Resenting Those Above

令尹兮謷謷，群司兮譨譨。

The Chief Minister ignores honest counsel and talks wildly, and the host of officials chatter on, vying in flattery.

哀哉兮淈淈，上下兮同流。

Alas, the whole state is in turmoil, and ruler and ministers, high and low, are alike foolish and drift together in the same muddy stream.

菽藟兮蔓衍，芳虈兮挫枯。

Lowly creepers like the shuli weed spread and sprawl, while the fragrant angelica is broken and withered.

硃紫兮杂乱，曾莫兮别诸。

Vermilion and purple are jumbled together, and no one at all can tell them apart.

倚此兮岩穴，永思兮窈悠。

I withdraw and lean within this rocky cave, brooding long, my thoughts deep and far-reaching.

嗟怀兮眩惑，用志兮不昭。

I sigh that King Huai's eyes are dazzled by the crowd of flatterers, while my lone purpose of loyalty and good faith goes unrecognised.

将丧兮玉斗，遗失兮钮枢。

The ruler is about to lose his precious jade ladle, and will lose with it the pivot-knob that sets it true.

我心兮煎熬，惟是兮用忧。

My heart is as if fried and seared, and it is for these things that I grieve without end.

进恶兮九旬，复顾兮彭务。

The king gives himself to evil like Zhou of Yin in his ninety-day drinking bout, and I turn back to think of Peng Xian and Wu Guang.

拟斯兮二踪，未知兮所投。

I would follow in the footsteps of these two worthies and drown myself, yet I know not where to cast my body.

谣吟兮中野，上察兮璇玑。

I chant my songs in the open wilds and look up to study the Xuanji, the bowl of the Northern Dipper at the centre of the sky.

大火兮西睨，摄提兮运低。

The Great Fire star has slanted towards the west, and the Sheti stars have wheeled low.

雷霆兮硠磕，雹霰兮霏霏。

Thunder crashes and rumbles, and hail and sleet come down thick and fast.

奔电兮光晃，凉风兮怆悽。

Racing lightning flashes and flickers, and the chill wind is bleak and sorrowful.

鸟兽兮惊骇，相从兮宿栖。

Birds and beasts, though startled, still follow one another and roost and shelter together.

鸳鸯兮噰噰，狐狸兮徾徾。

Mandarin ducks call to each other in harmony, and foxes trail along in company.

哀吾兮介特，独处兮罔依。

I grieve that I am solitary and alone, dwelling by myself with nothing to lean on.

蝼蛄兮鸣东，蟊蠽兮号西。

Mole-crickets chirp to the east, and root-grubs and small cicadas shrill to the west.

蛓缘兮我裳，蠋入兮我怀。

Hairy caterpillars crawl up my robe, and zhu grubs creep into my bosom.

虫豸兮夹余，惆怅兮自悲。

Creeping things great and small press round me, and in dejection I sorrow alone.

伫立兮忉怛，心结縎兮折摧。

Long I stand, worn with grief and pain, my heart knotted tight as if snapped and crushed.