國風
(LESSONS FROM THE STATES)
國者、諸候所封之域、而風者、民俗歌謠之詩也。謂之風者、以其被上之化以有言、而其言又足以感人、如物因風之動以有聲、而其聲又足以動物也。是以諸候采之以貢於天子、天子受之而列於樂官、於以考其俗尚之美惡、而知其政治之得失焉。舊說二南為正風、所以用之閨門鄉黨邦國而化天下也。十三國為變風、則亦領在樂官、以時存肄、備觀省而垂監戎耳合之凡十五國云。
周南  (THE ODES OF ZHOU AND THE SOUTH)
1.  關睢  GUAN JU
關關雎鳩、在河之洲。
窈宨淑女、君子好逑。
 
參差荇菜、左右流之。
窈宨淑女、寤寐求之。
求之不得、寤寐思服。
悠哉悠哉、輾轉反側。
 
參差荇菜、左右采之。
窈宨淑女、琴瑟友之。
參差荇菜、左右芼之。
窈宨淑女、 鍾鼓樂之。
 
Guan-guan go the ospreys ,
On the islet in the river .
The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : --
For our prince a good mate she .
 
Here long , there short , is the duckweed ,
To the left , to the right , borne about by the current .
The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : --
Waking and sleeping , he sought her .
He sought her and found her not ,
And waking and sleeping he thought about her .
Long he thought ; oh ! long and anxiously ;
On his side , on his back , he turned , and back again .
 
Here long , there short , is the duckweed ;
On the left , on the right , we gather it .
The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : --
With lutes , small and large , let us give her friendly welcome .
Here long , there short , is the duckweed ;
On the left , on the right , we cook and present it .
The modest , retiring , virtuous , young lady : --
With bells and drums let us show our delight in her .
 
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2.  葛覃  GE TAN
葛之覃兮、施于中谷。
維葉萋萋、黃鳥于飛。
集于灌木、其鳴喈喈。
 
葛之覃兮、施于中谷。
維葉莫莫、是刈是濩。
為絺為綌、服之無斁。
 
言告師氏、言告言歸。
薄污我私、薄澣我衣。
害澣害否、歸寧父母 。
 
How the dolichos spread itself out ,
Extending to the middle of the valley !
Its leaves were luxuriant ;
The yellow birds flew about ,
And collected on the thickly growing trees ,
Their pleasant notes resounding far .
 
How the dolichos spread itself out ,
Extending to the middle of the valley !
Its leaves were luxuriant and dense .
I cut it and I boiled it ,
And made both fine cloth and coarse ,
Which I will wear without getting tired of it .
 
I have told the matron ,
Who will announce that I am going to see my parents .
I will wash my private clothes clean ,
And I will rinse my robes .
Which need to be rinsed , which do not ?
I am going back to visit my parents.

3.   卷耳    JUAN ER
采采卷耳、不盈頃筐。
嗟我懷人、寘彼周行。
 
陟彼崔嵬、我馬虺隤。
我姑酌彼金罍、維以不永懷。
 
陟彼高岡、我馬玄黃。
我姑酌彼兕觥、維以不永傷。
 
陟彼砠矣、我馬瘏矣、我僕痡矣、云何吁矣。
 
I was gathering and gathering the mouse-ear ,
But could not fill my shallow basket .
With a sigh for the man of my heart ,
I placed it there on the highway .
 
I was ascending that rock-covered height ,
But my horses were too tired to breast it .
I will now pour a cup from that gilded vase ,
Hoping I may not have to think of him long .
 
I was ascending that lofty ridge ,
But my horses turned of a dark yellow .
I will now take a cup from that rhinoceros' horn ,
Hoping I may not have long to sorrow .
 
I was ascending that flat-topped height ,
But my horses became quite disabled ,
And my servants were [also] disabled .
Oh ! how great is my sorrow !
 
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4.  樛木  JIU MU
南有樛木、葛藟纍之。
樂只君子、福履綏之。
 
南有樛木、葛藟荒之。
樂只君子、福履將之。
 
南有樛木、葛藟縈之。
樂只君子、福履成之。
 
In the south are trees with curved drooping branches ,
With the doliches creepers clinging to them .
To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : --
May she repose in her happiness and dignity !
 
In the south are the trees with curved drooping branches ,
Covered by the dolichos creepers .
To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : --
May she be great in her happiness and dignity !
 
In the south are the trees with curved drooping branches ,
Round which the dolichos creepers twine .
To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : --
May she be complete in her happiness and dignity !
 
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5.   螽斯    ZHONG SI
螽斯羽、詵詵兮。
宜爾子孫、振振兮。
 
螽斯羽、薨薨兮。
宜爾子孫、繩繩兮。
 
螽斯羽、揖揖兮。
宜爾子孫、蟄蟄兮。
 
Ye locusts , winged tribes ,
How harmoniously you collect together !
Right is it that your descendants
Should be multitudinous !
 
Ye locusts , winged tribes ,
How sound your wings in flight !
Right is it that your descendents
Should be as in unbroken strings !
 
Ye locusts , winged tribes ,
How you cluster together !
Right is it that your descendents
Should be in swarms !