詩 經 Shi Jing – The Book of Odes

四牡
四牡騑騑、周道倭遲。
豈不懷歸、王事靡盬、我心傷悲。

四牡騑騑、嘽嘽駱馬。
豈不懷歸、王事靡盬、不遑啟處。

翩翩者鵻、載飛載下、集于苞栩。
王事靡盬、不遑將父。

翩翩者鵻、載飛載止、集于苞杞。
王事靡盬、不遑將母。

駕彼四駱、載驟駸駸。
豈不懷歸、是用作歌、將母來諗。

原文 162

My four steeds advanced without stopping ;
The way from Zhou was winding and tedious.
Did I not have the wish to return ?
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed ;
And my heart was wounded with sadness.

My four steeds advanced without stopping ;
They panted and snorted, the white steeds black-maned.
Did I not have the wish to return ?
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed ;
And I had not leisure to kneel or to sit.

The Filial doves keep flying about,
Now soaring aloft, and now descending,
Collecting on the bushy oaks ;
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed ;
And I had not leisure to nourish my father.

The Filial doves keep flying about,
Now flying, now stopping,
Collecting on the bushy medlars ;
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed ;
And I had not leisure to nourish my mother.

I yoked my four white steeds, black-maned ;
They hurried away with speed.
[But] did I not wish to return ?
Therefore I make this song,
Announcing my wish to nourish my mother.

Legge 162