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Chinese Text Project
Simplified Chinese version
Show translation:[None] [English]

《邶风 - Odes Of Bei》

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《邶风》 Library Resources

柏舟 - Bo Zhou

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《柏舟》 Library Resources
1 柏舟:
泛彼柏舟、亦泛其流。
耿耿不寐、如有隐忧。
微我无酒、以敖以游。
Bo Zhou:
It floats about, that boat of cypress wood;
Yea, it floats about on the current.
Disturbed am I and sleepless,
As if suffering from a painful wound.
It is not because I have no wine,
And that I might not wander and saunder about.

2 柏舟:
我心匪鉴、不可以茹。
亦有兄弟、不可以据。
薄言往诉、逢彼之怒。
Bo Zhou:
My mind is not a mirror; -
It cannot [equally] receive [all impressions].
I, indeed, have brothers,
But I cannot depend on them,
I meet with their anger.

3 柏舟:
我心匪石、不可转也。
我心匪席、不可卷也。
威仪棣棣、不可选也。
Bo Zhou:
My mind is not a stone; -
It cannot be rolled about.
My mind is not a mat; -
It cannot be rolled up.
My deportment has been dignified and good,
With nothing wrong which can be pointed out.

4 柏舟:
忧心悄悄、愠于群小。
觏闵既多、受侮不少。
静言思之、寤辟有摽。
Bo Zhou:
My anxious heart is full of trouble;
I am hated by the herd of mean creatures;
I meet with many distresses;
I receive insults not a few.
Silently I think of my case,
And, starting as from sleep, I beat my breast.

5 柏舟:
日居月诸、胡迭而微。
心之忧矣、如匪浣衣。
静言思之、不能奋飞。
Bo Zhou:
There are the sun and moon, -
How is it that the former has become small, and not the latter?
The sorrow cleaves to my heart,
Like an unwashed dress.
Silently I think of my case,
But I cannot spread my wings and fly away.

绿衣 - Lu Yi

English translation: James Legge [?] Library Resources
1 绿衣:
绿兮衣兮、绿衣黄里。
心之忧矣、曷维其已。
Lu Yi:
Green is the upper robe,
Green with a yellow lining!
The sorrow of my heart, -
How can it cease?

2 绿衣:
绿兮衣兮、绿衣黄裳。
心之忧矣、曷维其亡。
Lu Yi:
Green is the upper robe,
Green the upper, and yellow the lower garment!
The sorrow of my heart, -
How can it be forgotten?

3 绿衣:
绿兮丝兮、女所治兮。
我思古人、俾无訧兮。
Lu Yi:
[Dyed] green has been the silk; -
It was you who did it.
[But] I think of the ancients,
That I may be kept from doing wrong.

4 绿衣:
絺兮綌兮、凄其以风。
我思古人、实获我心。
Lu Yi:
Linen, fine or coarse,
Is cold when worn in the wind.
I think of the ancients,
And find what is in my heart.

燕燕 - Yan Yan

English translation: James Legge [?] Library Resources
1 燕燕:
燕燕于飞、差池其羽。
之子于归、远送于野。
瞻望弗及、泣涕如雨。
Yan Yan:
The swallows go flying about,
With their wings unevenly displayed.
The lady was returning [to her native state],
And I escorted her far into the country.
I looked till I could no longer see her,
And my tears fell down like rain.

2 燕燕:
燕燕于飞、颉之颃之。
之子于归、远于将之。
瞻望弗及、伫立以泣。
Yan Yan:
The swallows go flying about,
Now up, now down.
The lady was returning [to her native state],
And far did I accompany her.
I looked till I could no longer see her,
And long I stood and wept.

3 燕燕:
燕燕于飞、下上其音。
之子于归、远送于南。
瞻望弗及、实劳我心。
Yan Yan:
The swallows go flying about;
From below, from above, comes their twittering.
The lady was returning [to her native state],
And far did I escort her to the south.
I looked till I could no longer see her,
And great was the grief of my heart.

4 燕燕:
仲氏任只、其心塞渊。
终温且惠、淑慎其身。
先君之思、以勖寡人。
Yan Yan:
Lovingly confiding was lady Zhong;
Truly deep was her feeling.
Both gentle was she and docile,
Virtuously careful of her person.
In thinking of our deceased lord,
She stimulated worthless me.

日月 - Ri Yue

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《日月》 Library Resources
1 日月:
日居月诸、照临下土。
乃如之人兮、逝不古处。
胡能有定、宁不我顾。
Ri Yue:
O sun; O moon,
Which enlighten this lower earth!
Here is the man,
Who treats me not according to the ancient rule.
How can he get his mind settled?
Would he then not regard me?

2 日月:
日居月诸、下土是冒。
乃如之人兮、逝不相好。
胡能有定、宁不我报。
Ri Yue:
O sun; O moon,
Which overshadow this lower earth!
Here is this man,
Who will not be friendly with me.
How can he get his mind settled?
Would he then not respond to me?

3 日月:
日居月诸、出自东方。
乃如之人兮、德音无良。
胡能有定、俾也可忘。
Ri Yue:
O sun; O moon,
Which come forth from the east!
Here is the man,
With virtuous words, but really not good.
How can he get his mind settled?
Would he then allow me to be forgotten?

4 日月:
日居月诸、东方自出。
父兮母兮、畜我不卒。
胡能有定、报我不述。
Ri Yue:
O sun; o moon,
From the east which come forth!
O father, O mother,
There is no sequel to your nourishing of me.
How can he get his mind settled?
Would he then respond to me, contrary to all reason?

终风 - Zhong Feng

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《终风》 Library Resources
1 终风:
终风且暴、顾我则笑。
谑浪笑敖、中心是悼。
Zhong Feng:
The wind blows and is fierce,
He looks at me and smiles,
With scornful words and dissolute, - the smile of pride.
To the center of my heart I am grieved.

2 终风:
终风且霾、惠然肯来。
莫往莫来、悠悠我思。
Zhong Feng:
The wind blows, with clouds of dust.
Kindly he seems to be willing to come to me;
[But] he neither goes nor comes.
Long, long, do I think of him.

3 终风:
终风且曀、不日有曀。
寤言不寐、愿言则嚏。
Zhong Feng:
The wind blew, and the sky was cloudy;
Before a day elapses, it is cloudy again.
I awake, and cannot sleep;
I think of him, and gasp.

4 终风:
曀曀其阴、虺虺其靁。
寤言不寐、愿言则怀。
Zhong Feng:
All cloudy is the darkness,
And the thunder keeps muttering.
I awake and cannot sleep;
I think of him, and my breast is full of pain.

击鼓 - Ji Gu

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《击鼓》 Library Resources
1 击鼓:
击鼓其镗、踊跃用兵。
土国城漕、我独南行。
Ji Gu:
Hear the roll of our drums!
See how we leap about, using our weapons!
Those do the fieldwork in the State, or fortify Cao,
While we alone march to the south.

2 击鼓:
从孙子仲、平陈与宋。
不我以归、忧心有忡。
Ji Gu:
We followed Sun Zizhong,
Peace having been made with Chen and Song;
[But] he did not lead us back,
And our sorrowful hearts are very sad.

3 击鼓:
爰居爰处、爰丧其马。
于以求之、于林之下。
Ji Gu:
Here we stay, here we stop;
Here we lose our horses;
And we seek for them,
Among the trees of the forest.

4 击鼓:
死生契阔、与子成说。
执子之手、与子偕老。
Ji Gu:
For life or for death, however separated,
To our wives we pledged our word.
We held their hands; -
We were to grow old together with them.

5 击鼓:
于嗟阔兮、不我活兮。
于嗟洵兮、不我信兮。
Ji Gu:
Alas for our separation!
We have no prospect of life.
Alas for our stipulation!
We cannot make it good.

凯风 - Kai Feng

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《凯风》 Library Resources
1 凯风:
凯风自南、吹彼棘心。
棘心夭夭、母氏劬劳。
Kai Feng:
The genial wind from the south
Blows on the heart of that jujube tree,
Till that heart looks tender and beautiful.
What toil and pain did our mother endure!

2 凯风:
凯风自南、吹彼棘薪。
母氏圣善、我无令人。
Kai Feng:
The genial wind from the south
Blows on the branches of that jujube tree,
Our mother is wise and good;
But among us there is none good.

3 凯风:
爰有寒泉、在浚之下。
有子七人、母氏劳苦。
Kai Feng:
There is the cool spring
Below [the city of] Jun.
We are seven sons,
And our mother is full of pain and suffering.

4 凯风:
睍睆黄鸟、载好其音。
有子七人、莫慰母心。
Kai Feng:
The beautiful yellow birds
Give forth their pleasant notes.
We are seven sons,
And cannot compose our mother's heart.

雄雉 - Xiong Zhi

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《雄雉》 Library Resources
1 雄雉:
雄雉于飞、泄泄其羽。
我之怀矣、自诒伊阻。
Xiong Zhi:
The male pheasant flies away,
Lazily moving his wings.
The man of my heart! -
He has brought on us this separation.

2 雄雉:
雄雉于飞、下上其音。
展矣君子、实劳我心。
Xiong Zhi:
The pheasant has flown away,
But from below, from above, comes his voice.
Ah! the princely man! -
He afflicts my heart.

3 雄雉:
瞻彼日月、悠悠我思。
道之云远、曷云能来。
Xiong Zhi:
Look at that sun and moon!
Long, long do I think.
The way is distant;
How can he come to me?

4 雄雉:
百尔君子、不知德行。
不忮不求、何用不臧。
Xiong Zhi:
All ye princely men,
Know ye not his virtuous conduct?
He hates none; he covets nothing; -
What does he which is not good?

匏有苦叶 - Pao You Ku Ye

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《匏有苦叶》 Library Resources
1 匏有苦叶:
匏有苦叶、济有深涉。
深则厉、浅则揭。
Pao You Ku Ye:
The gourd has [still] its bitter leaves,
And the crossing at the ford is deep.
If deep, I will go through with my clothes on;
If shallow, I will do so, holding them up.

2 匏有苦叶:
有弥济盈、有鷕雉鸣。
济盈不濡轨、雉鸣求起牡。
Pao You Ku Ye:
The ford is full to overflowing;
There is the note of the female pheasant.
The full ford will not wet the axle of my carriage;
It is the pheasant calling for her mate.

3 匏有苦叶:
雝雝鸣雁、旭日始旦。
士如归妻、迨冰未泮。
Pao You Ku Ye:
The wild goose, with its harmonious notes,
At sunrise, with the earliest dawn,
By the gentleman, who wishes to bring home his bride,
[Is presented] before the ice is melted.

4 匏有苦叶:
招招舟子、人涉卬否。
人涉卬否、卬须我友。
Pao You Ku Ye:
The boatman keeps beckoning;
And others cross with him, but I do not.
Others cross with him, but I do not; -
I am waiting for my friend.

谷风 - Gu Feng

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《谷风》 Library Resources
1 谷风:
习习谷风、以阴以雨。
黾勉同心、不宜有怒。
采葑采菲、无以下体。
德音莫违、及尔同死。
Gu Feng:
Gently blows the east wind,
With cloudy skies and with rain.
[Husband and wife] should strive to be of the same mind,
And not let angry feelings arise.
When we gather the mustard plant and earth melons,
We do not reject them because of their roots.
While I do nothing contrary to my good name,
I should live with you till our death.

2 谷风:
行道迟迟、中心有违。
不远伊迩、薄送我畿。
谁谓荼苦、其甘如荠。
宴尔新昏、如兄如弟。
Gu Feng:
I go along the road slowly, slowly,
In my inmost heart reluctant.
Not far, only a little way,
Did he accompany me to the threshold.
Who says that the sowthistle is bitter?
It is as sweet as the shepherd's purse.
You feast with your new wife,
[Loving] as brothers.

3 谷风:
泾以渭浊、湜湜其沚。
宴尔新昏、不我屑以。
毋逝我梁、毋发我笱。
我躬不阅、遑恤我后。
Gu Feng:
The muddiness of the Jing appears from the Wei,
But its bottom may be seen about the islets.
You feast with your new wife,
And think me not worth being with
Do not approach my dam,
Do not move my basket.
My person is rejected; -
What avails it to care for what may come after?

4 谷风:
就其深矣、方之舟之。
就其浅矣、泳之游之。
何有何亡、黾勉求之。
凡民有丧、匍匐救之。
Gu Feng:
Where the water was deep,
I crossed it by a raft or a boat.
Where it was shallow,
I dived or swam across it.
Whether we had plenty or not,
I exerted myself to be getting.
When among others there was a death,
I crawled on my knees to help them.

5 谷风:
不我能慉、反以我为雠。
既阻我德、贾用不售。
昔育恐育鞫、及尔颠覆。
既生既育、比予于毒。
Gu Feng:
You cannot cherish me,
And you even count me as an enemy.
You disdain my virtues, -
A pedlar's wares which do not sell.
Formerly, I was afraid our means might be exhausted,
And I might come with you to destitution.
Now, when your means are abundant,
You compare me to poison.

6 谷风:
我有旨蓄、亦以御冬。
宴尔新昏、以我御穷。
有洸有溃、既诒我肄。
不念昔者、伊余来塈。
Gu Feng:
My fine collection of vegetables,
Is but a provision against the winter.
Feasting with your new wife,
You think of me as a provision [only] against your poverty.
Cavalierly and angrily you treat me;
You give me only pain.
You do not think of the former days,
And are only angry with me.

式微 - Shi Wei

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《式微》 Library Resources
1 式微:
式微式微、胡不归。
微君之故、胡为乎中露。
Shi Wei:
Reduced! Reduced!
Why not return?
If it were not for your sake, O prince,
How should we be thus exposed to the dew?

2 式微:
式微式微、胡不归。
微君之躬、胡为乎泥中。
Shi Wei:
Reduced! Reduced!
Why not return?
If it were not for your person, O prince,
How should we be here in the mire?

旄丘 - Mao Qiu

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《旄丘》 Library Resources
1 旄丘:
旄丘之葛兮、何诞之节兮。
叔兮伯兮、何多日也。
Mao Qiu:
The dolichos on that high and sloping mound; -
How wide apart are [now] its joints!
O ye uncles,
Why have ye delayed these many days?

2 旄丘:
何其处也、必有与也。
何其久也、必有以也。
Mao Qiu:
Why do they rest without stirring?
It must be they expect allies.
Why do they prolong the time?
There must be a reason for their conduct.

3 旄丘:
狐裘蒙戎、匪车不东。
叔兮伯兮、靡所与同。
Mao Qiu:
Our fox-furs are frayed and worn.
Came our carriages not eastwards?
O ye uncles,
You do not sympathize with us.

4 旄丘:
琐兮尾兮、流离之子。
叔兮伯兮、袖如充耳。
Mao Qiu:
Fragments, and a remnant,
Children of dispersion [are we]!
O ye uncles,
Notwithstanding your full robes, your ears are stopped.

简兮 - Jian Xi

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《简兮》 Library Resources
1 简兮:
简兮简兮、方将万舞。
日之方中、在前上处。
Jian Xi:
Easy and indifferent! easy and indifferent!
I am ready to perform in all dances,
Then when the sun is in the meridian,
There in that conspicious place.

2 简兮:
硕人俣俣、公庭万舞。
有力如虎、执辔如组。
Jian Xi:
With my large figure,
I dance in the ducal courtyard.
I am strong [also] as a tiger;
The reins are in my grasp like ribbons.

3 简兮:
左手执龠、右手秉翟。
赫如渥赭、公言锡爵。
Jian Xi:
In my left hand I grasp a flute;
In my right I hold a pheasant's feather.
I am red as if I were rouged;
The duke gives me a cup [of spirits].

4 简兮:
山有榛、隰有苓。
云谁之思、西方美人。
彼美人兮、西方之人兮。
Jian Xi:
The hazel grows on the hills,
And the liquorice in the marshes.
Of whom are my thoughts?
Of the fine men of the west.
O those fine men!
Those men of the west!

泉水 - Quan Shui

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《泉水》 Library Resources
1 泉水:
毖彼泉水、亦流于淇。
有怀于卫、靡日不思。
娈彼诸姬、聊与之谋。
Quan Shui:
How the water bubbles up from that spring,
And flows away to the Qi!
My heart is in Wei;
There is not a day I do not think of it.
Admirable are those, my cousins;
I will take counsel with them.

2 泉水:
出宿于泲、饮饯于祢。
女子有行、远父母兄弟。
问我诸姑、遂及伯姊。
Quan Shui:
When I came forth, I lodged in Ji,
And we drank the cup of convoy at Ni.
When a young lady goes [to be married],
She leaves her parents and brothers;
[But] I would ask for my aunts,
And then for my elder sister.

3 泉水:
出宿于干、饮饯于言。
载脂载牵、还车言迈。
遄臻于卫、不瑕有害。
Quan Shui:
I will go forth and lodge in Gan,
And we drink the cup of convoy at Yan.
I will grease the axle and fix the pin,
And the returning chariot will proceed.
Quickly shall we arrive in Wei; -
But would not this be wrong?

4 泉水:
我思肥泉、兹之永叹。
思须与漕、我心悠悠。
驾言出游、以写我忧。
Quan Shui:
I think of the Feiquan,
I am ever sighing about it.
I think of Xu and Cao,
Long, long, my heart dwells with them.
Let me drive forth and travel there,
To dissipate my sorrow.

北门 - Bei Men

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《北门》 Library Resources
1 北门:
出自北门、忧心殷殷。
终窭且贫、莫知我艰。
已焉哉、天实为之、谓之何哉。
Bei Men:
I go out at the north gate,
With my heart full of sorrow.
Straitened am I and poor,
And no one takes knowledge of my distress.
So it is!
Heaven has done it; -
What then shall I say?

2 北门:
王事适我、政事一埤益我。
我入自外、室人交徧讁我。
已焉哉、天实为之、谓之何哉。
Bei Men:
The king's business comes on me,
And the affairs of our government in increasing measure.
When I come home from abroad,
The members of my family all emulously reproach me.
So it is!
Heaven has done it; -
What then shall I say?

3 北门:
王事敦我、政事一埤遗我。
我入自外、室人交徧摧我。
已焉哉、天实为之、谓之何哉。
Bei Men:
The king's business is thrown on me,
And the affairs of our government are left to me more and more.
When I come home from abroad,
The members of my family all emulously thrust at me.
So it is!
Heaven has done it; -
What then shall I say?

北风 - Bei Feng

English translation: James Legge [?] Library Resources
1 北风:
北风其凉、雨雪其雱。
惠而好我、携手同行。
其虚其邪、既亟只且。
Bei Feng:
Cold blows the north wind;
Thick falls the snow.
Ye who love and regard me,
Let us join hands and go together.
Is it a time for delay?
The urgency is extreme!

2 北风:
北风其喈、雨雪其霏。
惠而好我、携手同归。
其虚其邪、既亟只且。
Bei Feng:
The north wind whistles;
The snow falls and drifts about.
Ye who love and regard me,
Let us join hands, and go away for ever.
Is it a time for delay?
The urgency is extreme!

3 北风:
莫赤匪狐、莫黑匪乌。
惠而好我、携手同车。
其虚其邪、既亟只且。
Bei Feng:
Nothing red is seen but foxes,
Nothing black but crows.
Ye who love and regard me,
Let us join hands, and go together in our carriages.
Is it a time for delay?
The urgency is extreme!

静女 - Jing Nu

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《静女》 Library Resources
1 静女:
静女其姝、俟我于城隅。
爱而不见、搔首踟蹰。
Jing Nu:
How lovely is the retiring girl!
She was to await me at a corner of the wall.
Loving and not seeing her,
I scratch my head, and am in perplexity.

2 静女:
静女其娈、贻我彤管。
彤管有炜、说怿女美。
Jing Nu:
How handsome is the retiring girl!
She presented to me a red tube.
Bright is the red tube; -
I delight in the beauty of the girl.

3 静女:
自牧归荑、洵美且异。
匪女之为美、美人之贻。
Jing Nu:
From the pasture lands she gave a shoot of the white grass,
Truly elegant and rare.
It is not you, O grass, that are elegant; -
You are the gift of an elegant girl.

新台 - Xin Tai

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《新台》 Library Resources
1 新台:
新台有泚、河水弥弥。
燕婉之求、籧篨不鲜。
Xin Tai:
Fresh and bright is the New Tower,
On the waters of the He, wide and deep.
A pleasant, genial mate she sought,
[And has got this] vicious bloated mass!

2 新台:
新台有洒、河水浼浼。
燕婉之求、籧篨不殄。
Xin Tai:
Lofty is the New Tower,
On the waters of the He, flowing still.
A pleasant, genial mate she sought,
[And has got this] vicious bloated mass!

3 新台:
鱼网之设、鸿则离之。
燕婉之求、得此戚施。
Xin Tai:
It was a fish net that was set,
And a goose has fallen into it.
A pleasant, genial mate she sought,
And she has got this hunchback.

二子乘舟 - Er Zi Cheng Zhou

English translation: James Legge [?] Library Resources
1 二子乘舟:
二子乘舟、泛泛其景。
愿言思子、中心养养。
Er Zi Cheng Zhou:
The two youths got into their boats,
Whose shadows floated about [on the water].
I think longingly of them,
And my heart is tossed about in uncertainty.

2 二子乘舟:
二子乘舟、泛泛其逝。
愿言思子、不瑕有害。
Er Zi Cheng Zhou:
The two youths got into their boats,
Which floated away [on the stream].
I think longingly of them,
Did they not come to harm?

URN: ctp:book-of-poetry/odes-of-bei