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。忳郁邑余佗傺兮，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。路曼曼其修远兮，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，聊假日以偷乐。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 SaoA prince am I of ancestry renowned,Illustrious name my royal
sire hath found.When Sirius did in spring its light display,A child
was born, and Tiger marked the day.When first upon my face my
lord's eye glanced,For me auspicious names he straight
advanced,Denoting that in me Heaven's marks divineShould with the
virtues of the earth combine.With lavished innate qualities
indued,By art and skill my talents I renewed;Angelic herbs and
sweet selineas too,And orchids late that by the water grew,I wove
for ornament; till creeping Time,Like water flowing, stole away my
prime.Magnolias of the glade I plucked at dawn,At eve beside the
stream took winter-thorn.Without delay the sun and moon sped
fast,In swift succession spring and autumn passed;The fallen
flowers lay scattered on the ground,The dusk might fall before my
dream was found. Had I not loved my prime and spurned the vile,Why
should I not have changed my former style?My chariot drawn by
steeds of race divineI urged; to guide the king my sole design.
Three ancient kings there were so pure and trueThat round them
every fragrant flower grew;Cassia and pepper of the
mountain-sideWith melilotus white in clusters vied.Two monarchs
then, who high renown received,Followed the kingly way, their goal
achieved.Two princes proud by lust their reign abused,Sought easier
path, and their own steps confused.The faction for illict pleasure
longed;Dreadful their way where hidden perils thronged.Danger
against myself could not appal,But feared I lest my sovereign's
sceptre fall. Forward and back I hastened in my quest,Followed the
former kings, and took no rest.The prince my true integrity
defamed,Gave ear to slander, high his anger flamed;Integrity I knew
could not avail,Yet still endured; my lord I would not
fail.Celestial spheres my witness be on high,I strove but for his
sacred majesty.Twas first to me he gave his plighted word,But soon
repenting other counsel heard.For me departure could arouse no
pain;I grieved to see his royal purpose vain. Nine fields of
orchids at one time I grew,For melilot a hundred acres too,And
fifty acres for the azalea bright,The rumex fragrant and the lichen
white.I longed to see them yielding blossoms rare,And thought in
season due the spoil to share.I did not grieve to see them die
away,But grieved because midst weeds they did decay. Insatiable in
lust and greedinessThe faction strove, and tired not of
excess;Themselves condoning, others they'd decry,And steep their
hearts in envious jealousy. Insatiably they seized what they
desired,It was not that to which my heart aspired.As old age
unrelenting hurried near,Lest my fair name should fail was all my
fear.Dew from magnolia leaves I drank at dawn,At eve for food were
aster petals borne;And loving thus the simple and the fair,How
should I for my sallow features care?With gathered vines I strung
valeria white,And mixed with blue wistaria petals bright,And
melilotus matched with cassia sweet,With ivy green and tendrils
long to meet.Life I adapted to the ancient way,Leaving the manners
of the present day;Thus unconforming to the modern age,The path I
followed of a bygone sage. Long did I sigh and wipe away my
tears,To see my people bowed by griefs and fears.Though I my gifts
enhanced and curbed my pride,At morn they'd mock me, would at eve
deride;First cursed that I angelica should wear,Then cursed me for
my melilotus fair.But since my heart did love such purity,I'd not
regret a thousand deaths to die. I marvel at the folly of the
king,So heedless of his people's suffering.They envied me my
mothlike eyebrows fine,And so my name his damsels did malign.Truly
to craft alone their praise they paid,The square in measuring they
disobeyed;The use of common rules they held debased;With confidence
their crooked lines they traced. In sadness plunged and sunk in
deepest gloom,Alone I drove on to my dreary doom.In exile rather
would I meet my end,Than to the baseness of their ways
descend.Remote the eagle spurns the common range,Nor deigns since
time began its way to change;A circle fits not with a square
design;Their different ways could not be merged with mine.Yet still
my heart I checked and curbed my pride,Their blame endured and
their reproach beside.To die for righteousness alone I sought,For
this was what the ancient sages taught. I failed my former errors
to discern;I tarried long, but now I would return.My steeds I
wheeled back to their former way,Lest all too long down the wrong
path I stray.On orchid-covered bank I loosed my steed,And let him
gallop by the flow'ry meadAt will. Rejected now and in disgrace,I
would retire to cultivate my grace.With cress leaves green my
simple gown I made,With lilies white my rustic garb did braid.Why
should I grieve to go unrecognised,Since in my heart fragrance was
truly prized?My headdress then high-pinnacled I raised,Lengthened
my pendents, where bright jewels blazed.Others may smirch their
fragrance and bright hues,My innocence is proof against abuse.Oft I
looked back, gazed to the distance still,Longed in the wilderness
to roam at will.Splendid my ornaments together vied,With all the
fragrance of the flowers beside;All men had pleasures in their
various ways,My pleasure was to cultivate my grace.I would not
change, though they my body rend;How could my heart be wrested from
its end? My handmaid fair, with countenance demure,Entreated me
allegiance to abjure:'A hero perished in the plain
ill-starred,Where pigmies stayed their plumage to discard.Why
lovest thou thy grace and purity,Alone dost hold thy splendid
virtue high?Lentils and weeds the prince's chamber fill:Why holdest
thou aloof with stubborn will?Thou canst not one by one the crowd
persuade,And who the purpose of our heart hath weighed?Faction and
strife the world hath ever loved;Heeding me not, why standest thou
removed?' I sought th'ancestral voice to ease my woe.Alas, how one
so proud could sink so low!To barbarous south I went across the
stream;Before the ancient I began my theme:'With odes divine there
came a monarch's son,Whose revels unrestrained were never done;In
antics wild, to coming perils blind,He fought his brother, and his
sway declined.The royal archer, in his wanton chaseFor foxes huge,
his kingdom did disgrace.Such wantonness predicts no happy end;His
queen was stolen by his loyal friend.The traitor's son, clad in
prodigious might,In incest sinned and cared not what was right.He
revelled all his days, forgetting all;His head at last in treachery
did fall.And then the prince, who counsels disobeyed,Did court
disaster, and his kingdom fade.A prince his sage in burning
cauldrons tossed;His glorious dynasty ere long was lost. 'But stern
and pious was their ancient sire,And his successor too did faith
inspire;Exalted were the wise, the able used,The rule was kept and
never was abused.The august heaven, with unbiassed grace,All men
discerns, and helps the virtuous race;Sagacious princes through
their virtuous deedThe earth inherit, and their reigns succeed.The
past I probed, the future so to scan,And found these rules that
guide the life of man:A man unjust in deed who would engage?Whom
should men take as guide except the sage?In mortal dangers death I
have defied,Yet could look back, and cast regret aside.Who strove,
their tool's defects accounting nought,Like ancient sages were to
cauldrons brought.'Thus I despaired, my face with sad tears
marred,Mourning with bitterness my years ill-starred;And melilotus
leaves I took to stemThe tears that streamed down to my garment's
hem.Soiling my gown, to plead my case I kneeled;Th'ancestral voice
the path to me revealed. Swift jade-green dragons, birds with
plumage gold,I harnessed to the whirlwind, and behold,At daybreak
from the land of plane-trees grey,I came to paradise ere close of
day.I wished within the sacred brove to rest,But now the sun was
sinking in the west;The driver of the sun I bade to stay,Ere with
the setting rays we haste away.The way was long, and wrapped in
gloom did seem,As I urged on to seek my vanished dream. The dragons
quenched their thirst beside the lakeWhere bathed the sun, whilst I
upon the brakeFastened my reins; a golden bough I soughtTo brush
the sun, and tarred there in sport.The pale moon's charioteer I
then bade lead,The master of the winds swiftly succeed;Before, the
royal blue bird cleared the way;The lord of thunder urged me to
delay.I bade the phoenix scan the heaven wide;But vainly day and
night its course it tried;The gathering whirlwinds drove it from my
sight,Rushing with lowering clouds to check my flight;Sifting and
merging in the firmament,Above, below, in various hues they went.
The gate-keeper of heaven I bade give place,But leaning on his door
he scanned my face;The day grew dark, and now was nearly spent;Idly
my orchids into wreaths I bent.The virtuous and the vile in
darkness merged;They veiled my virtue, by their envy urged.At dawn
the waters white I left behind;My steed stayed by the portals of
the wind;Yet, gazing back, a bitter grief I feltThat in the lofty
crag no damsel dwelt. I wandered eastward to the palace green,And
pendents sought where jasper boughs were seen,And vowed that they,
before their splendour fade,As gift should go to grace the
loveliest maid.The lord of clouds I then bade mount the skyTo seek
the steam where once the nymph did lie;As pledge I gave my belt of
splendid sheen,My councillor appointed go-between.Fleeting and
wilful like capricious cloud,Her obstinacy swift no change
allowed.At dusk retired she to the crag withdrawn,Her hair beside
the stream she washed at dawn.Exulting in her beauty and her
pride,Pleasure she worshipped, and no whim denied;So fair of form,
so careless of all grace,I turned to take another in her place. To
earth's extremities I sought my bride,And urged my train through
all the heaven wide.Upon a lofty crag of jasper greenThe beauteous
princess of the west was seen.The falcon then I bade entreat the
maid,But he, demurring, would my course dissuade;The turtle-dove
cooed soft and off did fly,But I mistrusted his frivolity.Like
whelp in doubt, like timid fox in fear,I wished to go, but wandered
ever near.With nuptial gifts the phoenix swiftly went;I feared the
prince had won her ere I sent.I longed to travel far, yet with no
bourn,I could but wander aimless and forlorn.Before the young king
was in marriage bound,The royal sisters twain might still be
found;My suit was unauspicious at the best;I knew I had small hope
in my request. The world is dark, and envious of my grace;They veil
my virture and the evil praise.Thy chamber dark lies in recesses
deep,Sagacious prince, risest thou not from sleep?My zeal unknown
the prince would not descry;How could I bear this harsh eternity?
With mistletoe and herbs of magic worth,I urged the witch the
future to show forth.'If two attain perfection they must meet,But
who is there that would thy virtue greet?Far the nine continents
their realm display;Why here to seek thy bride doth thou
delay?Away!' she cried, 'set craven doubt aside,If beauty's sought,
there's none hath with thee vied.What place is there where orchids
flower not fair?Why is thy native land thy single care? 'Now darkly
lies the world in twilight's glow,Who doth your defects and your
virtue know?Evil and good herein are reconciled;The crowd alone
hath nought but is defiled.With stinking mugwort girt upon their
waist,They curse the others for their orchids chaste;Ignorant thus
in choice of fragrance rare,Rich ornaments how could they fitly
wear?With mud and filth they fill their pendent bag;Cursing the
pepper sweet, they brawl and brag.'Although the witches counsel I
held good,In foxlike indecision still I stood.At night the wizard
great made his descent,And meeting him spiced rice I did
present.The angels came, shading with wings the sky;From mountains
wild the deities drew nigh.With regal splendour shone the solemn
sight,And thus the wizard spake with omens bright: 'Take office
high or low as days afford,If one there be that could with thee
accord;Like ancient kings austere who sought their mate,Finding the
one who should fulfill their fate.Now if thy heart doth cherish
grace within,What need is there to choose a go-between?A convict
toiled on rocks to expiateHis crime; his sovereign gave him great
estate.A butcher with his knife made roundelay;His king chanced
there and happy proved the day.A prince who heard a cowherd
chanting lateRaised him to be a councillor of state.Before old age
o'ertake thee on thy way,Life still is young; to profit turn thy
day.Spring is but brief, when cuckoos start to sing,And flowers
will fade that once did spread and spring.' On high my jasper
pendent proudly gleamed,Hid by the crowd with leaves that thickly
teemed;Untiring they relentless means employed;I feared it would
through envy be destroyed.This gaudy age so fickle proved its
will,That to what purpose did I linger still?E'en orchids changed,
their fragrance quickly lost,And midst the weeds angelicas were
tossed.How could these herbs, so fair in former day,Their hue have
changed, and turned to mugworts grey?The reason for their fall, not
far to seek,Was that to tend their grace their will proved weak. I
thought upon the orchids I might lean;No flowers appeared, but long
bare leaves were seen;Their grace abandoned, vulgar taste to
please,Content with lesser flowers to dwell at ease.To boasts and
flattery the pepper turned;To fill the pendent bag the dogwood
yearned;Thus only upon higher stations bent,How could they long
retain their former scent?Since they pursued the fashion of the
time,Small wonder they decayed e'en in their prime.Viewing the
orchids' and the peppers' plightWhy blame the rumex and selinea
white? My jasper pendent rare I was beguiledTo leave, and to this
depth then sank defiled.It blossomed still and never ceased to
grow;Like water did its lovely fragrance flow:Pleasure I took to
wear this bough in sport,As roaming wild the damsel fair I
sought.Thus in my prime, with ornaments bedecked,I roved the earth
and heaven to inspect. With omens bright the seer revealed the
way,I then appointed an auspicious day.As victuals rare some jasper
twigs I bore,And some prepared, provision rich to store;Then winged
horses to my chariot broughtMy carriage bright with jade and ivory
wrought. How might tow hearts at variance accord?I roamed till
peace be to my mind restored.The pillar of the earth I stayed
beside;The way was long, and winding far and wide.In twilight
glowed the clouds with wondrous sheen,And chirping flew the birds
of jasper green.I went at dawn high heaven's ford to leave;To
earth's extremity I came at eve.On phoenix wings the dragon pennons
lay;With plumage bright they flew to lead the way.I crossed the
quicksand with its treach'rous flood,Beside the burning river, red
as blood;To bridge the stream my dragons huge I bade,Invoked the
emperor of the west to aid. The way was long, precipitous in view;I
bade my train a different path pursue.There where the heaven fell
we turned a space,And marked the western sea as meeting-place.A
thousand chariots gathred in my train,With axles full abreast we
drove amain;Eight horses drew the carriages behind;The pennons
shook like serpents in the wind.I lowered flags, and from my whip
refrained;My train of towering chariots I restrained.I sang the
odes. I trod a sacred dance,In revels wild my last hour to
enhance.Ascending where celestial heaven blazed,On native earth for
the last time we gazed;My slaves were sad, my steeds all neighed in
grief,And gazing back, the earth they would not leave.
EpilogueSince in that kingdom all my virtue spurn,Why should I for
the royal city yearn?Wide though the world, no wisdom can be
found.I'll seek the stream where once the sage was drowned.
来自：
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