Detesting the Age

周徘徊兮汉渚，求水神兮灵女。

I pace to and fro on the islets of the Han River, seeking the river goddess to soothe my longing.

嗟此国兮无良，媒女诎兮謰謱。

Alas, in this state of Chu neither ruler nor ministers are good, and the go-between is tongue-tied, her words a tangled muddle.

鴳雀列兮譁讙，鸲鹆鸣兮聒余。

Petty men like sparrows and quail fill the ranks, squawking and clamouring, and mynah-like birds shriek and din in my ears.

抱昭华兮宝璋，欲衒鬻兮莫取。

I clasp the Zhaohua jade and a precious jade tablet, and would hawk them along the way, yet no one will take them.

言旋迈兮北徂，叫我友兮配耦。

So I turn and journey far to the north, calling to my worthy friends to be my companions.

日阴曀兮未光，阒睄窕兮靡睹。

The northern sun is clouded and dark without light; I peer into the deep gloom and see nothing at all.

纷载驱兮高驰，将谘询兮皇羲。

In haste I drive my carriage galloping high, meaning to seek counsel from the sovereign Fuxi.

遵河皋兮周流，路变易兮时乖。

I follow the banks of the Yellow River and wander all around, but the roads keep shifting and the times run against me.

濿沧海兮东游，沐盥浴兮天池。

I wade the grey sea and roam eastward, washing my hair and bathing in that Pool of Heaven.

访太昊兮道要，云靡贵兮仁义。

I call on Taihao, the Green Emperor of the East, to ask the essentials of Heaven's way, and he says nothing is more precious than benevolence and righteousness.

志欣乐兮反征，就周文兮邠歧。

Glad at heart, I turn back westward and go to the lands of Bin and Qi to join King Wen of Zhou.

秉玉英兮结誓，日欲暮兮心悲。

Holding jade blossoms as my gift I seal a pledge with King Wen, yet as the day draws towards dusk my heart grows sad.

惟天禄兮不再，背我信兮自违。

Heaven's blessing does not come twice, and were I to betray my good faith to court the times, I would be false to my own heart.

逾陇堆兮渡漠，过桂车兮合黎。

I cross Mount Longdui and traverse the desert, passing the western mountains Guiche and Heli.

赴昆山兮馽騄，从邛遨兮栖迟。

I hasten to Mount Kunlun and hobble my steed Lü'er, then roam and rest in the company of the qiongqiong beast, gazing about.

吮玉液兮止渴，齧芝华兮疗饥。

I sip the liquor of jade to quench my thirst and gnaw the blossoms of the divine zhi fungus to stay my hunger.

居嵺廓兮尠畴，远梁昌兮几迷。

I dwell in an empty, unpeopled vastness with scarcely a companion, stranded far off with no footing, almost lost.

望江汉兮濩渃，心紧絭兮伤怀。

I gaze on the mighty flood of the Yangtze and the Han, and my heart twists and tangles, grieving for my homeland.

时昢昢兮且旦，尘莫莫兮未晞。

The sky glimmers faintly towards dawn, yet the dusty mist hangs thick and has not yet cleared.

忧不暇兮寝食，吒增叹兮如雷。

My grief leaves no time for sleep or food, and my angry cries and heaped-up sighs resound like thunder.