旻天疾威，敷于下土。谋犹回遹，何日斯沮？
　　谋臧不从，不臧覆用。我视谋犹，亦孔之邛。
　　
　　潝々訿々，亦孔之哀。谋之其臧，则具是违。
　　谋之不臧，则具是依。我视谋犹，伊于胡厎。
　　
　　我龟既厌，不我告犹。谋夫孔多，是用不集。
　　发言盈庭，谁敢执其咎？如匪行迈谋，是用不得于道。
　　
　　哀哉为犹，匪先民是程，匪大犹是经。维迩言是听，维迩言是争。
　　如彼筑室于道谋，是用不溃于成。
　　
　　国虽靡止，或圣或否。
　　民虽靡膴，或哲或谋，或肃或艾。
　　如彼泉流，无沦胥以败。
　　
　　不敢暴虎，不敢冯河。
　　人知其一，莫知其他。
　　战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。

　　The angry terrors of Compassionate Heaven,
　　Extend through this lower world;
　　[The king's] counsels and plans are crooked and bad; --
　　When will he stop [in the course]?
　　Counsels which are good he will not follow,
　　And those which are not good he employs,
　　When I look at his counsels and plans,
　　I am greatly pained.
　　
　　Now they agree, and now they defame one another; --
　　The case is greatly to be deplored.
　　If a counsel be good,
　　They all are found opposing it.
　　If a counsel be bad,
　　They all are found according with it.
　　When I look at such counsels and plans,
　　What will they come to?
　　
　　Our tortoises are wearied out,
　　And will not tell us anything about the plans.
　　The counsellors are very many,
　　But on that account nothing is accomplished.
　　The speakers fill the court,
　　But who dares to take any responsibility on himself?
　　We are as if we consulted [about a journey] without taking a step in advance,
　　And therefore did not get on on the road.
　　
　　Alas! our formers of plans,
　　Do not take the ancients for their pattern,
　　And do not regulate them by great principles.
　　They only hearken to shallow words,
　　And quarrel about shallow words,
　　They are like one taking counsel with wayfarers about building a house.
　　Which will consequently never come to completion.
　　
　　Although the kingdom be unsettled,
　　There are some who are wise, and others who are not.
　　Although the people may not be numerous,
　　Some have perspicacity, some have counsel,
　　Some have gravity, and some have orderliness.
　　But we are going on like the stream flowing from a spring,
　　And will sink together in a common ruin.
　　
　　They dare not without weapons attack a tiger;
　　They dare not without a boat cross the He.
　　They know one thing,
　　But they only know that one.
　　We should be apprehensive and careful,
　　As if we were on the brink of a deep gulf,
　　As if we were treading on thin ice.

　　宛彼鸣鸠，翰飞戾天。
　　我心忧伤，念昔先人。
　　明发不寐，有怀二人。
　　
　　人之齐圣，饮酒温克。
　　彼昏不知，壹醉日富。
　　各敬尔仪，天命不又。
　　
　　中原有菽，庶民采之。
　　螟蛉有子，蜾蠃负之。
　　教诲尔子，式穀似之。
　　
　　题彼脊令，载飞载鸣。
　　我日斯迈，而月斯征。
　　夙兴夜寐，毋忝尔所生。
　　
　　交交桑扈，率场啄粟。
　　哀我填寡，宜岸宜狱。
　　握粟出卜，自何能穀？
　　
　　温温恭人，如集于木。
　　惴惴小心，如临于谷。
　　战战兢兢，如履薄冰。

　　Small is the cooing dove,
　　But it flies aloft up to heaven.
　　My heart is wounded with sorrow,
　　And I think of our forefathers.
　　When the dawn is breaking, and I cannot sleep,
　　The thoughts in my breast are of our parents.
　　
　　Men who are grave and wise,
　　Though they drink, are mild and masters of themselves;
　　But those who are benighted and ignorant,
　　Are devoted to drink, and more so daily.
　　Be careful, each of you, of your deportment; --
　　What Heaven confers, [when once lost], is not regained.
　　
　　In the midst of the plain there is pulse,
　　And the common people gather it.
　　The mulberry insect has young ones,
　　And the sphex carries them away.
　　Teach and train your sons,
　　And they will become good as you are.
　　
　　Look at the wagtail,
　　Flying, and at the same time twittering.
　　My days are advancing;
　　Your months are going on.
　　Rising early and going to sleep late,
　　Do not disgrace those who gave you birth.
　　
　　The greenbeaks come and go,
　　Pecking up grain about the stack-yard.
　　Alas for the distressed and solitary,
　　Deemed fit inmates for the prisons!
　　With a handful of grain I go out and divine,
　　How I may be able to become good.
　　
　　We must be mild, and humble,
　　As if we were perched on trees.
　　We must be anxious and careful,
　　As if we were on the brink of a valley.
　　We must be apprehensive and cautious,
　　As if we were treading upon thin ice.

　　弁彼鸴斯，归飞提提。民莫不穀，我独于罹。
　　何辜于天？我罪伊何？心之忧矣，云如之何？
　　
　　踧踧周道，鞫为茂草。我心忧伤，惄焉如捣。
　　假寐永叹，维忧用老。心之忧矣，疢如疾首。
　　
　　维桑与梓，必恭敬止。靡瞻匪父，靡依匪母。
　　不属于毛？不罹于里？天之生我，我辰安在？
　　
　　菀彼柳斯，鸣蜩嘒嘒，有漼者渊，萑苇淠淠。
　　譬彼舟流，不知所届，心之忧矣，不遑假寐。
　　
　　鹿斯之奔，维足伎伎。雉之朝雊，尚求其雌。
　　譬彼坏木，疾用无枝。心之忧矣，宁莫之知？
　　
　　相彼投兔，尚或先之。行有死人，尚或墐之。
　　君子秉心，维其忍之。心之忧矣，涕既陨之。
　　
　　君子信谗，如或酬之。君子不惠，不舒究之。
　　伐木掎矣，析薪扡矣。舍彼有罪，予之佗矣。
　　
　　莫高匪山，莫浚匪泉。君子无易由言，耳属于垣。
　　无逝我梁，无发我笱。我躬不阅，遑恤我后。

　　With flapping wings the crows,
　　Come back, flying all in a flock.
　　Other people all are happy,
　　And I only am full of misery.
　　What is my offence against Heaven?
　　What is my crime?
　　My heart is sad; --
　　What is to be done?
　　
　　The way to Zhou should be level and easy,
　　But it is all overgrown with rank grass.
　　My heart is wounded with sorrow,
　　And I think till I feel as if pounded [all over].
　　I lie down undressed, and sigh continually;
　　Through my grief I am growing old.
　　My heart is sad; --
　　It puts me in pain like a headache.
　　
　　Even the mulberry trees and the Zi,
　　Must be regarded with reverence:
　　But no one is to be looked up to like a father;
　　No one is to be depended on like a mother.
　　Have I not a connection with the hairs [of my father]?
　　Did I not dwell in the womb [of my mother]?
　　O Heaven who gave me birth!
　　How was it at such an inauspicious time?
　　
　　Luxuriant grow those willows,
　　And the cicadas [on them] go hui-hui.
　　Deep looks the pool,
　　And abundantly grow the rushes and reeds [about it],
　　[But] I am like a boat adrift, --
　　Where it will go you know not.
　　My heart is sad; --
　　I have not leisure to lie down [even] undressed.
　　
　　The stag is running away,
　　But his legs move slowly.
　　The pheasant crows in the morning,
　　Seeking his mate.
　　I am like a ruined tree,
　　Stript by disease of all its branches.
　　My heart is sad; --
　　How is it that no one knows me?
　　
　　Look at the hare seeking protection; --
　　Some one will step in before and save it.
　　One the road there is a dead man;
　　Some one will bury him.
　　[But] such is the heart of our sovereign,
　　That there is nothing he cannot bear to do.
　　My heart is sad,
　　So that my tears are falling down.
　　
　　Our sovereign believes slanders,
　　As readily as he joins in the pledge cup.
　　Our sovereign is unkind,
　　And does not leisurely examine into things.
　　The tree-fellers follow the lean of the tree;
　　The faggot-cleavers follow the direction of the grain;
　　[But] he lets alone the guilty,
　　And imputes guilt to me.
　　
　　There is nothing higher than a mountain;
　　There is nothing deeper than a [great] spring.
　　Our sovereign should not lightly utter his words,
　　Lest an ear be laid close to the wall.
　　Do not approach my dam;
　　Do not remove my basket.
　　My person is rejected; --
　　Of what use is it to care for what may come after?

　　悠悠昊天，曰父母且。无罪无辜，乱如此幠。
　　昊天已威，予慎无罪。昊天大幠，予慎无辜。
　　
　　乱之初生，僭始既涵。乱之又生，君子信谗。
　　君子如怒，乱庶遄沮。君子如祉，乱庶遄已。
　　
　　君子屡盟，乱是用长。君子信盗，乱是用暴。
　　盗言孔甘，乱是用餤。匪其止共，维王之邛。
　　
　　奕奕寝庙，君子作之。秩秩大猷，圣人莫之。
　　他人有心，予忖度之。跃跃毚兔，遇犬获之。
　　
　　荏染柔木，君子树之。往来行言，心焉数之。
　　蛇蛇硕言，出自口矣。巧言如簧，颜之厚矣。
　　
　　彼何人斯？居河之麋。无拳无勇，职为乱阶。
　　既微且尰，尔勇伊何？为犹将多，尔居徒几何？

　　O vast and distant Heaven,
　　Who art called our parent,
　　That without crime or offence,
　　I should suffer from disorders thus great!
　　The terrors of great Heaven are excessive,
　　But indeed I have committed no crime.
　　[The terrors of] great Heaven are very excessive,
　　But indeed I have committed no offence.
　　
　　Disorder then comes to the birth,
　　When the first untruth is received.
　　Its further increase,
　　Is from our sovereign's believing the slanderers.
　　If he were to be angry [with them],
　　The disorder would probably quickly be abated;
　　If he were to show his joy [in the good],
　　The disorder would probably quickly cease.
　　
　　Our sovereign makes frequent covenants,
　　And the disorders are thereby increased.
　　He believes the scoundrels,
　　And the disorders thereby grow into oppression.
　　Their words are very sweet,
　　And the disorders thereby advance.
　　They do not discharge their duties,
　　But only create distress to the king.
　　
　　Very grand is the ancestral temple; --
　　A true sovereign made it.
　　Wisely arranged are the great plans; --
　　Sages determined them.
　　What other men have in their minds,
　　I can measure by reflection.
　　Swiftly runs the crafty hare,
　　But it is caught by the hound.
　　
　　Trees of soft wood, easily wrought,
　　Are planted by wise men.
　　The words of way-farers that come and go,
　　Can be discriminated by the mind.
　　Their easy and grand words,
　　[Only] issue from their mouths.
　　Their artful words, like organ-tongues,
　　Show how unblushing are their faces.
　　
　　Who are they?
　　They [are like men who] dwell on the banks of the river;
　　And they have neither strenghth nor courage,
　　While yet they rear the steps of disorder!
　　With legs ulcerated and swollen,
　　What courage can you have?
　　You form plans great and many,
　　But your followers about you are few.

　　彼何人斯？其心孔艰。
　　胡逝我梁，不入我门？
　　伊谁云从？维暴之云。
　　
　　二人从行，谁为此祸？
　　胡逝我梁，不入唁我？
　　始者不如今，云不我可。
　　
　　彼何人斯？胡逝我陈？
　　我闻其声，不见其身。
　　不愧于人？不畏于天？
　　
　　彼何人斯？其为飘风。
　　胡不自北？胡不自南？
　　胡逝我梁？絺搅我心。
　　
　　尔之安行，亦不遑舍。
　　尔之亟行，遑脂尔车。
　　壹者之来，云何其盱。
　　
　　尔还而入，我心易也。
　　还而不入，否难知也。
　　壹者之来，俾我絺也。
　　
　　伯氏吹埙，仲氏吹篪。
　　及尔如贯，谅不我知。
　　出此三物，以诅尔斯。
　　
　　为鬼为蜮，则不可得。
　　有靦面目，视人罔极。
　　作此好歌，以极反侧。

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

　　萋兮斐兮，成是贝锦。
　　彼谮人者，亦已大甚！
　　
　　哆兮侈兮，成是南箕。
　　彼谮人者，谁适与谋。
　　
　　缉缉翩翩，谋欲谮人。
　　慎尔言也，谓尔不信。
　　
　　捷捷幡幡，谋欲谮言。
　　岂不尔受？既其女迁。
　　
　　骄人好好，劳人草草。
　　苍天苍天，视彼骄人，矜此劳人。
　　
　　彼谮人者，谁适与谋？
　　取彼谮人，投畀豺虎。
　　豺虎不食，投畀有北。
　　有北不受，投畀有昊！
　　
　　杨园之道，猗于亩丘。
　　寺人孟子，作为此诗。
　　凡百君子，敬而听之。

　　A few elegant lines,
　　May be made out to be shell-embroidery.
　　Those slanderers,
　　Have gone to great excess.
　　
　　A few diverging points,
　　May be made out to be the southern Sieve.
　　Those slanderers!
　　Who devised their schemes for them?
　　
　　With babbling mouths you go about,
　　Scheming and wishing to slander others,
　　[But] be careful of your words; --
　　[People] will [yet] say that you are untruthful.
　　
　　Clever you are, and ever changing.
　　In your schemes and wishes to slander.
　　They receive it [now] indeed,
　　But by and by it will turn to your own hurt.
　　
　　The proud are delighted,
　　And the troubled are in sorrow.
　　O azure Heaven! O azure Heaven!
　　Look on those proud men,
　　Pity those troubled.
　　
　　Those slanderers!
　　Who devised their schemes for them?
　　I would take those slanderers,
　　And throw them to wolves and tigers.
　　If these refused to devour them,
　　I would cast them into the north.
　　If the north refused to receive them,
　　I would throw them into the hands of great [Heaven].
　　
　　The way through the willow garden,
　　Lies near the acred height.
　　I, the eunuch Meng-zi,
　　Have made this poem.
　　All ye officers,
　　Reverently hearken to it.

　　习习谷风，维风及雨。将恐将惧，维予与女。将安将乐，女转弃予。
　　习习谷风，维风及颓。将恐将惧，置予于怀。将安将乐，弃予如遗。
　　习习谷风，维山崔嵬。无草不死，无木不萎。忘我大德，思我小怨。

　　Gently blows the east wind; --
　　The wind followed by the rain.
　　In the time of fear and dread,
　　It was all I and you.
　　In your time of rest and pleasure,
　　You have turned and cast me off.
　　
　　Gently blows the east wind; --
　　And the wind is followed by the tornado.
　　In the time of fear and dread,
　　You placed me in your breast.
　　In your time of rest and pleasure,
　　You have cast me off like an abandoned thing.
　　
　　Gently blows the east wind; --
　　And on the rock-covered tops of the hills.
　　There is no grass which is not dying,
　　No tree which is not withering.
　　You forget my great virtues,
　　And think of my small faults.

　　蓼蓼者莪，匪莪伊蒿。哀哀父母，生我劬劳。
　　
　　蓼蓼者莪，匪莪伊蔚。哀哀父母，生我劳瘁。
　　
　　瓶之罄矣，维罍之耻。鲜民之生，不如死之久矣。
　　无父何怙？无母何恃？出则衔恤，入则靡至。
　　
　　父兮生我，母兮鞠我。抚我畜我，长我育我。
　　顾我复我，出入腹我。欲报之德。昊天罔极！
　　
　　南山烈烈，飘风发发。民莫不穀，我独何害！
　　南山律律，飘风弗弗。民莫不穀，我独不卒！

　　Long and large grows the e; --
　　It is not the e but the hao.
　　Alas! alas! my parents,
　　With what toil ye gave me birth!
　　
　　Long and large grows the e; --
　　It is not the e but the wei.
　　Alas! alas! my parents,
　　With what toil and suffering ye gave me birth!
　　
　　When the pitcher is exhausted,
　　It is the shame of the jar.
　　Than to live an orphan,
　　It would be better to have been long dead.
　　Fatherless, who is there to rely on?
　　Motherless, who is there to depend on?
　　When I go abroad, I carry my grief with me;
　　When I come home, I have no one to go to.
　　
　　O my father, who begat me!
　　O my mother, who nourished me!
　　Ye indulged me, ye fed me,
　　Ye held me up, ye supported me,
　　Ye looked after me, ye never left me,
　　Out and in ye bore me in your arms.
　　If I would return your kindness,
　　It is like great Heaven, illimitable,
　　
　　Cold and bleak is the Southern hill;
　　The rushing wind is very fierce.
　　People all are happy; --
　　Why am I alone thus miserable?
　　
　　The Southern hill is very steep;
　　The rushing wind is blustering.
　　People all are happy; --
　　I alone have been unable to finish [my duty].

　　有饛簋飧，有捄棘匕。周道如砥，其直如矢。
　　君子所履，小人所视。眷言顾之，潸焉出涕。
　　
　　小东大东，杼柚其空。纠纠葛屦，可以履霜。
　　佻佻公子，行彼周行。既往既来，使我心疚。
　　
　　有冽氿泉，无浸获薪。契契寤叹，哀我惮人。
　　薪是获薪，尚可载也。哀我惮人，亦可息也。
　　
　　东人之子，职劳不来。西人之子，粲粲衣服。
　　舟人之子，熊罴是裘。私人之子，百僚是试。
　　
　　或以其酒，不以其浆。鞙々佩璲，不以其长。
　　维天有汉，监亦有光。跂彼织女，终日七襄。
　　
　　虽则七襄，不成报章。彼牵牛，不以服箱。
　　东有启明，西有长庚。有捄天毕，载施之行。
　　
　　维南有箕，不可以簸扬。维北有斗，不可以挹酒浆。
　　维南有箕，载翕其舌。维北有斗，西柄之揭。

　　Well loaded with millet were the dishes,
　　And long and curved were spoons of thorn-wood.
　　The way to Zhou was like a whetstone,
　　And straight as an arrow.
　　[So] the officers trod it,
　　And the common people looked on it.
　　When I look back and think of it,
　　My tears run down in streams.
　　
　　In the States of the east, large and small,
　　The looms are empty.
　　Thin shoes of dolichos fibre,
　　Are made to serve to walk on the hoar-frost.
　　Slight and elegant gentlemen,
　　Walk along that road to Zhou.
　　Their going and coming,
　　Makes my heart ache.
　　
　　Ye cold waters, issuing variously from the spring,
　　Do not soak the firewood I have cut.
　　Sorrowful I awake and sigh; --
　　Alas for us toiled people!
　　The firewood has been cut; --
　　Would that it were conveyed home!
　　Alas for us the toiled people!
　　Would that we could have rest!
　　
　　The sons of the east,
　　Are only summoned [to service], without encouragement;
　　While the sons of the west,
　　Shine in splendid dresses.
　　The sons of boatmen,
　　Have furs of the bear and grisly bear.
　　The sons of the poorest families,
　　Form the officers in public employment.
　　
　　If we present them with spirits,
　　They do not look on them as liquor.
　　If we give them long girdle-pendants with their stones,
　　They do not think them long enough.
　　There is the milky way in heaven,
　　Which looks down on us in light;
　　And the three stars together are the Weaving Sisters,
　　Passing in a day through seven stages [of the sky].
　　
　　Although they go through their seven stages,
　　They complete no bright work for us.
　　Brilliant shine the Draught Oxen,
　　But they do not serve to draw our carts.
　　In the east there is Lucifer;
　　In the west there is Hesperus;
　　Long and curved is the Rabbit Net of th esky; --
　　But they only occupy their places.
　　
　　In the south is the Sieve,
　　But it is of no use to sift.
　　In the north is the Ladle,
　　But it lades out no liquor.
　　In the south is the Sieve,
　　Idly showing its mouth.
　　In the north is the Ladle,
　　Raising its handle in the west.

　　四月维夏，六月徂署。
　　先祖匪人，胡宁忍予？
　　
　　秋日凄凄，百卉具腓。
　　乱离瘼矣，爰其适归？
　　
　　冬日烈烈，飘风发发。
　　民莫不穀，我独何害？
　　
　　山有嘉卉，侯栗侯梅。
　　废为残贼，莫知其尤！
　　
　　相彼泉水，载清载浊。
　　我日构祸，曷云能穀？
　　
　　滔滔江汉，南国之纪。
　　尽瘁以仕，宁莫我有？
　　
　　匪鹑匪鸢，翰飞戾天。
　　匪鳣匪鲔，潜逃于渊。
　　
　　山有蕨薇，隰有杞桋。
　　君子作歌，维以告哀。

　　In the fourth month comes summer,
　　And in the sixth month the heat begins to decrease.
　　Were not my forefathers men?
　　How can they endure that I should be [thus]?
　　
　　The autumn days become cold,
　　And the plants all decay.
　　Amid such distress of disorder and dispersion,
　　Whither can I betake myself?
　　
　　The winter days are very fierce,
　　And the storm blows in rapid gusts.
　　People all are happy;
　　Why do I alone suffer this misery?
　　
　　On the mountain are fine trees, --
　　Chestnut trees and plum trees.
　　Of their degenerating into ravening thieves,
　　I know not the evil cause.
　　
　　Look at the water of that spring,
　　Sometimes clear, sometimes muddy.
　　I am every day coming into contact with misfortune;
　　How can I be happy?
　　
　　Grandly flow the Jiang and the Han,
　　Regulators of the southern States.
　　Worn out as I am with service,
　　He yet takes no notice of me.
　　
　　I am not an eagle nor a hawk,
　　Which flies aloft to heaven.
　　I am not a sturgeon, large or small,
　　Which can dive and hide in the deep.
　　
　　On the hills are the turtle-foot and thorn ferns;
　　In the marshes are the medlar and the yi.
　　I, an officer, have made this song,
　　To make known my plaint.