Encountering Blame

悲兮愁，哀兮忧！

I am grieved and sorrowful, I am aching and full of care!

天生我兮当闇时，被诼谮兮虚获尤。

Heaven bore me into an age of darkness, and through slander and false charges I bear guilt I never earned.

心烦憒兮意无聊，严载驾兮出戏游。

My heart is troubled and my spirit knows no joy, so I ready my carriage and set out to roam and ease my mind.

周八极兮历九州，求轩辕兮索重华。

I circle the eight far reaches and traverse the nine provinces, seeking the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan and searching for the sage-king Shun, Chonghua.

世既卓兮远眇眇，握佩玖兮中路躇。

The age of the former sages lies far off, dim and beyond reach, and clutching my girdle jade I falter halfway along the road.

羡咎繇兮建典谟，懿风后兮受瑞图。

I envy the worthy minister Gaoyao, who laid down statutes and counsels, and deeply admire Fenghou, teacher of the Yellow Emperor, who received Heaven's auspicious chart.

愍余命兮遭六极，委玉质兮於泥涂。

I pity my fate, struck by every extreme of misfortune, my jade-like substance cast away into the mud.

遽傽遑兮驱林泽，步屏营兮行丘阿。

In haste and panic I drive through forests and marshes, and pacing in bewilderment I walk the hills and winding banks.

车軏折兮马虺颓，惷怅立兮涕滂沱。

The yoke-pin of my carriage snaps and my horses sicken and fail; I stand dazed and disconsolate, tears pouring down like rain.

思丁文兮圣明哲，哀平差兮迷谬愚。

I long to have met the sage wisdom of King Wen of Zhou, and lament the deluded folly of King Ping of Chu and King Fuchai of Wu.

吕傅举兮殷周兴，忌嚭专兮郢吴虚。

When Lü Wang and Fu Yue were raised up, Yin and Zhou flourished; when Fei Wuji and Bo Pi held sway, the Chu capital Ying and the state of Wu were laid waste.

仰长叹兮气噎结，悒殟绝兮咶复苏。

I lift my face and sigh long, my breath choked and knotted; in grief and anger I faint away, and only slowly draw breath and revive.

虎兕争兮於廷中，豺狼斗兮我之隅。

Treacherous ministers like tigers and rhinoceroses fight in the court, and flatterers like jackals and wolves grapple at my side.

云雾会兮日冥晦，飘风起兮扬尘埃。

Cloud and mist gather and the sun is dimmed to darkness; a whirlwind rises and flings up clouds of dust.

走鬯罔兮乍东西，欲窜伏兮其焉如？

In confusion I run now east and now west, longing to flee and hide, yet where could I go?

念灵闺兮隩重深，原竭节兮隔无由。

I think of King Huai's palace chambers, deep behind layer upon layer; I would spend my whole loyalty, yet I am cut off with no way through.

望旧邦兮路逶随，忧心悄兮志勤劬。

I gaze towards my old homeland, the road winding and far; my heart is bitterly troubled and my will labours without rest.

魂茕茕兮不遑寐，目眽眽兮寤终朝。

My soul is lonely and forlorn, with no leisure for sleep; my eyes stare fixedly, awake the whole night until dawn.