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Those officers of the [old] capital, |
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With their fox-furs so yellow, |
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Their deportment unvaryingly [correct], |
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And their speech full of elegance! -- |
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If we could go back to [the old] Zhou, |
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They would be admiringly looked up by all the people. |
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Those officers of the [old] capital, |
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With their hats of Tai leaves and small black caps! -- |
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Those ladies of noble Houses. |
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With their hair so thick and straight! -- |
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I do not see them [now], |
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And my heart is dissatisfied. |
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Those officers of the [old] capital, |
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With their ear-plugs of xiu-stones! -- |
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Those ladies of noble Houses, |
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Each fit to be called a Yin or a Ji! -- |
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I do not see them [now], |
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And my heart grieves with indissoluble sorrow. |
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Those officers of the [old] capital, |
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With their girdles hanging elegantly down! -- |
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Those ladies of great Houses, |
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With their [side] hair curving up like a scorpion's tail! -- |
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I do not see them [now], |
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[If I could], I would walk along after them. |
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Not that they purposely let their girdles hang down; -- |
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The girdles were naturally long. |
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Not that they gave their hair that curve; -- |
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The hair had a natural curl. |
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I do not see them [now], |
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And how do I long for them! |
Published
by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003
by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia