Grieving for the Times

惟昊天兮昭灵，阳气发兮清明。

Behold the summer sky, bright and divine; the yang breath bursts forth and the air is clear and pure.

风習習兮和暖，百草萌兮华荣。

A gentle breeze blows soft and warm, and the hundred grasses sprout and burst into flower.

堇荼茂兮扶疏，蘅芷彫兮莹嫇。

Bitter jin and bitter tu weeds grow lush and sprawling, while the fragrant asarum and angelica wither and lose their lustre.

愍贞良兮遇害，将夭折兮碎糜。

I pity the loyal and good who meet with harm, cut off before their time and ground to pieces.

时混混兮浇饡，哀当世兮莫知。

The times are muddy and mixed like broth slopped over rice, and I grieve that no one in this age understands.

览往昔兮俊彦，亦诎辱兮系纍。

Looking back on the outstanding men of old, they too were humiliated and bound in fetters.

管束缚兮桎梏，百贸易兮传卖。

Guan Zhong was bound in shackles and stocks, and Baili Xi was passed from hand to hand and sold.

遭桓缪兮识举，才德用兮列施。

Only when they met Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Mu of Qin, who recognised and raised them, could their talent and virtue be put to use at court.

且从容兮自慰，玩琴书兮游戏。

For now I take my ease and comfort myself, amusing myself with lute and books.

迫中国兮迮陿，吾欲之兮九夷。

The central lands press in narrow and cramped, with no room for my purpose, and I would go to the Nine Yi tribes of the east.

超五岭兮嵯峨，观浮石兮崔嵬。

I cross the towering Five Ridges and gaze on the lofty Floating Rock Mountain of the Eastern Sea.

陟丹山兮炎野，屯余车兮黄支。

I climb the southern Cinnabar Mountain and cross the burning plains, and halt my carriage in Huangzhi at the southern limit.

就祝融兮稽疑，嘉己行兮无为。

I go to Zhurong, the Red Emperor, to resolve my doubts, and he commends my conduct as free of fault.

乃回朅兮北逝，遇神孈兮宴娭。

Then I turn back and journey north, where I meet Xie, spirit of the north, who feasts me and makes merry.

欲静居兮自娱，心愁慼兮不能。

I would settle quietly and take my pleasure, but my heart is so grieved and sorrowful that I cannot.

放余辔兮策驷，忽飙腾兮浮云。

I loosen the reins and whip my four horses, and suddenly like a gale I soar up onto the drifting clouds.

蹠飞杭兮越海，从安期兮蓬莱。

I step aboard a flying boat and cross the sea to follow the immortal Anqi Sheng to Mount Penglai.

缘天梯兮北上，登太一兮玉台。

I climb the ladder of heaven northward and ascend the Jade Terrace of Taiyi, the Lord of Heaven.

使素女兮鼓簧，乘戈和兮讴谣。

I have the goddess Sunü play the reed-organ, and the immortal Chengge joins in with song.

声噭誂兮清和，音晏衍兮要婬。

The singing rings clear and free, pure and harmonious; the music flows long and easy, and the dancers sway with bending shoulders.

咸欣欣兮酣乐，余眷眷兮独悲。

All the heavenly spirits rejoice in deep delight, but I alone, yearning for home, am sorrowful.

顾章华兮太息，志恋恋兮依依。

I look back towards the Zhanghua Terrace of Chu and sigh deeply, my heart clinging in longing, unwilling to part.