The book of odes and hymns – part 27

LU YI

Green is the upper robe,

Green with a yellow lining!

The sorrow of my heart,

How can it cease?

Green is the upper robe,

Green the upper, and yellow the lower garment!

The sorrow of my heart, 

How can it be forgotten?

[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.

Linen, fine or coarse,

Is cold when worn in the wind.

I think of the ancients,

And find what is in my heart.

lǜ yī 

綠衣

lǜ xī yī xī 、lǜ xī huáng lǐ 。

綠兮衣兮、綠兮黃裏。

xīn zhī yōu yǐ 、hé wéi qí yǐ 。

心之憂矣、曷維其已。

lǜ xī yī xī 、lǜ xī huáng shang 。

綠兮衣兮、綠兮黃裳。

xīn zhī yōu yǐ 、hé wéi qí wáng 。

心之憂矣、曷維其亡。

lǜ xī sī xī 、nǚ suǒ zhì xī 。

綠兮絲兮、女所治兮。

wǒ sī gǔ rén 、bǐ wú yóu xī 。

我思古人、俾無訧兮。

xī xī xì xī 、qī qí yǐ fēng 。

稀兮綌兮、淒其以風。

wǒ sī gǔ rén 、shí huò wǒ xīn 。

我思古人、實獲我心。