The book of odes and hymns – part 54

ZAI CHI

I would have galloped my horses and whipt them,

Returning to condole with the marquis of Wei.

I would have urged them all the long way,

Till I arrived at Cao.

A great officer has gone, over the hills and through the rivers;

But my heart is full of sorrow.

You disapproved of my [proposal] ,

And I cannot return to [Wei] ;

But I regard you as in the wrong,

And cannot forget my purpose.

You disapproved of my purpose,

But I cannot return across the streams;

But I regard you as in the wrong,

And cannot shut out my thoughts.

I will ascend that mound with the steep side,

And gather the mother-of-pearl lilies.

I might, as a woman, have many thoughts,

But every one of them was practicable.

The people of Xu blame me,

But they are all childish and hasty [in their conclusions] .

I would have gone through the country,

Amidst the wheat so luxuriant.

I would have carried the case before the great State.

On whom should I have relied? Who would come [to the help of Wei] ?

Ye great officers and gentlemen,

The hundred plans you think of

Are not equal to the course I was going to take.

zǎi chí

載馳  

zǎi chí zǎi qū 、guī yàn wèi hóu 。

載馳載驅、歸唁衛侯。

qū mǎ yōu yōu 、yán zhì yú cáo 。

驅馬悠悠、言至于漕。

dà fū bá shè 、wǒ xīn zé yōu 。

大夫跋涉、我心則憂。

jì bù wǒ jiā 、bù néng xuán fǎn 。

既不我嘉、不能旋反。

shì ér bù zāng 、wǒ sī bù yuǎn 。

視而不臧、我思不遠。

jì bù wǒ jiā 、bù néng xuán jì 。

既不我嘉、不能旋濟。

shì ér  bù zāng 、wǒ sī bú bì 。

視而不臧、我思不閟。

zhì bǐ ā qiū 、yán cǎi qí méng 。

陟彼阿丘、言采其虻。

nǚ zǐ shàn huái 、yì gè yǒu háng 。

女子善懷、亦各有行。

xǔ rén yóu zhī 、zhòng xī qiě kuáng 。

許人尤之、眾樨且狂。

wǒ háng qí yě 、péng péng qí mài 。

我行其野、芃芃其麥。

kòng yú dà bāng 、shuí yīn shuí jí 。

控于大邦、誰因誰極。

dà fū jūn zǐ 、wú wǒ yǒu yóu 。

大夫君子、無我有尤。

bǎi ěr suǒ sī 、bù rú wǒ suǒ zhī 。

百爾所思、不如我所之。