Chu ci: Li sao (~4th centruy BC-2nd century) by Qu Yuan

Li Sao or Unencountering Trouble by Chu Yuan Scion of the High Lord Gao Yong Bo Yong was my father's name. When Xue Ti pointed to the first month of the year, on the day Geng Yin I passed from the womb, my father, seeing the aspect of my nativity, took omens to give me an auspicious name. The name he gave me was True Exemplar, the title he gave me was Divine Balance. Having from birth this inward beauty, I added to it fair outward adornment. I dressed in selenia and shady angelica, entwined autumn orchids to make a garland. Swiftly I sped as in fearful pursuit, afraid time would race on and leave me behind. In the morning I gathered the angelica on the mountains, in the evening I plucked the sedges of the islets. The days and months hurried on, never delaying. Springs and autumns sped by in endless alternation. And I thought how the trees and flowers were fading and falling, and feared that my fairest's beauty would change, would fade too. Gather the flower of youth and cast out the impure. Why will you not change the error of your ways? I have harnessed brave coursers for you to gallop forth with. Come, let me go before and show you the way. The three kings of old were most pure and perfect, then indeed fragrant flowers had their proper place. They brought together pepper and cinnamon. All the most prized blossoms were woven in their garlands. Glorious and great were those two, Yao and Xun, because they had kept their feet on the right path. And how great was the folly of Jie and Zhou, who hastened by crooked paths and so came to grief. The fools enjoy their careless pleasure, but their way is dark and leads to danger. I have no fear for the peril of my own person, but only lest the chariot of my lord should be dashed. I hurried about your chariot in attendance, leading you in the tracks of the kings of old. But the fragrant one refused to examine my true feelings. He lent ear instead to slander and raged against me. How well I know that loyalty brings disaster, yet I will endure, I cannot give it up. I called on the ninefold heaven to be my witness, and all for the sake of the fair one and no other. There once was a time when he spoke with me in frankness, but then he repented and was of another mind. I do not care on my own account about this divorcement, but it grieves me to find the fair one so inconstant. I attended many an acre of orchids and planted a hundred rods of melelotis. I had raised sweet lichens and the cart-halting flower, and acerams mingled with fragrant angelica, and hoped that when leaf and stem were in their full prime, when the time had come, I could reap a fine harvest. Though famine should pinch me, it is small matter, but I grieve that all my blossoms should waste in rank weeds. All others press forward in greed and gluttony, no surfeit satiating their demands, forgiving themselves but harshly judging others, each fretting his heart away in envy and malice. Madly they rush in covetous chase, but not after that which my heart sets store by, for old age comes creeping and soon will be upon me, and I fear I shall not leave behind an enduring name. In the mornings I drank the dew that fell from the magnolia, at evening ate the petals that dropped from chrysanthemums. If only my mind can be truly beautiful, it matters nothing that I often faint for famine. I pulled up roots to bind the valerian, and thread the caster's plants, fallen clusters with. I trimmed sprays of cacha for plating melilotis, and knotted the lithe light trails of ivy. I take my fashion from the good men of old, a garb unlike that which the rude world cares for. Though it may not accord with present-day manners, I will follow the pattern that Peng Xian has left. Heaving a long sigh, I brush away my tears, sad that man's life should be so beset with hardship. Though goodness and beauty were my bit and bridle, I was slandered in the morning and cast off that same evening. Yet, though cast off, I would wear my orchid girdle, I would pluck some angelicas to add to its beauty. For this it is that my heart takes most delight in, and though I died nine times, I should not regret it. What I regret is the fair one's waywardness, that never once stops to ask what is in men's minds. All your ladies were jealous of my delicate beauty, in their spiteful chattering they said I was a wanton. Truly this generation are cunning artificers, from square and compass turn their eyes, and change the true measurement. Disregard the ruled line to follow their crooked fancies, to emulate and flattery is their only rule. But I am sick and sad at heart, and stand irresolute. I alone am at a loss in this generation, yet I would rather quickly die and meet their dissolution, before I ever would consent to ape their behavior. Eagles do not flock like birds of lesser species, so it has ever been since the olden time. How can the round and square ever fit together? How can different ways of life ever be reconciled? Yet humbling one's spirit and curbing one's pride, bearing blame humbly and enduring insults, but keeping pure and spotless and dying in righteousness, such conduct was greatly prized by the wise men of old. Repenting, therefore, that I had not conned the way more closely, I halted, intending to turn back again, to turn about my chariot and retrace my road, before I had advanced too far along the path of folly. I walked my horses through the marsh's orchid-covered margin, I galloped to the hill of pepper trees and rested there. I could not go into him for fear of meeting trouble, and so, retired, I would once more fashion my former raiment. I made a coat of lotus and water chestnut leaves, and gathered lotus petals to make myself a skirt. I will no longer care that no one understands me, as long as I can keep the sweet fragrance of my mind. Higher still the hat now that towered on my head, and longer the girdle that dangled from my waist. Fragrant and foul mingle in confusion, but my inner brightness has remained undimmed. Suddenly, I turned back and let my eyes wander. I resolved to go and visit all the world's quarters. My garland's crowded blossoms, mixed in fair confusion, wafted the sweetness of their fragrance far and wide. All men have something in their lives that gives them pleasure. With me, the love of beauty is my constant joy. I could not change this, even if my body were dismembered, for how could dismemberment ever hurt my mind? Now, my new shoe was fearful and clung to me imploringly, lifting her voice up in expostulation. Goon in his stubbornness took no thought for his life and perished as a result on the moor of Feather Mountain. Why be so lofty with your passion for purity? Why must you alone have such delicate adornment? Thorns, king grass, curly ear hold the place of power. But you must need stand apart and not speak them fair. You cannot go from door to door convincing everybody. No one can say, see, look into my mind. Others band together and like to have companions. Why must you be so aloof? Why not heed my counsel? But I look to the wise men of old for my guidance. So sighing with a full heart, I bore her upbraidings. And crossing the Yuan and Xiang, I journeyed southwards till I came to where Chong Hua was and made my plaint to him. Singing the Nine Songs and dancing the Nine Changes, Qi of Xia made revelry and knew no restraint. Taking no thought for the troubles that would follow, and so his five sons fell out, brother against brother. Yi loved idle roaming and hunting to distraction and took delight in shooting at mighty foxes. But foolish dissipation had seldom a good end and Han Zhuo covetously took his master's wife. Zhuo's son Jiao put on his strong armor and wreaked his wild will without any restraint. The days passed in pleasure, far he forgot himself, till his head came tumbling down from his shoulders. Jie of Xia all his days was a king most unnatural, and so he came finally to meet with calamity. Zhuo cut up and assaulted the bodies of his ministers, and so the days were numbered in the house of Yin. Tang of Xiang and Yu of Xia were reverent and respectful. The house of Zhuo chose the true way without error, raising up the virtuous and able men to government, following the straight line without fear or favor. High God in heaven knows no partiality. He looks for the virtuous and makes them his ministers. For only the wise and good can ever flourish if it is given them to possess the earth. I have looked back into the past and forward to later ages, examining the outcomes of men's different designs. Where is the unrighteous man who could be trusted? Where is the wicked man whose service could be used? Though I stand at the pit's mouth and death yawns before me, I still feel no regret at the course I have chosen. Straightening the handle, regardless of the socket's shape, for that crime the good men of old were hacked in pieces. Many a heavy sigh I heaved in my despair, grieving that I was born in such an unlucky time. I plucked soft lotus petals to wipe my welling tears that fell down in rivers and wet my coat front. I knelt on my outspread skirts and poured my plaint out, and the righteousness within me was clearly manifest. I yoked a team of jade dragons to a phoenix-figured car and waited for the wind to come, to soar up on my journey. I started out in the evening, on my way from Cangdu. By evening I had arrived at the Hanging Garden. I wanted to stay for a while in those fairy precincts, but the swift-moving sun was dipping to the west. I ordered Xi He to stay at the Sunsteed's Gallop, to stand over Yanzi Mountain and not go in. For the road was so far and so distant was my journey. All I wanted was to go up and down, seeking my heart's desire. I watered my dragon steeds at the Pool of Heaven and tied their reins up to the Fusang Tree. I broke a sprig of the Ruo Tree to strike the sun with. First I would roam a little for my enjoyment. I sent Wang Shu ahead to ride before me. The Wind God went behind as my outrider. The Bird of Heaven gave notice of my comings. The Thunder God warned me when all was not ready. I caused my phoenixes to mount on their pinions and fly ever onward by night and by day. The whirlwinds gathered and came out to meet me, leading clouds and rainbows to give me welcome. In wild confusion, now joined and now parted, upwards and downwards rushed the glittering train. I asked Heaven's Porter to open up for me, but he leaned against Heaven's Gate and eyed me churlishly. The day was getting dark and drawing to its close. Nodding orchids, I waited in indecision. The muddy, impure world, so undiscriminating, seeks always to hide beauty out of jealousy. I decided when morning came to cross the ripe white water and climb the peak of Longfeng and there tied up my steeds. Then I looked about me and suddenly burst out weeping because on that high hill there was no fair lady. Here I am, suddenly in this house of spring. I have broken off a jasper branch to add to my girdle. Before the jasper flowers have shed their bright petals, I shall look for a maiden below to give it to. So I made Fenglong ride off on a cloud to seek out the dwelling place of Lady Fufei. I took off my girdle as a pledge of my suit to her and ordered lame beauty to be the go-between. Many were the hurried meetings and partings, all wills and caprices. She was hard to woo. In the evening, she went to the lodge in the Qiongshui Mountain. In the morning, she washed her hair in the Weipan Stream. With proud disdain, she guarded her beauty, passing each day in idle, wanton pleasures. Though fair she may be, she lacks all seemliness. Come, I'll have none of her. Let us search elsewhere. I looked all around over the earth's four quarters, circling the heavens till at last I alighted. I gazed on a jade tower's glittering splendor and spied the lovely daughter of the Lord of Song. I sent off the magpie to pay my court to her, but the magpie told me that my suit had gone amiss. The magpie flew off with noisy chatterings. I hate him for an idle, knavish fellow. My mind was irresolute and havering. I wanted to go, and yet I could not. Already the phoenix had taken his present, and I feared that Gao Xin would get there before me. I wanted to go far away, but had nowhere to go. Where could I wander to look for amusement? Before they were married to Prince Xiao Kang, Lord Yu's two daughters were there for the wooing. But my pleader was weak and my matchmaker stupid, and I feared that this suit, too, would not be successful. For the world is impure and envious of the able, eager to hide men's good and make much of their ill. Deep in the palace, unapproachable, the wise king slumbers and will not be awakened. That the thoughts in my breast should all go unuttered. How can I endure this until I end my days? I searched for the holy plant and twigs of bamboo and ordered Ling Fen to make divination for me. He said, Beauty is always bound to find its mate. Who that was truly fair was ever without lovers. Think of the vastness of the wide world. Here is not the only place where you can find your lady. Go farther afield, he said, and do not be faint-hearted. What woman seeking handsome mate could ever refuse you? What place on earth does not boast some fragrant flower? Why need you always cleave to your old home? The world today is blinded with its own folly. You cannot make people see the virtue inside you. Most people's loathsigs and likings are different. Only these men here are not as others are, for they wear mugwort and cram their waistbands with it, but the lovely valley orchid they deem unfit to wear. Since beauty of flower then and shrub escapes them, what chance has a rarest jewel of gaining recognition? They gather up muck to stuff their perfume bags with. The spicy pepper plant, they say, has got no scent at all. I wanted to follow Ling Fen's auspicious oracle, but I faltered and could not make up my mind. I heard that Wu Xian was descending in the evening, so I lay in wait with offerings of peppered rice balls. The spirits came like a dense cloud descending, and the host of Doubting Mountain came crowding to meet him. His godhead was manifested by a blaze of radiance, and he addressed me in these auspicious words. To and fro in the earth you must everywhere wander, seeking one whose thoughts are of your own measure. Tang and Yu sought sincerely for the right helpers, so Yi Yin and Gao Yao worked well with their princes. As long as your soul within is beautiful, what need have you of a matchmaker? Yue labored as a builder, pounding earth at Fu Yan. Let Wuzing employ him, without a second thought. Lu Wang wielded the butcher's knife at Zhao Ge, but King Wen met him and raised him up on high. Ning Que sat as he fed his ox at evening, but Duke Huan of Que heard him and took him as his minister. Gather the flower of youth before it is too late, while the good season is still not yet over. Beware lest the shrike sound his note before the equinox, causing all the flowers to lose their fine fragrance. How splendid the glitter of my jasper girdle! But the crowd make a dark screen, masking its beauty, and I fear that my enemies, who never can be trusted, will break it out of spiteful jealousy. The age is disordered in a tumult of changing. How can I tarry much longer among them? Orchid and Iris have lost all their fragrance. Flag and Meli-Lotus have changed into straw. Why have all the fragrant flowers of days gone by, now all transform themselves into worthless mugwort? What other reason can there be for this, but that they all have no more care for beauty? I thought that Orchid was one to be trusted, but he proved a sham, bent only on pleasing his masters. He overcame his goodness and conformed to evil counsels. He no more deserves to rank with fragrant flowers. Pepper is all wagging tongue and lives only for slander, and even stinking dogwood seeks to fill a perfume bag. Since they only seek advancement and labor for position, what fragrance have they deserving our respect? Since then, the world's way is to drift the way the tide turns. Who can stay the same and not change with all the rest? Seeing the behavior of Orchid and Pepperflower, what can be expected of Cartholt and Selenia? They have cast off their beauty and come to this. Only my garland is left a treasure. Its penetrating perfume does not easily desert it, and even to this day its fragrance has not faded. I will follow my natural bent and please myself. I will go off wandering to look for a lady. While my adornment is in its pristine beauty, I will travel around looking both high and low. Since Lingfen has given me a favorable oracle, I picked an auspicious day to start my journey on. I broke a branch of jasper to take for my meat and ground fine jasper meal for my journey's provisions. Harness winged dragons to be my coursers. Let my chariot be of fine work of jade and ivory. How can I live with men whose hearts are strangers to me? I am going a far journey to be away from them. I took the way that led towards the Kunlun Mountain, a long, long road with many a turning in it. The cloud-embroidered banner flapped its great shade above us, and the jingling jade yoke bells tinkled merrily. I set off at morning from the fort of heaven. At evening I came to the world's western end. Phoenixes followed me, bearing up my penance, soaring high aloft with majestic wingbeats. See, I have come to the desert of moving sands. Warily I drove along the banks of the red water. Then, beckoning the water dragons to make a bridge for me, I summoned the god of the west to take me over. So long the road had been and full of difficulties, I sent my word to my escort to take another route. To wheel around leftward, skirting Bujol Mountain, on the shore of the western sea we would reassemble. Would we had mustered there all thousand chariots, jade hub to jade hub we galloped on abreast. My eight dragon steeds flew on with writhing undulations. My cloud-embroidered banners flapped on the wind. In vain I tried to curb them, to slacken the swift pace. The spirit soared high up, far into the distance. We played the nine songs and danced the shou dances, borrowing the time to make a holiday. But when I had ascended the splendor of the heavens, I suddenly caught a glimpse below of my old home. My groom's heart was heavy, and the horses for longing arched their heads back and refused to go on. Enough! There are no true men in this state. No one understands me. Why should I cleave to the city of my birth? Since none is worthy to work with in making good government, I shall go and join Peng Xian in the place where he abides.