus blossoms over me as a canopy.

水跃兮余旌，继以兮微蔡。

The leaping water shakes my banners, and then tiny bits of weed drift into the boat.

云旗兮电骛，倏忽兮容裔。

My cloud banners race like lightning; in an instant the boat rises and dips, drifting on.

河伯兮开门，迎余兮欢欣。

Hebo, the lord of the river, opens his gates and welcomes me with joy.

顾念兮旧都，怀恨兮艰难。

I look back in longing to Ying, the old capital of Chu, nursing resentment at how hard the way has been.

窃哀兮浮萍，汎淫兮无根。

Secretly I pity myself, like duckweed drifting on the water without a root.