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What man was that? |
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His mind is full of dangerous devices. |
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Why did he approach my dam, |
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Without entering my gate? |
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Of whom is he a follower? |
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I venture to say, -- of Bao. |
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Those two follow each other in their goings; -- |
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Which of them wrought me this calamity? |
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Why came he to my dam, |
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Without entering to condole with me? |
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Our former relations were different from the present, |
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When he will have nothing to do with me. |
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What man was it? |
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Why came he to the path inside my gate? |
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I heard his voice, |
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But did not see his person. |
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He is not ashamed before men; |
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He does not stand in awe of Heaven. |
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What man was it? |
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He is like a violent wind. |
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Why came he not from the north? |
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Or why not from the south? |
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Why did he approach my dam, |
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Doing nothing but perturb my mind? |
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You go along slowly, |
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And yet you have not leisure to stop! |
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You go along rapidly, |
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And yet you have leisure to grease your wheels! |
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If you would come to me but once! -- |
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Why am I kept in a state of expectation? |
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If on your return you entered my house, |
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My heart would be relieved. |
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When on your return you do not enter it, |
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It is hard to understand your denial. |
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If you would come to me but once, |
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It would set me at rest. |
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The elder of us blew the porcelain whistle, |
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And the younger blew the bamboo flute; |
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I was as if strung on the same string with you. |
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If indeed you do not understand me, |
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Here are the three creatures [for sacrifice], |
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And I will take an oath to you. |
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If you were an imp or a water-bow, |
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You could not be got at. |
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But when one with face and eyes stands opposite to another, |
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The man can be seen through and through. |
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I have made this good song, |
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To probe to the utmost your veerings and turnings. |
Published
by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003
by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia