Li Sao..........Qu Yuan

离骚

屈原

帝高阳之苗裔兮，

朕皇考曰伯庸。

摄提贞于孟陬兮，

惟庚寅吾以降。

皇览揆余初度兮，

肇锡余以嘉名：

名余曰正则兮，

字余曰灵均。

纷吾既有此内美兮，

又重之以修能。

扈江离与辟芷兮，

纫秋兰以为佩。

汩余若将不及兮，

恐年岁之不吾与。

朝搴阰之木兰兮，

夕揽洲之宿莽。

日月忽其不淹兮，

春与秋其代序。

惟草木之零落兮，

恐美人之迟暮。

不抚壮而弃秽兮，

何不改乎此度？

乘骐骥以驰骋兮，

来吾道夫先路！

昔三后之纯粹兮，

固众芳之所在。

杂申椒与菌桂兮，

岂惟纫夫蕙茝！

彼尧、舜之耿介兮，

既遵道而得路。

何桀纣之猖披兮，

夫惟捷径以窘步。

惟夫党人之偷乐兮，

路幽昧以险隘。

岂余身之殚殃兮，

恐皇舆之败绩！

忽奔走以先后兮，

及前王之踵武。

荃不查余之中情兮，

反信谗而齌怒。

余固知謇謇之为患兮，

忍而不能舍也。

指九天以为正兮，

夫惟灵修之故也。

曰黄昏以为期兮，

羌中道而改路！

初既与余成言兮，

后悔遁而有他。

余既不难夫离别兮，

伤灵修之数化。

余既滋兰之九畹兮，

又树蕙之百亩。

畦留夷与揭车兮，

杂杜衡与芳芷。

冀枝叶之峻茂兮，

愿俟时乎吾将刈。

虽萎绝其亦何伤兮，

哀众芳之芜秽。

众皆竞进以贪婪兮，

凭不厌乎求索。

羌内恕己以量人兮，

各兴心而嫉妒。

忽驰骛以追逐兮，

非余心之所急。

老冉冉其将至兮,

恐修名之不立。

朝饮木兰之坠露兮，

夕餐秋菊之落英。

苟余情其信姱以练要兮，

长顑颔亦何伤。

掔木根以结茝兮，

贯薜荔之落蕊。

矫菌桂以纫蕙兮，

索胡绳之纚纚。

謇吾法夫前修兮，

非世俗之所服。

虽不周于今之人兮，

愿依彭咸之遗则。

长太息以掩涕兮，

哀民生之多艰。

余虽好修姱以鞿羁兮，

謇朝谇而夕替。

既替余以蕙纕兮，

又申之以揽茝。

亦余心之所善兮，

虽九死其犹未悔。

怨灵修之浩荡兮

终不察夫民心。

众女嫉余之蛾眉兮，

谣诼谓余以善淫。

固时俗之工巧兮，

偭规矩而改错。

背绳墨以追曲兮，

竞周容以为度。

忳郁邑余侘傺兮，

吾独穷困乎此时也。

宁溘死以流亡兮，

余不忍为此态也。

鸷鸟之不群兮，

自前世而固然。

何方圜之能周兮，

夫孰异道而相安？

屈心而抑志兮，

忍尤而攘诟。

伏清白以死直兮，

固前圣之所厚。

悔相道之不察兮，

延伫乎吾将反。

回朕车以复路兮，

及行迷之未远。

步余马于兰皋兮，

驰椒丘且焉止息。

进不入以离尤兮，

退将复修吾初服。

制芰荷以为衣兮，

集芙蓉以为裳。

不吾知其亦已兮，

苟余情其信芳。

高余冠之岌岌兮，

长余佩之陆离。

芳与泽其杂糅兮，

唯昭质其犹未亏。

忽反顾以游目兮，

将往观乎四荒。

佩缤纷其繁饰兮，

芳菲菲其弥章。

民生各有所乐兮，

余独好修以为常。

虽体解吾犹未变兮，

岂余心之可惩。

女嬃之婵媛兮，

申申其詈予，曰：

“鲧婞直以亡身兮，

终然夭乎羽之野。

汝何博謇而好修兮，

纷独有此姱节？

薋菉葹以盈室兮，

判独离而不服。”

众不可户说兮，

孰云察余之中情？

世并举而好朋兮，

夫何茕独而不予听？

依前圣以节中兮，

喟凭心而历兹。

济沅、湘以南征兮，

就重华而敶词：

启《九辩》与《九歌》兮，

夏康娱以自纵。

不顾难以图后兮，

五子用失乎家衖。

羿淫游以佚畋兮，

又好射夫封狐。

固乱流其鲜终兮，

浞又贪夫厥家。

浇身被服强圉兮，

纵欲而不忍。

日康娱而自忘兮，

厥首用夫颠陨。

夏桀之常违兮，

乃遂焉而逢殃。

后辛之菹醢兮，

殷宗用而不长。

汤、禹俨而祗敬兮，

周论道而莫差。

举贤才而授能兮，

循绳墨而不颇。

皇天无私阿兮，

览民德焉错辅。

夫维圣哲以茂行兮，

苟得用此下土。

瞻前而顾后兮，

相观民之计极。

夫孰非义而可用兮？

孰非善而可服？

阽余身而危死兮，

览余初其犹未悔。

不量凿而正枘兮，

固前修以菹醢。

曾歔欷余郁邑兮，

哀朕时之不当。

揽茹蕙以掩涕兮，

沾余襟之浪浪。

跪敷衽以陈辞兮，

耿吾既得此中正。

驷玉虬以桀鹥兮，

溘埃风余上征。

朝发轫于苍梧兮，

夕余至乎县圃。

欲少留此灵琐兮，

日忽忽其将暮。

吾令羲和弭节兮，

望崦嵫而勿迫。

路漫漫其修远兮，

吾将上下而求索。

饮余马于咸池兮，

总余辔乎扶桑。

折若木以拂日兮，

聊逍遥以相羊。

前望舒使先驱兮，

后飞廉使奔属。

鸾皇为余先戒兮，

雷师告余以未具。

吾令凤鸟飞腾兮，

继之以日夜。

飘风屯其相离兮，

帅云霓而来御。

纷总总其离合兮，

斑陆离其上下。

吾令帝阍开关兮，

倚阊阖而望予。

时暧暧其将罢兮，

结幽兰而延伫。

世溷浊而不分兮，

好蔽美而嫉妒。

朝吾将济于白水兮，

登阆风而绁马。

忽反顾以流涕兮，

哀高丘之无女。

溘吾游此春宫兮，

折琼枝以继佩。

及荣华之未落兮，

相下女之可诒。

吾令丰隆乘云兮，

求宓妃之所在。

解佩纕以结言兮，

吾令謇修以为理。

纷总总其离合兮，

忽纬繣其难迁。

夕归次于穷石兮，

朝濯发乎洧盘。

保厥美以骄傲兮，

日康娱以淫游。

虽信美而无礼兮，

来违弃而改求。

览相观于四极兮，

周流乎天余乃下。

望瑶台之偃蹇兮，

见有娀之佚女。

吾令鸩为媒兮，

鸩告余以不好。

雄鸠之鸣逝兮，

余犹恶其佻巧。

心犹豫而狐疑兮，

欲自适而不可。

凤皇既受诒兮，

恐高辛之先我。

欲远集而无所止兮，

聊浮游以逍遥。

及少康之未家兮，

留有虞之二姚。

理弱而媒拙兮，

恐导言之不固。

世溷浊而嫉贤兮，

好蔽美而称恶。

闺中既以邃远兮，

哲王又不寤。

怀朕情而不发兮，

余焉能忍而与此终古？

索琼茅以筳篿兮，

命灵氛为余占之。

曰：“两美其必合兮，

孰信修而慕之？

思九州之博大兮，

岂惟是其有女？”

曰：“勉远逝而无狐疑兮，

孰求美而释女？

何所独无芳草兮，

尔何怀乎故宇？”

世幽昧以昡曜兮，

孰云察余之善恶？

民好恶其不同兮，

惟此党人其独异！

户服艾以盈要兮，

谓幽兰其不可佩。

览察草木其犹未得兮，

岂珵美之能当？

苏粪壤以充祎兮，

谓申椒其不芳。

欲从灵氛之吉占兮，

心犹豫而狐疑。

巫咸将夕降兮，

怀椒糈而要之。

百神翳其备降兮，

九疑缤其并迎。

皇剡剡其扬灵兮，

告余以吉故。

曰：“勉升降以上下兮，

求矩矱之所同。

汤禹俨而求合兮，

挚、咎繇而能调。

苟中情其好修兮，

又何必用夫行媒？

说操筑于傅岩兮，

武丁用而不疑。

吕望之鼓刀兮，

遭周文而得举。

宁戚之讴歌兮，

齐桓闻以该辅。

及年岁之未晏兮，

时亦犹其未央。

恐鹈鴃之先鸣兮，

使夫百草为之不芳。”

何琼佩之偃蹇兮，

众薆然而蔽之。

惟此党人之不谅兮，

恐嫉妒而折之。

时缤纷其变易兮，

又何可以淹留？

兰芷变而不芳兮，

荃蕙化而为茅。

何昔日之芳草兮，

今直为此萧艾也？

岂其有他故兮，

莫好修之害也！

余以兰为可恃兮，

羌无实而容长。

委厥美以从俗兮，

苟得列乎众芳。

椒专佞以慢慆兮，

樧又欲充夫佩帏。

既干进而务入兮，

又何芳之能祗？

固时俗之流从兮，

又孰能无变化？

览椒兰其若兹兮，

又况揭车与江离？

惟兹佩之可贵兮，

委厥美而历兹。

芳菲菲而难亏兮，

芬至今犹未沬。

和调度以自娱兮，

聊浮游而求女。

及余饰之方壮兮，

周流观乎上下。

灵氛既告余以吉占兮，

历吉日乎吾将行。

折琼枝以为羞兮，

精琼爢以为粻。

为余驾飞龙兮，

杂瑶象以为车。

何离心之可同兮？

吾将远逝以自疏。

邅吾道夫昆仑兮，

路修远以周流。

扬云霓之晻蔼兮，

鸣玉鸾之啾啾。

朝发轫于天津兮，

夕余至乎西极。

凤皇翼其承旗兮，

高翱翔之翼翼。

忽吾行此流沙兮，

遵赤水而容与。

麾蛟龙使梁津兮，

诏西皇使涉予。

路修远以多艰兮，

腾众车使径待。

路不周以左转兮，

指西海以为期。

屯余车其千乘兮，

齐玉轪而并驰。

驾八龙之婉婉兮，

载云旗之委蛇。

抑志而弭节兮，

神高驰之邈邈。

奏《九歌》而舞《韶》兮，

聊假日以媮乐。

陟升皇之赫戏兮，

忽临睨夫旧乡。

仆夫悲余马怀兮，

蜷局顾而不行。

乱曰：已矣哉！

国无人莫我知兮，

又何怀乎故都！

既莫足与为美政兮，

吾将从彭咸之所居！

Li Sao

Qu Yuan

I am a descendant of Emperor Gao Yang,

My late father’s courtesy name was Bo Yong.

In the first month of the Year of Tiger (340 BC),

I was born on the day of Gen Yin.

Judging from the time of my birth,

Father gave me an excellent name,

Which is called Zhengze meaning integrity,

Together with a courtesy name Lingjun.

Though endowed with fine traits,

I keep on improving myself all the time.

I put Jiangli and Zhi grass on my shoulders,

With autumn orchid pendant from my waist band.

Months and years fly and I can’t seem to keep up;

I fear that time and tide wait for no man.

In the morning I gather lily magnolia from the slope,

And in the evening I pick Sumang from the islet.

Time flying rather than staying and lingering,

Four seasons regularly replace one another.

To think the grass and trees grow and wither,

I worry beauties will also grow older and older.

Why not use the good times to eliminate filth

And change the detestable situation?

Riding on a horse of a thousand miles a day,

I volunteer to blaze the path and lead the way!

Previous three monarchs were of perfect virtues,

So the sages and talents gathered around them.

Assisted by various talents much like pepper, fungus, laurel,

In addition to excellent personages like Hui and Chai.

How outstanding and upright Emperors Yao and Shun were!

They acted on the right doctrines along the correct road.

How dissolutely and rashly Jie and Zhou behaved.

Their desire for shortcuts led to desperation.

Only selfish partisans stealthily enjoy themselves;

The prospects of the State are dark and perilous.

I am not afraid to incur trouble and disaster,

But I worry about the ruin of my country!

Back and forth I run for the King’s remedy,

So that he will follow in the steps of virtuous Emperors.

He doesn’t understand much about my loyalty,

But listens to the gossips and gets angry.

Aware of the dangers of giving honest advice,

I tried to refrain but can’t contain myself.

I swear heaven above will bear witness to me,

Everything I have proposed is for the King’s sake.

The two of us agree to get matched up at dusk,

But you change your mind halfway through!

You made a promise with me before,

Now you have another plan and regret.

I don’t think it hard to part with you, but

Just feel disappointed at your capriciousness.

I have grown nearly fifty acres of spring orchids,

And over a dozen acres of autumn orchids too.

I have also cultivated plots of Liuyi and Jieche,

With wild ginger and fragrant Zhi inter-planted.

I hope they’re all flourishing and

Waiting for the day when I can reap.

Their withering and dying does not matter,

But what pains me is their essential deterioration.

Everyone is struggling and scrambling for the top,

With insatiable greed for fame and fortune.

Suspecting others and forgiving themselves,

Each with ulterior motives, they are jealous of others.

To keep busy running for power and profit,

Is simply not what I am after.

I just feel that old age is coming,

And worry that I should have no good fame.

I drink the dew from the magnolia at dawn;

And allay my hunger with chrysanthemum petals at dusk.

As long as my confidence is unswerving,

What does it matter if I am in a bad shape.

I knit the root of the trees with Chai grass;

Then thread the creeping figs’ stamens.

I joint the laurel and cinnamon stems together,

And twist Husheng into long long ropes.

I learn from the sages of old,

Who can’t be followed by the world.

I’m not compatible with people today,

Yet I will act upon the instructions of Peng Xian.

I wipe my tears and heave a long sigh;

What a grief the livelihood of people is so hard!

Though I love to be clean and strict with myself,

I admonish the King at dawn only to get deposed at dusk.

They denounce me as a wearer of orchid,

And blame me for picking aromatic Chai.

Their fragrance is what I seek in my heart,

Even if I face fatal deaths I do not regret.

What I complain about is the stupidity of the King,

Who is always apathetic to the feelings of people.

Many ladies and maids are jealous of my countenance,

Falsely accusing me of being lewd and lascivious.

Mediocre people are good at opportunism,

Breaking the rules and changing the policy,

Violating the accepted standards and pursuing evil,

And vying with each other in compromising integrity.

I feel sad, upset and worried;

How hard it is to be alone and awkward at present.

Better to die at once, with my soul dispersed,

I refuse to be vulgar and opportunistic.

Eagles do not flock with the common birds,

Which has always been like this since ancient times.

How can squares and circles fit each other?

People of different aspirations can never get along together.

I curb my will and suppress my emotions,

Preferring to bear the blame and the curses.

I’ll keep clean and die straight,

As was praised by the ancient sages.

I regret not having seen the future clearly,

Now I will turn back after a moment’s hesitation.

Veering my carriage around and going back,

I shall stop wandering further astray.

Trotting the horse to go by the bluegrass marsh,

I run onto the pepper wood hill to take a rest.

Since failure to advance leads to my conviction,

I come back to mend my old garments.

I'll cut the caltrop leaves into a coat,

And make my skirt with lotus blossoms.

It doesn’t matter no one understands me,

As long as my heart remains fragrant.

I’ll wear my hat up high, and

Extend my belt and pendant long.

Aroma and fine flora exist together;

Only purity of essence won’t get rotten.

Turning round and looking back all of a sudden,

I sweep far and wide with my eyes.

Wearing colorful clothes and adornments,

I give off rich aroma all the more.

Populaces have different liking of their own,

But I alone keep improving for better traits.

I won’t change even if I am smashed to pieces.

Nor will I take retreat when I am punished.

Being much concerned about my encounter,

My sister has warned me again and again:

“Gun was too upright to care about his life,

And was killed in the wilderness of Mount Yu.

Why are you so honest and fond of improvements,

Uniquely possessing so much virtuous integrity?

The house is full of common plants,

But you are different and refuse to wear them.”

I can’t go and explain to them door to door,

So who will understand my heart that is true and sincere?

The world loves crowds and company,

Why don’t they listen to me even once?

I restrain myself according to holy sages,

But still cannot contain my embitterment.

I want to cross the Yuan and Xiang rivers to the south,

And tender my advice to Emperor Shun:

Qi of Xia had Nine Arguments and Nine Songs,

But his son Kang of Xia indulged in pleasure.

He did not foresee risks and danger in future,

Thus his five brothers caused civil unrest.

Yi loved hunting and playing,

And liked shooting fat foxes.

As no good could come to adulterous men,

Han Zhuo killed Yi and seized his wife.

Being self-assured of his good physique,

His son Han Ao indulged in lust without continence.

Forgetting all and seeking pleasure day after day,

Finally he got his head cut off to the ground.

Jie of Xia always acted against common sense,

As a result he could not escape his disaster.

King Zhou chopped into mince the loyal and virtuous,

And therefore the Yin Dynasty did not last long.

Shang Tang and Xia Yu were serious and respectful;

King Wen of Zhou also acted upon right doctrines.

They all chose and appointed the wise and the able,

Following rules without getting out of track.

Heaven is just and fair to each and all,

Supporting the virtuous and the righteous.

Only the ancient virtuous emperors were qualified

To justifiably enjoy the land under heaven.

Looking back to the past and looking to the future

We see the fundamentals of life.

Can the non-righteous be adopted?

And can the unvirtuous be undertaken?

Though I am in danger of death

I have no regret for my aspirations.

If the mortise is not right, the wedge will be cut;

The previous wise men suffered as a result.

I keep on weeping and crying,

Bemoaning my failure to meet good times.

I take soft straws to wipe the tears,

As they have wetted my garments.

Spreading out the skirt I kneel to explain in detail,

And feel I’ve got the right path for the State.

Driving the dragon, riding in a phoenix carriage,

I’ll fly into the sky above the dust.

Setting out from Cangwu at dawn, and

Arriving at Xianpu on top of Kunlun at dusk,

I intend to stay at the gods’ place a little longer;

Towards evening I see the sun is about to set,

I order Xihe not to hasten the sun’s carriage

And not to get near to Yanzi too soon.

As the road ahead is long and the task arduous,

I will pursue my ideals up and down.

To quench the thirsty of my horse ant Xianchi,

I fasten the bridle to the tree in the sunlight.

Breaking off a bough to block out the sunshine,

I wander and roam for a little while.

I make Wangshu lead the way ahead,

And Feilian run up from behind.

The phoenix keeps alert in front,

The thunder master says he is not ready yet.

I tell the phoenix to spread its wings,

And keep flying day and night.

The whirlwind gathers its force,

Leading the clouds to come and meet us.

While more and more clouds are gathering,

They arrive in various colors floating up and down.

I ask the guard of heaven to open the gate,

But he leans on the heavenly door and stares at me.

It’s gradually getting dark and late,

I stroll for a long time while weaving the orchid.

The sordid world does not tell good from evil,

Being jealous of others and ignorant of their virtues.

I cross the White River in the morning, and

Climb onto Mount Langfeng and tie the horse.

Suddenly I look back with tears rolling down,

And bemoan the absence of a beauty on the Mount.

I roam to the palace of spring for a visit,

And pick off jady twigs as an additional ornament.

While the blooming flowers are still on the branches,

I search for a beauty who can accept my gift.

I order the God of Cloud to drive the cloud chariot,

And look for Fu Fei’s whereabouts.

I unfasten the waist belt to secure my letter of proposal,

And ask Jian Xiu to intercede as a matchmaker.

Up and down the clouds cluster and disperse now and then;

Soon I learn that things are hard to complete.

Fu Fei returns to stay the night at Qiongshi,

And wash her hair at Wei Pan the next morning.

She is proud of her beauty and feels conceited,

Going on her daily spree and sowing her wild oats.

Beautiful as she is, she does not obey the rules,

So I give her up and ask for some one else.

I look about in all directions in the heaven;

After an overall tour I come down from the sky.

Looking far at the magnificent jade terrace,

I see there lives a beauty from the State of Song.

I ask the Zhen bird to act as my matchmaker;

The bird says the beauty is not nice, but

To achieve the task the male bird flies away chirping,

Yet I dislike its wild frivolity.

I hesitate and feel full of doubt;

It won’t be good if I go there by myself.

As the phoenix took the entrusted betrothal gift,

I'm afraid Gao Xin has anticipated me.

I want to go far away but I have no place to stay,

So I have to wander about, free and unfettered.

While Shao Kang is still unmarried,

King of Yu’s two daughters are single.

Without sound reasons and with the matchmaker incompetent,

I fear my chance of success is remote.

The world is in chaos and jealous of men of talent,

Blocking the virtuous and praising the evil.

To approach the beauty in boudoir is hard and difficult,

And the King never wakes up and becomes wise.

I have full loyalty but find nowhere to express it,

How can I endure this for ever and ever?

I get the magic herb and a thin bamboo slip,

And ask the wizard to divine my future.

He says:“ The two suitable ones will certainly be matched,

But who really trusts and admires the virtuous?

To think how vast the world is,

Is this the only place where a good lady lives?”

“I advise you to leave without hesitation.

Who’ll seek a beauty and give you up?

Where is the place that’s without fragrant grass?

Why do you keep lingering in the old place?”

The darkness of the world is paradoxically blinding.

Who understands my heart and mind?

People have different likes and dislikes,

But these vile partisans are even weirder!

Everyone wears mugwort fully around his waist,

Saying orchid is not something to wear.

They can’t tell between good and bad plants,

How can they evaluate jade without errors?

Filling their own sachets with dung,

They say the pepper is not aromatic.

Hoping to follow the good divination from the wizard,

I hesitate in mind and can’t decide.

Sorcerer Wu Xian comes for evocation at night,

I greet him with peppercorns and milled rice.

The various gods descend in succession from the sky,

And the gods of Mount Jiuyi come out to welcome.

All of them are shining with the divine light,

The wizard also tells me much divine advice.

Saying “Greatest efforts should be made

To seek men of the same and kindred mind.

Tang and Yu were earnest for the like-minded,

So they had Yi Yin and Gao Yao’s effective assistance.

As long as the mind is virtuous with fine traits,

Why is it necessary to have a matchmaker?

Fu Yue built a wall in Fuyan with a prayer pestle,

Wu Ding did not hesitate to appoint him as prime minister.

Though Lv Wang used to be a butcher,

He was appointed thanks to King Wen of Zhou Dynasty.

Ning Qi fed the cattle, singing and beating their horns,

Duke Huan of Qi heard him and used him as a minister.

Make a difference while you’re still young,

And display your talent with a plenty of time left.

I am afraid the butcher-bird may cry too early

And prevented the fragrance of grass and flowers.”

Though the jade pendant is so fine,

People attempt to conceal its brilliance.

The clandestine partisans are ruthless;

I fear they’ll destroy it out of jealousy.

As times are turbulent and changeable,

How can I stay here and linger long?

Orchid and angelica are no longer fragrant,

Quan and Hui become cheap cogongrass.

Why have the previous species of fragrant grass

All become wild artemisia and moxa?

I don’t think there are any other reasons

Except for the lack of fine traits!

I used to think bluegrass reliable,

Who knows it is only an ostentatious pomp.

The bluegrass abandons its beauty to follow the vulgar,

And its inclusion brings disgrace to fragrant flowers.

The flattering toad Zijiao is overbearing;

The cornel passes itself off in the sachet as vanilla.

Since they are so eager to seek their own gains,

How can they emit aroma like fragrant flowers?

The trend of the world is to swim with the tide,

Who can remain firm and unchanged?

You have seen wild pepper and bluegrass go like this;

Can Jieche and Jiangli be exceptions?

Only my pendant is the most valuable,

Keeping its virtuous beauty till present.

The rich aroma is hard to dissipate;

Its fragrance permeates the air even now.

I amuse myself for self-entertainment,

Wandering about and looking for a beauty.

While my ornaments are still strongly appealing,

I will travel up and down to heaven and earth.

Since the wizard tells me an auspicious divination,

I’ll pick a lucky day and get going.

Breaking off the cajuput branches to make delicacies,

I mash and refine the jade for grain.

The dragons drive my carriage and wagons,

Which are decorated with jade and ivory.

How can people cooperate when they are of different mind?

I will go away and voluntarily take my leave.

I divert my route via the foot of Kunlun;

The journey is long and my tour of seeking continues.

The rosy clouds cover the sun, and

The jade bells jingle on the carriage and wagons.

Setting off from the ferry of heavenly river at dawn,

I arrive at the westernmost place at dusk.

Spreading its wings and carrying our flags,

The phoenix flies high with a harmonious rhythm.

Coming to the quicksand unawares all of a sudden,

I have to move along the Chishui River at leisure.

Commanding the dragon to bridge the river,

Ordering Emperor of the West to ferry me across.

What a long and arduous journey I am making!

I tell the wagons to wait by the roadside.

We turn left after passing Mount Buzhou,

With the Western Sea as my destination.

I gather a thousand wagons in a grand array,

And make them advance wheel by wheel without hurry.

The eight dragons snake along all the way,

With flags of cloud fluttering in the wind.

Calming down and moving on leisurely,

I can hardly contain my mind that flies far away.

Playing the Nine Songs and dancing the Shao dance,

We take our time to make merry.

The sun rising in the east and shining brightly,

I unexpectedly see my native homeplace.

My servants are sad and my horses depressed;

They shrink back and refuse to move onward.

The conclusion：“Come on and forget it!

As no one in the country understands me,

Why should I miss my old hometown!

Since I cannot effectuate the ideal politics,

I will follow in Peng Xian’s footsteps!

Translated by Jin Deming