Grieving for Myself

居愁懃其谁告兮，独永思而忧悲。

Living in sorrow and toil, to whom can I tell it? I can only brood alone and grieve.

内自省而不惭兮，操愈坚而不衰。

I search my heart and find nothing to be ashamed of; my principles grow firmer and do not weaken.

隐三年而无决兮，岁忽忽其若颓。

Three years I have lived in banishment with no decision from the king to recall me, and the years rush by like a collapsing bank.

怜余身不足以卒意兮，冀一见而复归。

I pity this ageing body of mine, too worn to carry out its purpose; I only hope to see my king once more and then return home.

哀人事之不幸兮，属天命而委之咸池。

I grieve that my human efforts have won me no favour, and I entrust my fate to Heaven and leave it with the spirit Xianchi.

身被疾而不闲兮，心沸热其若汤。

My body is sick and will not mend, and my heart burns like boiling water.

冰炭不可以相并兮，吾固知乎命之不长。

Ice and burning coals cannot lie side by side; I have always known my life would not be long.

哀独苦死之无乐兮，惜予年之未央。

I grieve to die alone in misery without joy, and regret that my years have not yet run their course.

悲不反余之所居兮，恨离予之故乡。

I sorrow that I cannot go back to the place where I lived, and resent being parted from my home at Ying.

鸟兽惊而失群兮，犹高飞而哀鸣。

When birds and beasts take fright and lose their flock, they still soar high and cry out in grief for their fellows.

狐死必首丘兮，夫人孰能不反其真情？

A dying fox always turns its head towards the hill of its den; what man could fail to return to his true feeling for home?

故人疏而日忘兮，新人近而俞好。

Old loyal servants are kept at a distance and forgotten day by day, while new flatterers draw close and are loved ever more.

莫能行于杳冥兮，孰能施于无报？

Who among the crowd keeps to the right way where no one can see? Who will do good to one who can make no return?

苦众人之皆然兮，乘回风而远游。

I suffer because everyone behaves so, grasping for gain, so I mount the whirlwind and journey far away.

凌恆山其若陋兮，聊愉娱以忘忧。

I ride over Mount Heng, the northern peak, and it seems small beneath me; for a while I take my pleasure and forget my sorrow.

悲虚言之无实兮，苦众口之铄金。

I grieve that slander is empty and has no substance, and suffer because the mouths of the crowd can melt metal.

过故乡而一顾兮，泣歔欷而霑衿。

Passing my homeland of Chu I look back once, and sobbing and choking I wet my collar with tears.

厌白玉以为面兮，怀琬琰以为心。

I wear white jade as my face and hold the fine jades wan and yan as my heart, pure within and without.

邪气入而感内兮，施玉色而外淫。

Evil words enter and stir my inmost heart, yet my purpose holds and the jade's lustre spreads outward all the richer.

何青云之流澜兮，微霜降之蒙蒙。

Why do the blue clouds surge and stream, and the thin frost come down so thick?

徐风至而徘徊兮，疾风过之汤汤。

When a gentle wind comes I linger, minded to turn back; when a fierce wind sweeps past, vast and surging, I long to hurry away.

闻南籓乐而欲往兮，至会稽而且止。

Hearing that the southern border states are rich and joyful I wish to go there, and reaching Mount Kuaiji I rest for a while.

见韩众而宿之兮，问天道之所在？

I meet the immortal Han Zhong and lodge with him, and ask him where the Way of Heaven that gives long life may be found.

借浮云以送予兮，载雌霓而为旌。

I borrow the drifting clouds to carry me on my way, and bear the secondary rainbow as my belled banner.

驾青龙以驰骛兮，班衍衍之冥冥。

I harness the green dragon and gallop onward, speeding away into the dark and distant sky.

忽容容其安之兮，超慌忽其焉如？

In an instant the vapours drift; where am I to settle? Passing beyond the dim and hazy, where am I to go?

苦众人之难信兮，愿离群而远举。

I suffer because the common crowd talk much and cannot be trusted, and I wish to leave them and rise far away.

登峦山而远望兮，好桂树之冬荣。

I climb a low hill and gaze into the distance, delighting in the cassia tree that flourishes even in winter.

观天火之炎炀兮，听大壑之波声。

I look up at the heavenly fire blazing and burning, and listen to the sound of waves in the great abyss of the sea.

引八维以自道兮，含沆瀣以长生。

I take hold of the eight cords of heaven to guide myself, and sip the midnight vapour of the north to gain long life.

居不乐以时思兮，食草木之秋实。

I dwell without joy and think constantly of home, eating the autumn fruits of trees and plants, dates and chestnuts.

饮菌若之朝露兮，构桂木而为室。

I drink the morning dew from the cassia and pollia, and build my house from cassia wood.

杂橘柚以为囿兮，列新夷与椒桢。

I plant orange and pomelo trees together for my garden, and set out magnolia, pepper and privet in rows.

鹍鹤孤而夜号兮，哀居者之诚贞。

The kun bird and the crane cry alone in the night, grieving for this dweller whose honesty and constancy go unused.