Leaving the World

灵怀其不吾知兮，灵怀其不吾闻。

King Huai of Chu does not know my loyalty; King Huai of Chu does not hear of my innocence.

就灵怀之皇祖兮，愬灵怀之鬼神。

I go before King Huai's royal ancestors to state my grievance, and I appeal to King Huai's ghosts and spirits.

灵怀曾不吾与兮，即听夫人之谀辞。

King Huai's heart never once agreed with me; instead he listened to the flattering words of those slanderers.

余辞上参于天坠兮，旁引之于四时。

My words can be checked above against heaven and below against earth, and the spirits of the four seasons can be called in beside them as witnesses.

指日月使延照兮，抚招摇以质正。

I point to the sun and moon and ask them to watch my heart for ever; I touch the star Zhaoyao in the Dipper's handle and ask it to attest my uprightness.

立师旷俾端辞兮，命咎繇使并听。

Let the music master Shi Kuang stand forth to set my words straight, and bid the judge Gaoyao to hear the case with him.

兆出名曰正则兮，卦发字曰灵均。

When the tortoise crack appeared my father named me Zhengze; when the hexagram came forth he gave me the courtesy name Lingjun.

余幼既有此鸿节兮，长愈固而弥纯。

Even in childhood I had this great integrity, and as I grew it became ever firmer and ever purer.

不从俗而诐行兮，直躬指而信志。

I do not follow the vulgar and act crookedly; I stand straight, speak plainly and keep faith with my own resolve.

不枉绳以追曲兮，屈情素以从事。

I will not bend the carpenter's line to chase crooked custom, nor twist my plain will to serve the crowd.

端余行其如玉兮，述皇舆之踵迹。

I keep my conduct straight and flawless as jade, following the tracks left by the royal carriage of the former kings.

群阿容以晦光兮，皇舆覆以幽辟。

The courtiers flatter and curry favour, darkening the king's light; the royal carriage is shrouded in gloom and about to overturn.

舆中涂以回畔兮，驷马惊而横奔。

Halfway along the road the royal carriage turns back and breaks away; the four horses take fright and bolt sideways.

执组者不能制兮，必折轭而摧辕。

The driver holding the reins cannot control them; the yoke is sure to snap and the shafts to be smashed.

断镳衔以驰骛兮，暮去次而敢止。

With bridle and bit broken the horses still gallop on, running until nightfall before they rest, and no one can stop them.

路荡荡其无人兮，遂不禦乎千里。

The road is broad and level but empty of worthy men, so nothing holds me back and I travel a thousand li away.

身衡陷而下沉兮，不可获而复登。

My body is dragged down sideways and sinks, and I can never again be lifted up and employed.

不顾身之卑贱兮，惜皇舆之不兴。

I do not care about my own low station; I grieve only that the royal carriage of Chu cannot be set going again.

出国门而端指兮，冀壹寤而锡还。

I pass out of the city gate with an upright heart, hoping the king may wake at last and grant an order for my return.

哀仆夫之坎毒兮，屡离忧而逢患。

I pity my carriage driver, bitter and resentful, who meets sorrow and runs into trouble again and again.

九年之中不吾反兮，思彭咸之水游。

In nine years of exile the king has not called me back, so I think of Peng Xian, the worthy minister of Yin, and of wandering in the water.

惜师延之浮渚兮，赴汨罗之长流。

I envy Shi Yan, the music master of Zhou of Yin, who threw himself into the river and floated by its islets; so I set out for the long current of the Miluo.

遵江曲之逶移兮，触石碕而衡游。

I follow the long winding bends of the river, strike the rocks of the curving bank and am swept sideways.

波澧澧而扬浇兮，顺长濑之浊流。

The waves roar and the eddies toss and rise; I drift with the muddy current down the long rapids.

凌黄沱而下低兮，思还流而复反。

I ride the Huangtuo, a branch of the Yangtze, and run downstream with lowered prow, yet I think of the returning current and hope to turn back.

玄舆驰而并集兮，身容与而日远。

I take the water for my chariot, racing along together with the boat; my body drifts at ease and grows farther away each day.

棹舟杭以横濿兮，济湘流而南极。

I row my boat across the stream, cross the Xiang and go on to its southern limit.

立江界而长吟兮，愁哀哀而累息。

I stand at the edge of the great river and chant aloud, aching with sorrow and sighing again and again.

情慌忽以忘归兮，神浮游以高历。

My feelings grow dazed and I forget the way home; my spirit floats off and soars away into the heights.

心蛩蛩而怀顾兮，魂眷眷而独逝。

My heart is heavy with care and looks back in longing; my soul gazes back with yearning, yet goes off alone.

叹曰：

The lament says:

余思旧邦心依违兮，日暮黄昏羌幽悲兮，

I think of my old homeland and my heart wavers, unwilling to go far; the sun sets and dusk falls, and alas, I am dark with grief.

去郢东迁余谁慕兮，谗夫党旅其以兹故兮，

Leaving the capital Ying and moving east, whom do I long for? It is because the slanderers banded together in crowds that I came to this.

河水淫淫情所愿兮，顾瞻郢路终不返兮。

The river flows on and on, and that is what my heart desires; I look back at the road to Ying, but I shall never return.