呦呦鹿鳴，食野之蘋。我有嘉賓，鼓瑟吹笙。
吹笙鼓簧，承筐是將。人之好我，示我周行。
呦呦鹿鳴，食野之蒿。我有嘉賓，德音孔昭。
視民不恌，君子是則是效。我有旨酒，嘉賓式燕以敖。
呦呦鹿鳴，食野之芩。我有嘉賓，鼓瑟鼓琴。
鼓瑟鼓琴，和樂且湛。我有旨酒，以燕樂嘉賓之心。
Eating the celery of the fields.
I have here admirable guests;
The lutes are struck, and the organ is blown [for them]; --
The organ is blown till its tongues are all moving.
The baskets of offerings [also] are presented to them.
The men love me,
And will show me the perfect path.
With pleased sounds the deer call to one another,
Eating the southernwood of the fields.
I have here admirable guests;
Whose virtuous fame is grandly brilliant.
They show the people not to be mean;
The officers have in them a pattern and model.
I have good wine,
Which my admirable guests drink, enjoying themselves.
With pleased sounds the deer call to one another,
Eating the salsola of the fields.
I have here admirable guests;
For whom are struck the lutes, large and small.
The lutes, large and small, are struck,
And our harmonious joy is long-continued.
I have good wine,
To feast and make glad the hearts of my admirable guests.
吹笙鼓簧，承筐是將。人之好我，示我周行。
呦呦鹿鳴，食野之蒿。我有嘉賓，德音孔昭。
視民不恌，君子是則是效。我有旨酒，嘉賓式燕以敖。
呦呦鹿鳴，食野之芩。我有嘉賓，鼓瑟鼓琴。
鼓瑟鼓琴，和樂且湛。我有旨酒，以燕樂嘉賓之心。
Eating the celery of the fields.
I have here admirable guests;
The lutes are struck, and the organ is blown [for them]; --
The organ is blown till its tongues are all moving.
The baskets of offerings [also] are presented to them.
The men love me,
And will show me the perfect path.
With pleased sounds the deer call to one another,
Eating the southernwood of the fields.
I have here admirable guests;
Whose virtuous fame is grandly brilliant.
They show the people not to be mean;
The officers have in them a pattern and model.
I have good wine,
Which my admirable guests drink, enjoying themselves.
With pleased sounds the deer call to one another,
Eating the salsola of the fields.
I have here admirable guests;
For whom are struck the lutes, large and small.
The lutes, large and small, are struck,
And our harmonious joy is long-continued.
I have good wine,
To feast and make glad the hearts of my admirable guests.
【注釋】 野鹿呦呦不停叫，
在那野外吃青蘋。
我有高貴的賓客，
相邀彈瑟又吹笙。
吹笙鼓簧悅賓客，
禮品成筐送上來。
衆位賓客關愛我，
為我指路多廣阔。
野鹿呦呦不停叫，
在那野外吃青蒿。
我有高貴的賓客，
品德高尚聲名好。
教人忠厚不輕夥，
君子循規要仿效。
我備美酒和佳餚，
賓客宴飲樂陶陶。
野鹿呦呦不停叫，
在那野外吃芩草。
我有高貴的賓客，
彈瑟奏琴勤相邀。
彈瑟奏琴勤相邀，
融洽歡欣樂盡興。
我備美酒和佳餚，
宴樂賓客心愉悅。
1.呦(yōu)呦:鹿的叫聲。朱熹《詩集傳》:"呦呦,聲之和也。"
2.蘋:藾蒿。陸璣《毛詩草木鳥獸蟲魚疏》:"藾蒿,葉青色,莖似箸而輕脆,始生香,可生食。"
3.簧:笙上的簧片。笙是用幾根有簧片的竹管、一根吹氣管裝在鬥子上做成的。
4.承筐:指奉上禮品。毛傳:"筐,篚屬,所以行幣帛也。"將:送,獻。
5.周行(hánɡ):大道,引申為大道理。
6.蒿:又叫青蒿、香蒿,菊科植物。
7.德音:美好的品德聲譽。孔:很。
8.視:同"示"。恌:同"佻"。
9.則:法則,楷模,此作動詞。
10.旨:甘美。
11.式:語助詞,同"宴"。敖:同"遨",嬉遊。
12.芩(qín):草名,蒿類植物。
13.湛:深厚,毛傳:"湛,樂之久。"
《鹿鳴》是古人在宴會上所唱的歌。朱熹《詩集傳》雲：“此燕(宴)饗賓客之詩也。”又云“豈本為燕(宴)群臣嘉賓而作，其後乃推而用之鄉人也與?”也就是說此詩原是君王宴請群臣時所唱，後來逐漸推廣到民間，在鄉人的宴會上也可唱。朱熹這一推測該是符合事實的，直到東漢末年曹操作《短歌行》，還引用了此詩首章前四句，表示了渴求賢才的願望，說明千餘年後此詩還有一定的影響。
詩共三章，每章八句，開頭皆以鹿鳴起興。在空曠的原野上，一群糜鹿悠閑地吃着野草，不時發出呦呦的鳴聲，此起彼應，十分和諧悅耳。詩以此起興，便營造了一個熱烈而又和諧的氛圍，如果是君臣之間的宴會，那種本已存在的拘謹和緊張的關係，馬上就會寬鬆下來。故《詩集傳》雲：“蓋君臣之分，以嚴為主；朝廷之禮，以敬為主。然一於嚴敬，則情或不通，而無以盡其忠告之益，故先王因其飲食聚會，而製為燕饗之禮，以通上下之情；而其樂歌，又以鹿鳴起興。”也就是說君臣之間限於一定的禮數，等級森嚴，形成思想上的隔閡。通過宴會，可以溝通感情，使君王能夠聽到群臣的心裏話。而以鹿鳴起興，則一開始便奠定了和諧愉悅的基調，給與會嘉賓以強烈的感染。
此詩自始至終洋溢着歡快的氣氛，它把讀者從“呦呦鹿鳴”的意境帶進“鼓瑟吹笙”的音樂伴奏聲中。《詩集傳》雲：“瑟笙，燕禮所用之樂也。”按照當時的禮儀，整個宴會上必須奏樂。《禮記·鄉飲酒義》雲：“工入升歌三終，主人獻之。笙入三終，主人獻之。間歌三終，合樂三終，工告樂備，遂出。……知其能和樂而不流也。”據陳澔註，樂工升堂，“歌《鹿鳴》、《四牡》、《皇皇者華》，每一篇而一終。三篇終，則主人酌以獻工焉。”由此可知，整個宴會上是歌唱以上三首詩，而歌唱《鹿鳴》時又以笙樂相配，故詩云“鼓瑟吹笙”。樂譜雖早已失傳，但從詩的語言看，此詩三章全是歡快的節奏，和悅的旋律，同曹操《短歌行》相比，曹詩開頭有“人生苦短”之嘆，後段有“憂從中來，不可斷絶”之悲，唯有中間所引“鹿鳴”四句顯得歡樂舒暢，可見《詩經》的作者對人生的領悟還沒有曹操那麽深刻。也許因為這是一首宴饗之樂，不容許雜以一點哀音吧。
詩之首章寫熱烈歡快的音樂聲中有人“承筐是將”，獻上竹筐所盛的禮物。獻禮的人，在鄉間宴會上是主人自己，說見上文所引《禮記》；在朝廷宴會上則為宰夫，《禮記·燕義》雲：“設賓主飲酒之禮也，使宰夫為獻。”足可為證。酒宴上獻禮饋贈的古風，即使到了今天，在大賓館的宴會上仍可見到。然後主人又嚮嘉賓緻辭：“人之好我，示我周行。”也就是“承蒙諸位光臨，示我以大道”一類的客氣話。主人若是君王的話，那這兩句的意思則是表示願意聽取群臣的忠告。詩之二章，則由主人(主要是君王)進一步表示祝辭，其大意則如《詩集傳》所云：“言嘉賓之德音甚明，足以示民使不偷薄，而君子所當則效。”為什麽祝酒之際要說出這樣的話?分明是君主要求臣下做一個清正廉明的好官，以矯正偷薄的民風。如此看來，這樣的宴會不徒為樂而已，它也帶有一定的政治色彩。三章大部與首章重複，唯最後幾句將歡樂氣氛推嚮高潮。末句“燕樂嘉賓之心”，則是卒章見志，將詩之主題深化。也就是說這次宴會，“非止養其體、娛其外而已”，它不是一般的吃吃喝喝，滿足口腹的需要，而是為了“安樂其心”，使得參與宴會的群臣心悅誠服，自覺地為君王的統治服務。
通過《鹿鳴》這首詩的簡單分析，我們對周代宴饗之禮——包括賓主關係、宴樂概況，可以有一個大概的瞭解。
四牡騑騑，周道倭遲。豈不懷歸？王事靡盬，我心傷悲。
四牡騑騑，嘽々駱馬。豈不懷歸？王事靡盬，不遑啓處。
翩翩者鵻，載飛載下，集於苞栩。王事靡盬，不遑將父。
翩翩者鵻，載飛載止，集於苞杞。王事靡盬，不遑將母。
駕彼四駱，載驟駸駸。豈不懷歸？是用作歌，將母來諗。
The way from Zhou was winding and tedious.
Did I not have the wish to return?
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed;
And my heart was wounded with sadness.
My four steeds advanced without stopping;
They panted and snorted, the white steeds black-maned.
Did I not have the wish to return?
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed;
And I had not leisure to kneel or to sit.
The Filial doves keep flying about,
Now soaring aloft, and now descending,
Collecting on the bushy oaks;
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed;
And I had not leisure to nourish my father.
The Filial doves keep flying about,
Now flying, now stopping,
Collecting on the bushy medlars;
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed;
And I had not leisure to nourish my mother.
I yoked my four white steeds, black-maned;
They hurried away with speed.
[But] did I not wish to return?
Therefore I make this song,
Announcing my wish to nourish my mother.
四牡騑騑，嘽々駱馬。豈不懷歸？王事靡盬，不遑啓處。
翩翩者鵻，載飛載下，集於苞栩。王事靡盬，不遑將父。
翩翩者鵻，載飛載止，集於苞杞。王事靡盬，不遑將母。
駕彼四駱，載驟駸駸。豈不懷歸？是用作歌，將母來諗。
The way from Zhou was winding and tedious.
Did I not have the wish to return?
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed;
And my heart was wounded with sadness.
My four steeds advanced without stopping;
They panted and snorted, the white steeds black-maned.
Did I not have the wish to return?
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed;
And I had not leisure to kneel or to sit.
The Filial doves keep flying about,
Now soaring aloft, and now descending,
Collecting on the bushy oaks;
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed;
And I had not leisure to nourish my father.
The Filial doves keep flying about,
Now flying, now stopping,
Collecting on the bushy medlars;
But the king's business was not to be slackly performed;
And I had not leisure to nourish my mother.
I yoked my four white steeds, black-maned;
They hurried away with speed.
[But] did I not wish to return?
Therefore I make this song,
Announcing my wish to nourish my mother.
皇皇者華，於彼原隰。駪々徵夫，每懷靡及。
我馬維駒，六轡如濡。載馳載驅，周爰咨諏。
我馬維騏，六轡如絲。載馳載驅，周爰咨謀。
我馬維駱，六轡沃若。載馳載驅，周爰咨度。
我馬維駰，六轡既均。載馳載驅，周爰咨詢。
On those level heights and the low grounds.
Complete and alert is the messenger, with his suite,
Ever anxious lest he should not succeed.
My horses are young;
The six reins look as if they were moistened.
I gallop them, and urge them on,
Everywhere pushing my inquiries.
My horses are piebald;
The six reins are like silk.
I gallop them, and urge them on,
Everywhere seeking information and counsel.
My horses are white and black-maned;
The six reins look glossy.
I gallop them, and urge them on,
Everywhere seeking information and advice.
My horses are grey;
The six reins are well in hand.
I gallop them, and urge them on,
Everywhere seeking information and suggestions.
我馬維駒，六轡如濡。載馳載驅，周爰咨諏。
我馬維騏，六轡如絲。載馳載驅，周爰咨謀。
我馬維駱，六轡沃若。載馳載驅，周爰咨度。
我馬維駰，六轡既均。載馳載驅，周爰咨詢。
On those level heights and the low grounds.
Complete and alert is the messenger, with his suite,
Ever anxious lest he should not succeed.
My horses are young;
The six reins look as if they were moistened.
I gallop them, and urge them on,
Everywhere pushing my inquiries.
My horses are piebald;
The six reins are like silk.
I gallop them, and urge them on,
Everywhere seeking information and counsel.
My horses are white and black-maned;
The six reins look glossy.
I gallop them, and urge them on,
Everywhere seeking information and advice.
My horses are grey;
The six reins are well in hand.
I gallop them, and urge them on,
Everywhere seeking information and suggestions.
常棣之華，鄂不韡韡。凡今之人，莫如兄弟。
死喪之威，兄弟孔懷。原隰裒矣，兄弟求矣。
脊令在原，兄弟急難。每有良朋，況也永嘆。
兄弟鬩於墻，外禦其務。每有良朋，烝也無戎。
喪亂既平，既安且寧。雖有兄弟，不如友生？
儐爾籩豆，飲酒之飫。兄弟既具，和樂且孺。
妻子好合，如鼓瑟琴。兄弟既翕，和樂且湛。
宜爾室傢，樂爾妻帑。是究是圖，亶其然乎？
Are they not gorgeously displayed?
Of all the men in the world,
There are none equal to brothers.
On the dreaded occasions of death and burial,
It is brothers who greatly sympathize.
When fugitives are collected on the heights and low grounds,
They are brothers who will seek one another out.
There is the wagtail on the level height; --
When brothers are in urgent difficulties,
Friends, though they may be good,
Will [only] heave long sighs.
Brothers may quarrel inside the walls,
But they will oppose insult from without,
When friends, however good they may be,
Will not afford help.
When death and disorder are past,
And there are tranquillity and rest;
Although they have brothers,
[Some] reckon them not equal to friends.
Your dishes may be set in array,
And you may drink to satiety;
But it is when your brothers are all present,
That you are harmonious and happy, with child-like joy.
Loving union with wife and children,
Is like the music of lutes;
But it is the accord of brothers,
Which makes the harmony and happiness lasting.
For the ordering of your family,
For your joy in yor wife and children,
Examine this and study it; --
Will you not find that it is truly so?
死喪之威，兄弟孔懷。原隰裒矣，兄弟求矣。
脊令在原，兄弟急難。每有良朋，況也永嘆。
兄弟鬩於墻，外禦其務。每有良朋，烝也無戎。
喪亂既平，既安且寧。雖有兄弟，不如友生？
儐爾籩豆，飲酒之飫。兄弟既具，和樂且孺。
妻子好合，如鼓瑟琴。兄弟既翕，和樂且湛。
宜爾室傢，樂爾妻帑。是究是圖，亶其然乎？
Are they not gorgeously displayed?
Of all the men in the world,
There are none equal to brothers.
On the dreaded occasions of death and burial,
It is brothers who greatly sympathize.
When fugitives are collected on the heights and low grounds,
They are brothers who will seek one another out.
There is the wagtail on the level height; --
When brothers are in urgent difficulties,
Friends, though they may be good,
Will [only] heave long sighs.
Brothers may quarrel inside the walls,
But they will oppose insult from without,
When friends, however good they may be,
Will not afford help.
When death and disorder are past,
And there are tranquillity and rest;
Although they have brothers,
[Some] reckon them not equal to friends.
Your dishes may be set in array,
And you may drink to satiety;
But it is when your brothers are all present,
That you are harmonious and happy, with child-like joy.
Loving union with wife and children,
Is like the music of lutes;
But it is the accord of brothers,
Which makes the harmony and happiness lasting.
For the ordering of your family,
For your joy in yor wife and children,
Examine this and study it; --
Will you not find that it is truly so?
伐木丁丁，鳥鳴嚶嚶。出自幽𠔌，遷於喬木。嚶其鳴矣，求其友聲。
相彼鳥矣，猶求友聲。矧伊人矣，不求友生？神之聽之，終和且平。
伐木許許，釃酒有藇！既有肥羜，以速諸父。寧適不來，微我弗顧。
於粲灑掃，陳饋八簋。既有肥牡，以速諸舅。寧適不來，微我有咎。
伐木於阪，釃酒有衍。籩豆有踐，兄弟無遠。民之失德，乾餱以愆。
有酒湑我，無酒酤我。坎坎鼓我，蹲蹲舞我。迨我暇矣，飲此湑矣。
And the birds cry out ying-ying.
One issues from the dark valley,
And removes to the lofty tree,
While ying goes its cry,
Seeking with its voice its companion.
Look at the bird,
Bird as it is, seeking with its voice its companion;
And shall a man,
Not seek to have his friends?
Spiritual beings will then hearken to him;
He shall have harmony and peace.
Xu-xu they go, as they fell the trees.
I have strained off my spirits, till they are fine,
And the fatted lambs are provided,
To which to invite my paternal uncles.
It is better that something should keep them from coming,
Than that I should not have regarded them.
Oh! brightly I have sprinkled and swept my courtyard,
And arranged my viands, with eight dishes of grain, along with my fatted meat,
To which to invite my maternal uncles.
It is better that something should keep them from coming,
Than that there should be blame attaching to me.
They fell down the trees along the hill-side.
I have strained off my spirits in abundance;
The dishes stand in rows,
And none of my brethren are absent.
The loss of kindly feeling among people,
May arise from faults in the matter of dry provisions.
If I have spirits I strain them, do I;
If I have no spirits, I buy them, do I;
I make the drums beat, do I;
I lead on the dance, do I.
Whenever we have leisure,
Let us drink the sparkling spirits.
相彼鳥矣，猶求友聲。矧伊人矣，不求友生？神之聽之，終和且平。
伐木許許，釃酒有藇！既有肥羜，以速諸父。寧適不來，微我弗顧。
於粲灑掃，陳饋八簋。既有肥牡，以速諸舅。寧適不來，微我有咎。
伐木於阪，釃酒有衍。籩豆有踐，兄弟無遠。民之失德，乾餱以愆。
有酒湑我，無酒酤我。坎坎鼓我，蹲蹲舞我。迨我暇矣，飲此湑矣。
And the birds cry out ying-ying.
One issues from the dark valley,
And removes to the lofty tree,
While ying goes its cry,
Seeking with its voice its companion.
Look at the bird,
Bird as it is, seeking with its voice its companion;
And shall a man,
Not seek to have his friends?
Spiritual beings will then hearken to him;
He shall have harmony and peace.
Xu-xu they go, as they fell the trees.
I have strained off my spirits, till they are fine,
And the fatted lambs are provided,
To which to invite my paternal uncles.
It is better that something should keep them from coming,
Than that I should not have regarded them.
Oh! brightly I have sprinkled and swept my courtyard,
And arranged my viands, with eight dishes of grain, along with my fatted meat,
To which to invite my maternal uncles.
It is better that something should keep them from coming,
Than that there should be blame attaching to me.
They fell down the trees along the hill-side.
I have strained off my spirits in abundance;
The dishes stand in rows,
And none of my brethren are absent.
The loss of kindly feeling among people,
May arise from faults in the matter of dry provisions.
If I have spirits I strain them, do I;
If I have no spirits, I buy them, do I;
I make the drums beat, do I;
I lead on the dance, do I.
Whenever we have leisure,
Let us drink the sparkling spirits.
天保定爾，亦孔之固。俾爾單厚，何福不除？俾爾多益，以莫不庶。
天保定爾，俾爾戩穀。罄無不宜，受天百祿。降爾遐福，維日不足。
天保定爾，以莫不興。如山如阜，如岡如陵，如川之方至，以莫不增。
吉蠲為饎，是用孝享。禴祠烝嘗，於公先王。君曰：卜爾，萬壽無疆。
神之吊矣，詒爾多福。民之質矣，日用飲食。群黎百姓，遍為爾德。
如月之恆，如日之升。如南山之壽，不騫不崩。如鬆柏之茂，無不爾或承。
With the greatest securtiy;
Makes thee entirely virtuous,
That thou mayest enjoy every happiness;
Grants thee much increase,
So that thou hast all in abundance.
Heaven protects and establishes thee,
It grants thee all excellence,
So that thine every matter is right,
And thou receivest every heavenly favour.
It sends down to thee long-during happiness,
Which the days are not sufficient to enjoy.
Heaven protects and establishes thee,
So that in every thing thou dost prosper,
Like the high hills, and the mountain masses,
Like the topmost ridges, and the greatest bulks;
That, as the stream ever coming on,
Such is thine increase.
With happy auspices and purifications, thou bringest the offerings,
And dost filially present them;
In spring, summer, autumn, and winter,
To the dukes and former kings,
Who says, " We give to thee,
Myriad of years of duration unlimited. "
The spirits come,
And confer on thee many blessings.
The people are simple and honest,
Daily enjoying their meat and drink.
All the black-haired race, in all their surnames,
Universally practise your virtue.
Like the moon advancing to the full,
Like the sun ascending the heavens,
Like the age of the southern hills,
Never waning, never falling,
Like the luxuriance of the fir and the cypress; --
May such be thy succeeding line!
天保定爾，俾爾戩穀。罄無不宜，受天百祿。降爾遐福，維日不足。
天保定爾，以莫不興。如山如阜，如岡如陵，如川之方至，以莫不增。
吉蠲為饎，是用孝享。禴祠烝嘗，於公先王。君曰：卜爾，萬壽無疆。
神之吊矣，詒爾多福。民之質矣，日用飲食。群黎百姓，遍為爾德。
如月之恆，如日之升。如南山之壽，不騫不崩。如鬆柏之茂，無不爾或承。
With the greatest securtiy;
Makes thee entirely virtuous,
That thou mayest enjoy every happiness;
Grants thee much increase,
So that thou hast all in abundance.
Heaven protects and establishes thee,
It grants thee all excellence,
So that thine every matter is right,
And thou receivest every heavenly favour.
It sends down to thee long-during happiness,
Which the days are not sufficient to enjoy.
Heaven protects and establishes thee,
So that in every thing thou dost prosper,
Like the high hills, and the mountain masses,
Like the topmost ridges, and the greatest bulks;
That, as the stream ever coming on,
Such is thine increase.
With happy auspices and purifications, thou bringest the offerings,
And dost filially present them;
In spring, summer, autumn, and winter,
To the dukes and former kings,
Who says, " We give to thee,
Myriad of years of duration unlimited. "
The spirits come,
And confer on thee many blessings.
The people are simple and honest,
Daily enjoying their meat and drink.
All the black-haired race, in all their surnames,
Universally practise your virtue.
Like the moon advancing to the full,
Like the sun ascending the heavens,
Like the age of the southern hills,
Never waning, never falling,
Like the luxuriance of the fir and the cypress; --
May such be thy succeeding line!
采薇
采薇
采薇
采薇靡室靡傢，玁狁之故。不遑啓居，玁狁之故。
采薇采薇，薇亦柔止。曰歸曰歸，心亦憂止。
憂心烈烈，載饑載渴。我戍未定，靡使歸聘。
采薇采薇，薇亦剛止。曰歸曰歸，歲亦陽止。
王事靡盬，不遑啓處。憂心孔疚，我行不來！
彼爾維何？維常之華。彼路斯何？君子之車。
戎車既駕，四牡業業。豈敢定居？一月三捷。
駕彼四牡，四牡騤々。君子所依，小人所腓。
四牡翼翼，象弭魚服。豈不日戒？玁狁孔棘(亟)！
昔我往矣，楊柳依依。今我來思，雨雪霏霏。
行道遲遲，載渴載饑。我心傷悲，莫知我哀！
The thorn-ferns are now springing up.
When shall we return? When shall we return?
It will be late in the [next] year.
Wife and husband will be separated,
Because of the Xian-yun.
We shall have no leisure to rest,
Because of the Xian-yun.
Let us gather the thorn-ferns, let us gather the thorn-ferns;
The thorn-ferns are now tender.
When shall we return? When shall we return?
Our hearts are sorrowful;
Our hearts are sad and sorrowful;
We shall hunger, we shall thirst.
While our service on guard is not finished,
We can send no one home to enquire about our families.
Let us gather the thorn-ferns, let us gather the thorn-ferns;
The thorn-ferns are now hard.
When shall we return? When shall we return?
The year will be in the tenth month.
But the king's business must not be slackly performed;
We shall have no leisure to rest.
Our sorrowing hearts are in great distress;
But we shall not return from our expedition.
What is that so gorgeous?
It is the flowers of the cherry tree.
What carriage is that?
It is the carriage of our general.
His war carriage is yoked;
The four steeds are strong.
Dare we remain inactive?
In one month we shall have three victories.
The four steeds are yoked,
The four steeds, eager and strong; --
The confidence of the general,
The protection of the men.
The four steeds move regularly, like wings; --
There are the bow with its ivory ends, and the seal-skin quiver.
Shall we not daily warn one another?
The business of the Xian-yun is very urgent.
At first, when we set out,
The willows were fresh and green;
Now, when we shall be returning,
The snow will be falling in clouds.
Long and tedious will be our marching;
We shall hunger; we shall thirst.
Our hearts are wounded with grief,
And no one knows our sadness.
我出我車，於彼牧矣。自天子所，謂我來矣。
召彼僕夫，謂之載矣。王事多難，維其棘矣。
我出我車，於彼郊矣。設此旐矣，建彼旄矣。
彼旟旐斯，鬍不旆旆？憂心悄悄，僕夫況瘁。
王命南仲，往城於方。出車彭彭，旂旐央央。
天子命我，城彼朔方。赫赫南仲，玁狁於襄。
昔我往矣，黍稷方華。今我來思，雨雪載途。
王事多難，不遑啓居。豈不懷歸？畏此簡書。
喓々草蟲，趯趯阜螽。未見君子，憂心忡忡。
既見君子，我心則降。赫赫南仲，薄伐西戎。
春日遲遲，卉木萋萋。倉庚喈喈，采蘩祁祁。
執訊獲醜，薄言還歸。赫赫南仲，玁狁於夷。
To those pasture grounds.
" From the place of the son of Heaven,
Came an order to me to march, " [said the general].
So he called his carriage-officers,
And told them to get the carriages all ready.
" The king"s business, " [said he], " is surrounded with difficulties;
We must use despatch. "
We proceeded with our carriage,
To that suburban region.
The banner with tortoises and serpents was raised,
And the ox-tails set up at the top of its staff;
Did not it and the falcon banner,
Fly about grandly?
The [general"s] heart was anxious and sad,
And the carriage-officers appeared full of care.
The king charged Nan Zhong,
To go and build a wall in the [disturbed] region.
How numerous were his chariots!
How splendid his dragon, his tortoise and serpent flags!
The son of Heaven had charged us,
To build a wall in that northern region.
Awe-inspiring was Nan Zhong;
The Xian-yun were sure to be swept away!
When we were marching at first,
The millets were in flower.
Now that we are returning,
The snow falls, and the roads are all mire.
The king"s business was not to be slackly performed,
And we had not leisure to rest.
Did we not long to return?
But we were in awe of the orders in the tablets.
" Yao-yao go the grass-insects,
And the hoppers leap about.
While we do not see our husbands,
Our hearts must be full of grief.
Let us but see our husbands,
And our hearts will be at rest. "
The awe-inspiring Nan Zhong,
Is smiting the Rong of the west.
The spring-days are lengthening out;
The plants and trees grow full of verdure;
The oriole"s cry comes jie-jie;
[Our wives] go in crowds to gather the white southernwood.
With our prisoners for the question and our captive crowd,
We return.
Awe-inspiring is Nan zhong;
The Xian-yun are pacified.
召彼僕夫，謂之載矣。王事多難，維其棘矣。
我出我車，於彼郊矣。設此旐矣，建彼旄矣。
彼旟旐斯，鬍不旆旆？憂心悄悄，僕夫況瘁。
王命南仲，往城於方。出車彭彭，旂旐央央。
天子命我，城彼朔方。赫赫南仲，玁狁於襄。
昔我往矣，黍稷方華。今我來思，雨雪載途。
王事多難，不遑啓居。豈不懷歸？畏此簡書。
喓々草蟲，趯趯阜螽。未見君子，憂心忡忡。
既見君子，我心則降。赫赫南仲，薄伐西戎。
春日遲遲，卉木萋萋。倉庚喈喈，采蘩祁祁。
執訊獲醜，薄言還歸。赫赫南仲，玁狁於夷。
To those pasture grounds.
" From the place of the son of Heaven,
Came an order to me to march, " [said the general].
So he called his carriage-officers,
And told them to get the carriages all ready.
" The king"s business, " [said he], " is surrounded with difficulties;
We must use despatch. "
We proceeded with our carriage,
To that suburban region.
The banner with tortoises and serpents was raised,
And the ox-tails set up at the top of its staff;
Did not it and the falcon banner,
Fly about grandly?
The [general"s] heart was anxious and sad,
And the carriage-officers appeared full of care.
The king charged Nan Zhong,
To go and build a wall in the [disturbed] region.
How numerous were his chariots!
How splendid his dragon, his tortoise and serpent flags!
The son of Heaven had charged us,
To build a wall in that northern region.
Awe-inspiring was Nan Zhong;
The Xian-yun were sure to be swept away!
When we were marching at first,
The millets were in flower.
Now that we are returning,
The snow falls, and the roads are all mire.
The king"s business was not to be slackly performed,
And we had not leisure to rest.
Did we not long to return?
But we were in awe of the orders in the tablets.
" Yao-yao go the grass-insects,
And the hoppers leap about.
While we do not see our husbands,
Our hearts must be full of grief.
Let us but see our husbands,
And our hearts will be at rest. "
The awe-inspiring Nan Zhong,
Is smiting the Rong of the west.
The spring-days are lengthening out;
The plants and trees grow full of verdure;
The oriole"s cry comes jie-jie;
[Our wives] go in crowds to gather the white southernwood.
With our prisoners for the question and our captive crowd,
We return.
Awe-inspiring is Nan zhong;
The Xian-yun are pacified.
杕杜有杕之杜，其葉萋萋。王事靡盬，我心傷悲。卉木萋止，女心悲止，徵夫歸止！
陟彼北山，言采其杞。王事靡盬，憂我父母。檀車幝々，四牡痯々，徵夫不遠！
匪載匪來，憂心孔疚。斯逝不至，而多為恤。卜筮偕止，會言近止，徵夫邇止！
With its fruit so bright.
The king's business must not be slackly performed,
And the days are prolonged with us one after another.
The sun and moon are in the tenth month.
My woman's heart is wounded;
My soldier might have leisure [to return]!
Solitary stands the russet pear tree,
With its leaves so luxuriant.
The king's business must not be slackly performed,
And my heart is wounded and sad.
The plants and trees are luxuriant,
But my heart is sad.
O that my soldier might return!
I ascended that hill in the north,
To gather the medlars.
The king's business must not be slackly performed,
And our parents are made sorrowful.
His chariot of sandal wood must be damaged;
His four horses must be worn out;
My soldier cannot be far off.
They have not packed up, they do not come;
My sorrowing heart is greatly distressed.
The time is past, and he is not here,
To the multiplication of my sorrows.
Both by the tortoise shell and the reeds have I divined,
And they unite in saying he is near.
My soldier is at hand!