The book of odes and hymns – part 55

QI AO

Look at those recesses in the banks of the Qi,

With their green bamboos, so fresh and luxuriant!

There is our elegant and accomplished prince,

As from the knife and the file,

As from the chisel and the polisher!

How grave is he and dignified!

How commanding and distinguished!

Our elegant and accomplished prince,

Never can he be forgotten!

Look at those recesses in the banks of the Qi,

With their green bamboos, so strong and luxuriant!

There is our elegant and accomplished prince, 

With his ear-stoppers of beautiful pebbles,

And his cap, glittering as with stars between the seams!

How grave is he and dignified!

How commanding and distinguished!

Our elegant and accomplished prince,

Never can he be forgotten!

Look at those recesses in the banks of the Qi,

With their green bamboos, so dense together!

There is our elegant and accomplished prince,

[Pure] as gold and as tin,

[Soft and rich] as a sceptre of jade!

How magnanimous is he and gentle!

There he is in his chariot with its two high sides!

Skilful is he at quips and jokes,

But how does he keep from rudeness from them!

qí ào  

淇奧  

zhān bǐ qí ào 、lǜ zhú yī yī 。

瞻彼淇奧、綠竹猗猗。

yǒu fěi jūn zǐ 、rú qiē rú cuō 、rú zhuó rú mó 。

有匪君子、如切如磋、如琢如磨。

sè xī xiàn xī 、hè xī xuān xī 。

瑟兮僩兮、赫兮咺兮。

yǒu fěi jūn zǐ 、zhōng bú kě xuān xī 。

有匪君子、終不可諼兮。

zhān bǐ qí ào 、lǜ zhú qīng qīng 。

瞻彼淇奧、綠竹青青。

yǒu fěi jun1 zǐ 、chōng ěr xiù yíng 、huì biàn rú xīng 。

有匪君子、充耳琇瑩、會弁如星。

sè xī xiàn xī 、hè xī xuān xī 。

瑟兮僩兮、赫兮咺兮。

yǒu fěi jun1 zǐ 、zhōng bú kě xuān xī 。

有匪君子、終不可諼兮。

zhān bǐ qí ào 、lǜ zhú rú zé 。

瞻彼淇奧、綠竹如簀。

yǒu fěi jūn zǐ 、rú qiē rú xī 、rú guī rú bì 。

有匪君子、如切如錫、如圭如璧。

kuān xī chuò xī 、yī zhòng jiào xī 。

寬兮綽兮、猗重較兮。

shàn xì xuè xī 、bù wéi nuè xī 。

善戲謔兮、不為虐兮。