XWomen CONTENT


<Previous Section>			<Next Section>

THE ODES OF ZHENG

ZI YI

	How well do the black robes befit you!
	When worn out, we will make others for you.
	We will go to your court,
	And when we return [from it], we will send you a feast!
	How good on you are the black robes!
	When worn out, we will make others for you.
	We will go to your court,
	And when we return [from it], we will send you a feast!
	How easy sit the black robes on you!
	When worn out, we will make others for you.
	We will go to your court,
	And when we return [from it], we will send you a feast!

JIANG ZHONG ZI

	I pray you, Mr. Zhong,
	Do not come leaping into my hamlet;
	Do not break my willow trees.
	Do I care for them?
	But I fear my parents.
	You, O Zhong, are to be loved,
	But the words of my parents,
	Are also to be feared.
	I pray you, Mr. Zhong,
	Do not come leaping over my wall;
	Do not break my mulberry trees.
	Do I care for them?
	But I fear the words of my brothers.
	You, O Zhong, are to be loved,
	But the words of my brothers,
	Are also to be feared.
	I pray you, Mr. Zhong,
	Do not come leaping into my garden;
	Do not break my sandal trees.
	Do I care for them?
	But I dread the talk of people.
	You, O Zhong, are to be loved,
	But the talk of people,
	Is also to be feared.

SHU YU TIAN

	Shu has gone hunting;
	And in the streets there are no inhabitants.
	Are there indeed no inhabitants?
	[But] they are not like Shu,
	Who is truly admirable and kind.
	Shu has gone to the grand chase;
	And in the streets there are none feasting.
	Are there indeed none feasting?
	[But] they are not like Shu,
	Who is truly admirable and good.
	Shu has gone into the country;
	And in the streets there are none driving about.
	Are there indeed none driving about?
	[But] they are not like Shu,
	Who is truly admirable and martial.

DA SHU YU TIAN

	Shu has gone hunting,
	Mounted in his chariot and four.
	The reins are in his grasp like ribbons,
	While the two outside horses move [with regular steps], as dancers do.
	Shu is at the marshy ground; --
	The fire flames out all at once,
	And with bared arms he seizes a tiger,
	And presents it before the duke.
	O Shu, try not [such sport] again;
	Beware of getting hurt.
	Shu has gone hunting,
	Mounted in his chariot with four bay horses.
	The two insides are two finest possible animals,
	And the two outsides follow them regularly as in a flying flock of wild geese.
	Shu is at the marshy ground; --
	The fire blazes up all at once,
	A skillful archer is Shu!
	A good charioteer also!
	Now he gives his horse the reins; now he brings them up;
	Now he discharges his arrows; now he follows it.
	Shu has gone hunting,
	Mounted in his chariot with four grey horses.
	His two insides have their heads in a line,
	And the two outsides come after like arms.
	Shu is at the marsh; --
	The fire spreads grandly all together.
	His horses move slowly;
	He shoots but seldom;
	Now he lays aside his quiver;
	Now he returns his bows to his case.

QING REN

	The men of Qing are in Peng;
	The chariot with its team in mail ever moves about;
	The two spears in it, with their ornaments, rising, one above the other.
	So do they roam about the He.
	The men of Qing are in Xiao;
	The chariot with its team in mail looks martial;
	And the two spears in it, with their hooks, rise one above the other.
	So do they saunter about by the He.
	The men of Qing are in Zhou;
	The mailed team of the chariot prance proudly.
	[The driver] on the left wheels it about, and [the spearman] on the right brandishes his weapon,
	While the general in the middle looks pleased.

GAO QIU

	His lambs's fur is glossy,
	Truly smooth and beautiful.
	That officer,
	Rests in his lot and will not change.
	His lambs's fur, with its cuffs of leopard-skin.
	Looks grandly martial and strong.
	That officer,
	In the country will ever hold to the right.
	How splendid is his lamb's fur!
	How bright are its three ornaments!
	That officer,
	Is the ornament of the country.

ZUN DA LU

	Along the highway,
	I hold you by the cuff.
	Do not hate me; --
	Old intercourse should not be suddenly broken off.
	Along the highway,
	I hold you by the hand.
	Do not think me vile; --
	Old friendship should not hastily be broken off.

NU YUE JI MING

	Says the wife, ' It is cock-crow; '
	Says the husband, ' It is grey dawn. '
	' Rise, Sir, and look at the night, -- '
	If the morning star be not shining.
	Bestir yourself, and move about,
	To shoot the wild ducks and geese.
	When your arrows and line have found them,
	I will dress them fitly for you.
	When they are dressed, we will drink [together over them],
	And I will hope to grow old with you.
	Your lute in your hands,
	Will emits its quiet pleasant tones.
	When I know those whose acquaintance you wish,
	I will give them off the ornaments of my girdle.
	When I know those with whom you are cordial,
	I will send to them of the ornaments of my girdle.
	When I know those whom you love,
	I will repay their friendship from the ornaments of my girdle.

YOU NU TONG CHE

	There is the lady in the carriage [with him],
	With the countenance like the flower of the ephermeral hedge-tree.
	As they move about,
	The beautiful Ju-gems of her girdle-pendant appear.
	That beautiful eldest Jiang,
	Is truly admirable and elegant.
	There is the young lady walking [with him],
	With a countenance like the ephermeral blossoms of the hedge-tree.
	As they move about,
	The gems of her girdle-pendant tinkle.
	Of that beautiful eldest Jiang,
	The virtuous fame is not to be forgotten.

SHAN YOU FU SU

	On the mountain is the mulberry tree;
	In the marshes is the lotus flower.
	I do not see Zidu,
	But I see this mad fellow.
	On the mountain is the lofty pine;
	In the marshes is the psreading water-polygonum..
	I do not see Zichong,
	But I see this artful boy.

TUO XI

	Ye withered leaves! Ye withered leaves!
	How the wind is blowing you away!
	O ye uncles,
	Give us the first note, and we will join in with you.
	Ye withered leaves! Ye withered leaves!
	How the wind is carrying you away!
	O ye uncles,
	Give us the first note, and we will complete [the song].

JIAO TONG

	That artful boy!
	He will not speak with me!
	But for the sake of you, Sir,
	Shall I make myself unable to eat?
	That artful boy!
	He will not eat with me!
	But for the sake of you, Sir,
	Shall I make myself unable to rest?

QIAN CHANG

	If you, Sir, think kindly of me,
	I will hold up my lower garments, and cross the Zhen.
	If you do not think of me,
	Is there no other person [to do so]?
	You, foolish, foolish fellow!
	If you, Sir, think kindly of me,
	I will hold up my lower garments, and cross the Wei.
	If you do not think of me,
	Is there no other gentleman [to do so]?
	You, foolish, foolish fellow!

FENG

	Full and good looking was the gentleman,
	Who waited for me in the lane!
	I repent that I did not go with him.
	A splendid gentleman was he,
	Who waited for me in the hall!
	I regret that I did not accompany him.
	Over my embroidered upper robe, I have put on a [plain] single garment;
	Over my embroidered lower robe, I have done the same.
	O Sir, O Sir,
	Have your carriage ready to take me home with you.
	Over my embroidered lower robe, I have put on a [plain] single garment;
	Over my embroidered upper robe, I have done the same.
	O Sir, O Sir,
	Have your carriage ready to take me home with you.

DONG MEN ZHI SHAN

	Near the level ground at the east gate,
	Is the madder plant on the bank.
	The house is near there,
	But the man is very far away.
	By the chestnut trees at the east gate,
	Is a row of houses.
	Do I not think of you?
	But you do not come to me.

FENG YU

	Cold are the wind and the rain,
	And shrilly crows the cock.
	But I have seen my husband,
	And should I but feel at rest?
	The wind whistles and the rain patters,
	While loudly crows the cock.
	But I have seen my husband,
	And could my ailment but be cured?
	Through the wind and rain all looks dark,
	And the cock crows without ceasing.
	But I have seen my husband,
	And how should I not rejoice?

ZI JIN

	O you, with the blue collar,
	Prolonged is the anxiety of my heart.
	Although I do not go [to you],
	Why do you not continue your messages [to me]?
	O you with the blue [strings to your] girdle-gems,
	Long, long do I think of you.
	Although I do not go [to you],
	Why do you not come [to me]?
	How volatile are you and dissipated,
	By the look-out tower on the wall!
	One day without the sight of you,
	Is like three months.

YANG ZHI SHUI

	The fretted waters,
	Do not carry on their current a bundle of thorns.
	Few are our brethren;
	There are only I and you.
	Do not believe what people say;
	They are deceiving you.
	The fretted waters,
	Do not carry on their current a bundle of firewood.
	Few are our brethren;
	There are only we two.
	Do not believe what people say;
	They are not to be trusted.

CHU QI DONG MEN

	I went out at the east gate,
	Where the girls were in clouds.
	Although they are like clouds,
	It is not on them that my thoughts rest.
	She in the thin white silk, and the grey coiffure, --
	She is my joy!
	I went out by the tower on the covering wall,
	Where the girls were like flowering rushes.
	Although they are like flowering rushes,
	It is not of them that I think.
	She in the thin white silk, and the madder-[dyed coiffure], --
	It is she that makes me happy!

YE YOU MAN CAO

	On the moor is the creeping grass,
	And how heavily is it loaded with dew!
	There was a beautiful man,
	Lovely, with clear eyes and fine forehead!
	We met together accidentally,
	And so my desire was satisfied.
	On the moor is the creeping grass,
	Heavily covered with dew!
	There was a beautiful man,
	Lovely, with clear eyes and fine forehead!
	We met together accidentally,
	And he and I were happy together.

QIN WEI

	The Qin and Wei,
	Now present their broad sheets of water.
	Ladies and gentlemen,
	Are carrying flowers of valerian.
	A lady says, ' Have you been to see? '
	A gentleman replies, ' I have been. '
	' But let us go again to see.
	Beyond the Wei,
	The ground is large and fit for pleasure. '
	So the gentlemen and ladies.
	Make sport together,
	Presenting one another with small peonies.
	The Qin and Wei,
	Show their deep, clear streams.
	Gentlemen and ladies,
	Appear in crowds.
	A lady says, ' Have you been to see? '
	A gentleman replies, ' I have been. '
	' But let us go again to see.
	Beyond the Wei,
	The ground is large and fit for pleasure. '
	So the gentlemen and ladies.
	Make sport together,
	Presenting one another with small peonies.


<Previous Section>			<Next Section>


Published by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003 by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia