Shi Jing – The Book of Odes

He has many carriages, giving forth their Lin-Lin ;
He has horses with their white foreheads.
Before we can see our prince,
We must get the services of eunuch.

On the hill-sides are varnish trees ;
In the low wet grounds are chestnuts.
When we have seen our prince,
We sit together with him, and they play on their lutes.
If now we do not take our joy,
The time will pass till we are octogenarians.

On the hill-sides are mulberry trees ;
In the low wet grounds are willows.
When we have seen our prince,
We sit together with him, and they play on their organs.
If now we do not take our joy,
The time will pass till we are no more.

Legge 126

His four iron-black horses are in very fine condition ;
The six reins are in the hand [of the charioteer].
The ruler's favourites,
Follow him to the chase.

The male animals of the season are made to present themselves,
The males in season, of very large size.
The ruler says, ' To the left of them ; '
Then he lets go his arrows and hits.

He rambles in the northern park ;
His four horses display their training.
Light carriages, with bells at the horses' bits,
Convey the long and short-mouthed dogs.

Legge 127

[There is] his short war carriage ; –
With the ridge-like end of its pole, elegantly bound in five places ;
With its slip rings and side straps,
And the traces attached by gilt rings to the masked transverse ;
With its beautiful mat of tiger's skin, and its long naves ;
With its piebalds, and horses with white left feet.
When I think of my husband [thus],
Looking bland and soft as a piece of jade ;
Living there in his blank house ;
It sends confusion into all the corners of my heart.

His four horses are in very fine condition,
And the six reins are in the hand [of the charioteer].
Piebald, and bay with black mane, are the insides ;
Yellow with black mouth, and black, are the outsides ;
Side by side are placed the dragon-figured shields ;
Gilt are the buckles for the inner reins.
I think of my husband [thus],
Looking so mild in the cities there.
What time can be fixed for his return ?
Oh ! how I think of him !

His mail-covered team moves in great harmony ;
There are the trident spears with their gilt ends ;
And the beautiful feather-figured shield ;
With the tiger-skin bow-case, and the carved metal ornaments on its front.
The two bows are placed in the case,
Bound with string to their bamboo frames.
I think of my husband,
When I lie down and rise up.
Tranquil and serene is the good man,
With his virtuous fame spread far and near.

Legge 128

The reeds and rushes are deeply green,
And the white dew is turned into hoarfrost.
The man of whom I think,
Is somewhere about the water.
I go up the stream in quest of him,
But the way is difficult and long.
I go down the stream in quest of him,
And lo ! he is right in the midst of the water.

The reeds and rushes are luxuriant,
And the white dew is not yet dry.
The man of whom I think,
Is on the margin of the water.
I go up the stream in quest of him,
But the way is difficult and steep.
I go down the stream in quest of him,
And lo ! he is on the islet in the midst of the water.

The reeds and rushes are abundant,
And the white dew is not yet ceased.
The man of whom I think,
Is on the bank of the river.
I go up the stream in quest of him,
But the way is difficult and turns to the right.
I go down the stream in quest of him,
And lo ! he is on the island in the midst of the water.

Legge 129

Les roseaux et les joncs verdoient ;
la rosée se transforme en givre.
Cette personne à qui je pense
dans l'eau se trouve en quelque endroit !...
Contre le courant je vais à elle :
le chemin est rude et fort long !
Suivant le courant je vais à elle :
la voici, dans l'eau, au milieu !

Les roseaux et les joncs verdoient ;
la rosée n'est pas dissipée.
Cette personne à qui je pense
dans l'eau se trouve, vers les bords !...
Contre le courant je vais à elle :
le chemin est rude et montant !
Suivant le courant je vais à elle :
la voici, dans l'eau, sur l'écueil !

Les roseaux et les joncs verdoient ;
la rosée n'est pas disparue.
Cette personne à qui je pense,
dans l'eau se trouve, vers la digue !..
Contre le courant je vais à elle :
le chemin est rude et ardu !
Suivant le courant je vais à elle :
la voici, dans l'eau, sur un roc !

Granet LIV.

What are there on Zhongnan ?
There are white firs and plum trees.
Our prince has arrived at it,
Wearing an embroidered robe over his fox-fur,
And with his countenance rouged as with vermilion.
May he prove a ruler indeed !

What are there on Zhongnan ?
There are nooks and open glades.
Our prince has arrived at it,
With the symbol of distinction embroidered on his lower garment,
And the gems at his girdle emitting their thinking.
May long life and an endless name be his ?

Legge 130

They flit about, the yellow birds,
And rest upon the jujube trees.
Who followed duke Mu [to the grave] ?
Ziche Yansi.
And this Yansi,
Was a man above a hundred.
When he came to the grave,
He looked terrified and trembled.
Thou azure Heaven there !
Thou art destroying our good men.
Could he have been redeemed,
We should have given a hundred lives for him.

They flit about, the yellow birds,
And rest upon the mulberry trees.
Who followed duke Mu [to the grave] ?
Ziche Zhongheng.
And this Zhongheng,
Was a match for a hundred.
When he came to the grave,
He looked terrified and trembled.
Thou azure Heaven there !
Thou art destroying our good men.
Could he have been redeemed,
We should have given a hundred lives for him.

They flit about, the yellow birds,
And rest upon the thorn trees.
Who followed duke Mu [to the grave] ?
Ziche Qianhu.
And this Ziche Qianhu,
Could withstand a hundred men.
When he came to the grave,
He looked terrified and trembled.
Thou azure Heaven there !
Thou art destroying our good men.
Could he have been redeemed,
We should have given a hundred lives for him.

Legge 131

Swift flies the falcon,
To the thick-wooded forest in the north.
While I do not see my husband,
My heart cannot forget its grief.
How is it, how is it,
That he forgets me so very much ?

On the mountain are the bushy oaks ;
In the low wet grounds are six elms.
While I do not see my husband,
My sad heart has no joy.
How is it, how is it,
That he forgets me so very much ?

On the mountain are the bushy sparrow-plums ;
In the low wet grounds are the high, wild pear trees.
While I do not see my husband,
My heart is as if intoxicated with grief.
How is it, how is it,
That he forgets me so very much ?

Legge 132

Rapide le faucon s'envole !
épaisse est la forêt du nord !
Tant que je n'ai vu mon seigneur,
mon cœur inquiet, qu'il se tourmente !
Ah ! comment faire ! ah ! comment faire !
il m'oublie vraiment beaucoup trop...

Le mont a des massifs de chênes,
le val des ormes tachetés !
Tant que je n'ai vu mon seigneur,
mon cœur inquiet n'a point de joie !
Ah ! comment...

Le mont a des bois de pruniers,
Le val de grands poiriers sauvages !
tant que je n'ai vu mon seigneur,
mon cœur inquiet est comme ivre !
Ah ! comment...

Granet LVII.

How shall it be said that you have no clothes ?
I will share my long robes with you.
The king is raising his forces ;
I will prepare my lance and spear,
And will be your comrade.

How shall it be said that you have no clothes ?
I will share my under clothes with you.
The king is raising his forces ;
I will prepare my spear and lance,
And will take the field with you.

How shall it be said that you have no clothes ?
I will share my lower garments with you.
The king is raising his forces ;
I will prepare my buffcoat and sharp weapons,
And will march along with you.

Legge 133

I escorted my mother's nephew,
To the north of the Wei,
What did I present to him ?
Four bay horses for his carriage of state.

I escorted my mother's nephew,
Long, long did I think of him.
What did I present to him ?
A precious jasper, and gems for his girdle-pendant.

Legge 134

He assigned us a house large and spacious ;
But now at every meal there is nothing left.
Alas that he could not continue as he began !

He assigned us at every meal four dishes of grain ;
But now at every meal we do not get our fill.
Alas that he could not continue as he began !

Legge 135