Qu Yuan: Li Sao ~ 屈原 《楚辞·离骚》 with English Translations

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小编导读:《离骚》是战国时期著名诗人屈原的代表作之一,是中国古代汉族诗歌史上一首最长的政治抒情诗。诗人从自叙身世、品德、理想写起,抒发了自己遭谗言被害的苦闷与矛盾心情,揭露了楚王昏庸、群小猖獗与朝政日非的政治现实,表现了诗人坚持“美政” 理想、不附和邪恶势力的自爱精神及对楚王朝至死不渝的忠诚。

屈原 《楚辞·离骚》

何琼佩之偃蹇兮,众薆然而蔽之?惟此党人之不谅兮,恐嫉妒而折之。

时缤纷其变易兮,又何可以淹留!兰芷变而不芳兮,荃蕙化而为茅。

何昔日之芳草兮,今直为此萧艾也?岂其有他故兮,莫好修之害也。

余以兰为可恃兮,羌无实而容长。委厥美以从俗兮,苟得列乎众芳!

椒专佞以慢慆兮,榝又欲充夫佩帏。既干进而务入兮,又何芳之能祗?

固时俗之流从兮,又孰能无变化?览椒兰其若兹兮,又况揭车与江离!

惟兹佩之可贵兮,委厥美而历兹。芳菲菲而难亏兮,芬至今犹未沬。

和调度以自娱兮,聊浮游而求女。及余饰之方壮兮,周流观乎上下。

Li Sao

Qu Yuan

On high my jasper pendent proudly gleamed,
Hid by the crowd with leaves that thickly teemed;
Untiring they relentless means employed;
I feared it would through envy be destroyed.

This gaudy age so fickle proved its will,
That to what purpose did I linger still?
E’en orchids changed, their fragrance quickly lost,
And midst the weeds angelicas were tossed.

How could these herbs, so fair in former day,
Their hue have changed, and turned to mugworts grey?
The reason for their fall, not far to seek,
Was that to tend their grace their will proved weak.

I thought upon the orchids I might lean;
No flowers appeared, but long bare leaves were seen;
Their grace abandoned, vulgar taste to please,
Content with lesser flowers to dwell at ease.

To boasts and flattery the pepper turned;
To fill the pendent bag the dogwood yearned;
Thus only upon higher stations bent,
How could they long retain their former scent?

Since they pursued the fashion of the time,
Small wonder they decayed e’ en in their prime.
Viewing the orchids’ and the peppers’ plight
Why blame the rumex and selinea white?

My jasper pendent rare I was beguiled
To leave, and to this depth then sank defiled.
It blossomed still and never ceased to grow;
Like water did its lovely fragrance flow:

Pleasure I took to wear this bough in sport,
As roaming wild the damsel fair I sought.
Thus in my prime, with ornaments bedecked,
I roved the earth and heaven to inspect.

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