Meeting Disaster

悼屈子兮遭厄，沉王躬兮湘汨。

I mourn Master Qu Yuan, who met with disaster and sank his jade-like body in the Xiang and Miluo rivers.

何楚国兮难化，迄于今兮不易。

Why is the state of Chu so hard to reform, unchanged even to this day?

士莫志兮羔裘，竞佞谀兮谗阋。

Its gentlemen have none of the spotless integrity of the lambskin coat with its white silk, but vie in flattery and wrangle with slander.

指正义兮为曲，訿玉璧兮为石。

They point to upright righteousness and call it crooked, and sneer at a jade disc as a mere stone.

殦雕游兮华屋，鵔鸃栖兮柴蔟。

Owls and eagles roam the splendid halls, while the junyi pheasant roosts in a heap of brushwood.

起奋迅兮奔走，违群小兮謑訽。

I rouse myself and hasten away, leaving behind the petty crowd and their abusive revilings.

载青云兮上昇，適昭明兮所处。

I mount the blue clouds and rise aloft, making for the place where the radiant sun dwells.

蹑天衢兮长驱，踵九阳兮戏荡。

I tread the highway of heaven and drive far ahead, following the sun to Jiuyang, the place of its rising, and wandering there at play.

越云汉兮南济，秣余马兮河鼓。

I cross the River of Heaven and ford southward, and feed my horses by the River Drum, the Oxherd star.

云霓纷兮晻翳，参辰回兮颠倒。

Clouds and rainbows swirl and darken the sky, and the stars Shen and Chen wheel out of place till all directions are confused.

逢流星兮问路，顾我指兮从左。

I meet a shooting star and ask the way; it looks back and points me to the left.

俓娵觜兮直驰，御者迷兮失轨。

I head straight for the Juzi asterism and race on, but my driver loses his bearings and leaves the track.

遂踢达兮邪造，与日月兮殊道。

So we stumble astray onto a slanting path, parting from the road the sun and moon travel.

志阏绝兮安如，哀所求兮不耦。

My purpose is blocked and cut off; where can I go? I grieve that what I seek will never be met.

攀天阶兮下视，见鄢郢兮旧宇。

I climb the steps of heaven and look down, and see Yan and Ying, the Chu capitals, my old dwelling place.

意逍遥兮欲归，众秽盛兮沓沓。

My heart wavers and I long to go home, yet the foul crowd of flatterers swarm there in strength, rank upon rank.

思哽饐兮诘诎，涕流澜兮如雨。

My thoughts choke me and my words twist and will not come, and my tears stream down like rain.