Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The Chinese "Book of songs"

GUAN SUI
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 .
LU MING
With pleased sounds the deer call to one another ,
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 .