Sorrow and Suffering

悲余心之悁悁兮，哀故邦之逢殃。

I grieve that my heart is sore with resentment, and mourn that my homeland of Chu, trusting slanderers, is about to meet disaster.

辞九年而不复兮，独茕茕而南行。

Nine years since I took leave of the king and still not recalled, I travel south along the river, alone and friendless.

思余俗之流风兮，心纷错而不受。

When I think of the slanderous ways that prevail in my homeland, my heart is thrown into confusion and cannot accept such falseness.

遵野莽以呼风兮，步从容于山廋。

I follow the wild grassland calling out to the people of the age, and pace at ease in the mountain hollows.

巡陆夷之曲衍兮，幽空虚以寂寞。

I range over high ground, level plain and winding marsh, where all is deep and empty, silent and desolate.

倚石岩以流涕兮，忧憔悴而无乐。

I lean on the rocky cliff and weep, worn with grief and never once glad.

登巑岏以长企兮，望南郢而闚之。

I climb the sharp peak and stand long on tiptoe, gazing towards Ying in the south and looking on it.

山修远其辽辽兮，涂漫漫其无时。

The mountains stretch far and dim beyond sight; the road runs on and on with no time of arrival.

听玄鹤之晨鸣兮，于高冈之峨峨。

I hear the black crane cry at dawn, high on the towering ridge.

独愤积而哀娱兮，翔江洲而安歌。

Alone with pent-up anger, now grieving, now consoling myself, I wander the river islet and sing in peace.

三鸟飞以自南兮，览其志而欲北。

The three blue birds, messengers of the Queen Mother of the West, fly up from the south; I see that they mean to cross north over the river.

原寄言于三鸟兮，去飘疾而不可得。

I would send word to the king by the three birds, but they fly off so swiftly that I cannot.

欲迁志而改操兮，心纷结其未离。

I would change my aims and alter my principles to fit the crowd, but my heart stays tangled and cannot leave loyalty behind.

外彷徨而游览兮，内恻隐而含哀。

Outwardly I wander and roam the hills, but inwardly I ache in secret and am full of sorrow.

聊须臾以时忘兮，心渐渐其烦错。

For a brief moment I try to forget, but my heart slowly grows troubled and confused again.

原假簧以舒忧兮，志纡郁其难释。

I would borrow the reed pipe to ease my grief, but my will is twisted and choked and hard to release.

叹《离骚》以扬意兮，犹未殫于《九章》。

I chant the Li Sao to give my feelings voice, and have not yet finished the Nine Pieces.

长嘘吸以于悒兮，涕横集而成行。

I draw long sobbing breaths and weep in anguish; my tears stream and gather and fall in lines.

伤明珠之赴泥兮，鱼眼玑之坚藏。

I grieve that the bright pearl is flung into the mud, while fish-eye beads are kept locked away as treasure.

同驽骡与乘駔兮，杂斑駮与阘茸。

Dull mules are yoked with fine steeds, and piebald horses are mixed with worthless nags.

葛藟虆于桂树兮，鸱鸮集于木兰。

Wild creepers twine about the cassia tree, and greedy owls flock to the magnolia.

偓促谈于廊庙兮，律魁放乎山间。

Narrow, foolish men hold forth in the court and temple, while the great masters of law are banished to the hills.

恶虞氏之箫《韶》兮，好遗风之《激楚》。

The world hates the Xiaoshao music of Shun of Yu and loves the licentious Jichu tunes of common custom.

潜周鼎于江淮兮，爨土鬵于中宇。

The tripods of Zhou are sunk in the Yangtze and the Huai, while an earthen pot is set to cook in the middle of the hall.

且人心之持旧兮，而不可保长。

And the old faith that good men hold in their hearts cannot be kept and practised for long.

邅彼南道兮，征夫宵行。

I turn onto that road to the south, a traveller journeying through the night.

思念郢路兮，还顾睠睠。

I think of the road to Ying, and look back with longing again and again.

涕流交集兮，泣下涟涟。

My tears stream and gather, and fall in a ceaseless flow.

叹曰：

The lament says:

登山长望中心悲兮，菀彼青青泣如颓兮，

I climb the mountain and gaze far, and my heart is sad; the plants there are lush and green, and my tears fall like a landslide.

留思北顾涕渐渐兮，折锐摧矜凝氾滥兮，

I fix my thoughts and look north to Ying, my tears streaming; I would blunt my edge, break my pride and settle for drifting with the crowd, but I cannot.

念我茕茕魂谁求兮，仆夫慌悴散若流兮。

I think how utterly alone I am: whom can my soul seek? My carriage men, frightened and worn, scatter like flowing water.