Pitying the Ruler

哀世兮睩睩，諓諓兮嗌喔。

I grieve for an age where men peer and watch with greedy eyes, whispering their glib words in endless fawning tones.

众多兮阿媚，骪靡兮成俗。

The many bend themselves to flatter, and spineless servility has become the custom.

贪枉兮党比，贞良兮茕独。

The greedy and crooked band together in cliques, while the loyal and good stand alone with no support.

鹄窜兮枳棘，鹈集兮帷幄。

The swan hides among thorn bushes, while the pelican gathers inside the curtained tent.

罽蕠兮青葱，槁本兮萎落。

The jiru weed grows green and glossy, while the fragrant gaoben herb withers and drops.

睹斯兮伪惑，心为兮隔错。

Seeing such falsehood and delusion, my heart is thrown out of its true nature.

逡巡兮圃薮，率彼兮畛陌。

I linger among gardens and thickets, then follow the narrow paths between the fields.

川谷兮渊渊，山阜兮峉峉。

Rivers and valleys lie deep and unfathomable, and the hills and mounds rise tall and long.

丛林兮崟崟，株榛兮岳岳。

The forests crowd thick and many, and stumps and hazel scrub stand bristling.

霜雪兮漼溰，冰冻兮洛泽。

Frost and snow pile up in heaps, and the marshes, drained by cold, freeze into ice.

东西兮南北，罔所兮归薄。

East or west, south or north, there is nowhere to return and rest.

庇廕兮枯树，匍匐兮岩石。

I take shelter beneath a withered tree and crawl on hands and knees among the rocks.

蜷跼兮寒局数，独处兮志不申。

Huddled and cramped with cold, I dwell alone, and my purpose finds no room to unfold.

年齿尽兮命迫促，魁垒挤摧兮常困辱。

My years are spent and my life presses to its close; knotted and hemmed in, pushed aside and broken, I suffer constant hardship and disgrace.

含忧强老兮愁无乐，须发苎悴兮顠鬓白。

Grief ages me before my time and sorrow leaves no joy; my beard and hair are tangled and wasted, my temples turned white.

思灵泽兮一膏沐，怀兰英兮把琼若，待天明兮立踯躅。

I long for Heaven's grace to anoint me just once; clasping orchid blossoms and holding pollia, I wait for the dawn of a wise ruler, standing and pacing in place.

云蒙蒙兮电鯈烁，孤雌惊兮鸣呴呴。

The clouds hang dim and heavy and lightning flickers in a flash; a lone hen-bird, startled, cries out in alarm.

思怫郁兮肝切剥，忿悁悒兮孰诉告。

My thoughts are choked with gloom and my liver feels cut and flayed; full of anger and sorrow, to whom can I tell my plaint?