（二）
纷吾既有此内美兮，又重之以修能。扈江离与辟芷兮，纫秋兰以为佩。
汨余若将不及兮，恐年岁之不吾与。朝搴阰之木兰兮，夕揽洲之宿莽。
日月忽其不淹兮，春与秋其代序。惟草木之零落兮，恐美人之迟暮。
不抚壮而弃秽兮，何不改乎此度？乘骐骥以驰骋兮，来吾道夫先路！
With lavished innate qualities indued,
By art and skill my talents I renewed;
Angelic herbs and sweet selineas too,
And orchids late that by the water grew,
I wove for ornament; till creeping time,
Like water flowing, stole away my prime.
Magnolias of the glade I plucked at dawn,
At eve beside the stream took winter-thorn.
Without delay the sun and moon sped fast,
In swift succession spring and autumn passed;
The fallen flowers lay scattered on the ground,
The dusk might fall before my dream was found.
Had I not loved my prime and spurned the vile,
Why should I not have changed my former style?
My chariot drawn by steeds of race divine
I urged; to guide the king my sole design.


（三）
昔三后之纯粹兮，固众芳之所在。杂申椒与菌桂兮，岂维纫夫蕙茝！
彼尧舜之耿介兮，既遵道而得路。何桀纣之猖披兮，夫唯捷径以窘步。
惟夫党人之偷乐兮，路幽昧以险隘。岂余身之惮殃兮，恐皇舆之败绩！
忽奔走以先后兮，及前王之踵武。荃不察余之中情兮，反信谗以齌怒。
余固知謇謇之为患兮，忍而不能舍也。指九天以为正兮，夫唯灵修之故也。
(曰黄昏以为期兮，羌中道而改路。)
初既与余成言兮，后悔遁而有他。余既不难夫离别兮，伤灵修之数化。
Three ancient kings there were so pure and true
That round them every fragrant flower grew;
Cassia and pepper of the mountain-side
With melilotus white in clusters vied.
Two monarchs then, who high renown received,
Followed the kingly way, their goal achieved.
Two princes proud by lust their reign abused,
Sought easier path, and their own steps confused.
The faction for illict pleasure longed;
Dreadful their way where hidden perils thronged.
Danger against myself could not appal,
But feared I lest my sovereign's scepter fall.
Forward and back I hastened in my quest,
Followed the former kings, and took no rest.
The prince my true integrity defamed,
Gave ear to slander, high his anger flamed;
Integrity I knew could not avail,
Yet still endured; my lord I would not fail.
Celestial spheres my witness be on high,
I strove but for His Sacred Majesty.
'Twas first to me he gave his plighted word,
But soon repenting other counsel heard.
For me departure could arouse no pain;
I grieved to see his royal purpose vain.


（六）
悔相道之不察兮，延伫乎吾将反。回朕车以复路兮，及行迷之未远。
步余马于兰皋兮，驰椒丘且焉止息。进不入以离尤兮，退将复修吾初服。
制芰荷以为衣兮，集芙蓉以为裳。不吾知其亦已兮，苟余情其信芳。
高余冠之岌岌兮，长余佩之陆离。芳与泽其杂糅兮，唯昭质其犹未亏。
忽反顾以游目兮，将往观乎四荒。佩缤纷其繁饰兮，芳菲菲其弥章。
民生各有所乐兮，余独好修以为常。虽体解吾犹未变兮，岂余心之可惩。
I failed my former errors to discern;
I tarried long, but now I would return.
My steeds I wheeled back to their former way,
Lest all too long down the wrong path I stray.
On orchid-covered bank I loosed my steed,
And let him gallop by the flow'ry mead
At will. Rejected now and in disgrace,
I would retire to cultivate my grace.
With cress leaves green my simple gown I made,
With lilies white my rustic garb did braid.
Why should I grieve to go unrecognized,
Since in my heart fragrance was truly prized?
My headdress then high-pinnacled I raised,
Lengthened my pendents, where bright jewels blazed.
Others may smirch their fragrance and bright hues,
My innocence is proof against abuse.
Oft I looked back, gazed to the distance still,
Longed in the wilderness to roam at will.
Splendid my ornaments together vied,
With all the fragrance of the flowers beside;
All men had pleasures in their various ways,
My pleasure was to cultivate my grace.
I would not change, though they my body rend;
How could my heart be wrested from its end?


（七）
女嬃之婵媛兮，申申其詈予，曰：“鲧婞直以亡身兮，终然夭乎羽之野。
汝何博謇而好修兮，纷独有此姱节？薋菉葹以盈室兮，判独离而不服。
众不可户说兮，孰云察余之中情？世并举而好朋兮，夫何茕独而不予听？”
My handmaid fair, with countenance demure,
Entreated me allegiance to abjure:
"A hero perished in the plain ill-starred,
Where pigmies stayed their plumage to discard.
Why lovest thou thy grace and purity,
Alone dost hold thy splendid virtue high?
Lentils and weeds the prince's chamber fill:
Why holdest thou aloof with stubborn will?
Thou canst not one by one the crowd persuade,
And who the purpose of our heart hath weighed?
Faction and strife the world hath ever loved;
Heeding me not, why standest thou removed?"


（八）
依前圣以节中兮，喟凭心而历兹。济沅、湘以南征兮，就重华而陈词：
“启《九辨》与《九歌》兮，夏康娱以自纵。不顾难以图后兮，五子用失乎家巷。
羿淫游以佚畋兮，又好射夫封狐。固乱流其鲜终兮，浞又贪夫厥家。
浇身被服强圉兮，纵欲而不忍。日康娱而自忘兮，厥首用夫颠陨。
夏桀之常违兮，乃遂焉而逢殃。后辛之菹醢兮，殷宗用而不长。
汤禹俨而祗敬兮，周论道而莫差。举贤才而授能兮，循绳墨而不颇。
皇天无私阿兮，览民德焉错辅。夫维圣哲以茂行兮，苟得用此下土。
瞻前而顾后兮，相观民之计极。夫孰非义而可用兮，孰非善而可服？
阽余身而危死兮，览余初其犹未悔。不量凿而正枘兮，固前修以菹醢。”
曾歔欷余郁邑兮，哀朕时之不当。揽茹蕙以掩涕兮，霑余襟之浪浪。


I sought th' ancestral voice to ease my woe.
Alas, how one so proud could sink so low!
To barbarous south I went across the stream;
Before the ancient I began my theme:
"With odes divine there came a monarch's son,
Whose revels unrestrained were never done;
In antics wild, to coming perils blind,
He fought his brother, and his sway declined.


The royal archer, in his wanton chase
For foxes huge, his kingdom did disgrace.
Such wantonness predicts no happy end;
His queen was stolen by his loyal friend.

The traitor's son, clad in prodigious might,
In in-

-cest si-

-nned and cared not what was right.
He reveled all his days, forgetting all;
His head at last in treachery did fall.

And then the prince, who counsels disobeyed,
Did court disaster, and his kingdom fade.
A prince his sage in burning cauldrons tossed;
His glorious dynasty ere long was lost.
But stern and pious was their ancient sire,
And his successor too did faith inspire;
Exalted were the wise, the able used,
The rule was kept and never was abused.


The august heaven, with unbiased grace,
All men discerns, and helps the virtuous race;

Saga-

-cious prin-