Meeting Turmoil

伊伯庸之末胄兮，谅皇直之屈原。

I am the last descendant of Boyong, truly the upright and honest Qu Yuan whose virtue surpasses other men.

云余肇祖于高阳兮，惟楚怀之婵连。

My line began with the ancient sovereign Gaoyang, so I am bound to King Huai of Chu as a kinsman of the same clan.

原生受命于贞节兮，鸿永路有嘉名。

I, Qu Yuan, was born with the mandate of pure integrity; following the great and lasting way, I have long held a fine name.

齐名字于天地兮，并光明于列星。

My name Ping and my courtesy name Yuan match heaven and earth, and my brightness ranks beside the ranged stars.

吸精粹而吐氛浊兮，横邪世而不取容。

I breathe in the pure essence of heaven and earth and spit out the foul and turbid air; living in a perverse and greedy age, I seek no one's acceptance.

行叩诚而不阿兮，遂见排而逢谗。

In my conduct I speak out with sincerity and never bend to flatter, so I was pushed aside and met with slander.

后听虚而黜实兮，不吾理而顺情。

The king listened to empty lies and dismissed honest truth; he paid no heed to my words and followed only the slanderers' wishes.

肠愤悁而含怒兮，志迁蹇而左倾。

My bowels knot with indignation and hold back anger; my resolve wavers, tilts aside, and I turn away.

心戃慌其不我与兮，躬速速其不吾亲。

The king's heart is vacant and distracted and will not take counsel with me; he himself stays cold and aloof and will not draw near to me.

辞灵修而陨志兮，吟泽畔之江滨。

I took leave of my lord, the Divine Cultivated One, and my spirit sank; I chant alone on the marsh's edge by the river's bank.

椒桂罗以颠覆兮，有竭信而归诚。

Worthy men like pepper and cassia have fallen into ruin and been overthrown, yet they still give all their good faith and return to utter sincerity.

谗夫蔼蔼而漫著兮，曷其不舒予情？

Slanderers throng in crowds and smear others to make themselves prominent; why will the king not let me lay out my true feelings in answer?

始结言于庙堂兮，信中涂而叛之。

At first the king bound his word with me in the ancestral temple hall, yet trusting slander he betrayed it halfway along the road.

怀兰蕙与衡芷兮，行中野而散之。

Carrying orchid, hui, asarum and angelica in my bosom, I walked into the open wilds and scattered them away.

声哀哀而怀高丘兮，心愁愁而思旧邦。

My voice wails in sorrow as I long for the high hills of Chu; my heart aches with grief as I think of my old homeland.

愿承闲而自恃兮，径淫曀而道壅。

I hoped to seize a quiet hour with the king and still relied on my own hopes, but the path was dark and overcast and the way was blocked.

颜霉黧以沮败兮，精越裂而衰耄。

My face has grown mouldy and black, ruined and worn; my spirit has fled and split apart, and my strength has decayed into old age.

裳襜襜而含风兮，衣纳纳而掩露。

My lower robe flutters and fills with the sharp wind; my upper garment is soaked through and covered with dew.

赴江湘之湍流兮，顺波凑而下降。

I set out on the rushing currents of the Yangtze and the Xiang, drifting downstream with the gathering waves.

徐徘徊于山阿兮，飘风来之洶洶。

Slowly I linger in the mountain's hollow bend, when a whirlwind suddenly arrives, roaring and clamorous.

驰余车兮玄石，步余马兮洞庭。

I drive my chariot at speed to Mount Xuanshi and walk my horses at Mount Dongting.

平明发兮苍梧，夕投宿兮石城。

At dawn I set out from Mount Cangwu, and at dusk I lodge at Mount Shicheng.

芙蓉盖而菱华车兮，紫贝阙而玉堂。

Lotus blossoms form my chariot's canopy and water-chestnut flowers adorn its body; purple cowries build the gate towers and jade the hall.

薜荔饰而陆离荐兮，鱼鳞衣而白蜺裳。

Climbing fig for ornament and the gem luli for a sleeping mat; a coat patterned in five colours like fish scales and a skirt like a white rainbow.

登逢龙而下陨兮，违故都之漫漫。

I climb Mount Fenglong and look down below; the old capital I have left lies far, far away.

思南郢之旧俗兮，肠一夕而九运。

I think of the old customs of Ying in the south, and my heart turns over nine times in a single night.

扬流波之潢潢兮，体溶溶而东回。

The current lifts waves deep and vast; my body is borne on the surging swell, wheeling eastward.

心怊怅以永思兮，意晻晻而日颓。

My heart is sore with regret and endless longing; my spirit darkens and sinks lower day by day.

白露纷以涂涂兮，秋风浏以萧萧。

White dew falls thick and heavy over everything; the autumn wind rushes past, sighing and moaning.

身永流而不还兮，魂长逝而常愁。

My body drifts on and on with the current and will never return; my soul goes far away and sorrows without end.

叹曰：

The lament says:

譬彼流水纷扬磕兮，波逢汹涌濆壅滂兮。

Like that flowing stream, tossed into confusion and crashing loudly on the stones; its waves meet the wind, surge and seethe, well up against the dam and pour out in torrents.

揄扬涤荡飘流陨往触崟石兮，龙卬脟圈缭戾宛转阻相薄兮，

Lifted and swept along, washed and scoured, it drifts and plunges and strikes the sharp crags; then like a dragon rearing it coils and twists, winding and turning, pressed hard against the obstructions.

遭纷逢凶蹇离尤兮，垂文扬采遗将来兮。

I met a chaotic age and ran into calamity, and for my stubborn loyalty I incurred blame; so I leave behind my writings and spread their beauty as a gift to the worthy rulers who come after.