The book of odes and hymns – part 59

ZHU GAN

With your long and tapering bamboo rods,

You angle in the Qi.

Do I not think of you? 

But I am far away, and cannot get you.

The Quanyuan is on the left,

And the waters of the Qi are on the right.

But when a young lady goes away, [and is married] ,

She leaves her brothers and parents.

The waters of the Qi are on the right

And the Quanyuan is on the left.

How shine the white teeth through the artful smiles!

How the girdle gems move to the measured steps!

The waters of the Qi flow smoothly;

There are the oars of cedar and boats of pine.

Might I but go there in my carriage and ramble,

To dissipate my sorrow!

zhú gān

竹竿  

dí dí [1] zhú gān ， yǐ diào yú qí 。

藋藋竹竿、以釣于淇。

qǐ bù ěr sī 、yuǎn mò zhì zhī 。

豈不爾思、遠莫致之。

quán yuán zài zuǒ ， qí shuǐ zài yòu 。

泉源在左、淇水在右。

nǚ zǐ yǒu xíng ， yuǎn xiōng dì fù mǔ 。

女子有行、遠兄弟父母。

qí shuǐ zài yòu ， quán yuán zài zuǒ 。

淇水在右、泉源在左。

qiǎo xiào zhī cuō [2]， pèi yù zhī nuó 。

巧笑之瑎、佩玉之儺。

qí shuǐ yōu yōu [3]， guì jí sōng zhōu 。

淇水浟浟、檜楫松舟。

jià yán chū yóu ， yǐ xiě wǒ yōu 。

駕言出遊、以寫我憂。

【注释】：[1]：音笛，修长  [2]：音搓，玉色洁白傩：音挪，通娜  [3]：音悠，河水荡漾之状。

译文：

一枝钓竿细又长，钓鱼钓到淇水上。

难道思念都抛却？路远怎能回故乡！

左边泉水细细流，右边淇水长悠悠。

姑娘从此远嫁去。父母兄弟天一头。

右边淇水长悠悠，左边泉水细细流。

粉脸娇笑多可爱，佩玉叮当慢慢走。

淇水水流不回头，桧木桨摇松木舟。

再次驾船水上游，但愿能解心中愁。