许渊冲译《楚辞》
离骚
“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。”
The sun and the moon will not stay, oh! Spring will give place to autumn cold.
Grass will wither and trees decay, oh! I fear that beauty will grow old.
“朝饮木兰之坠露兮，夕餐秋菊之落英。苟余情其信姱以练要兮，长顑颔亦何伤？”
From magnolia I drink the dew, oh! And feed on aster petals frail.
My spirit being pure and true, oh! Do I care to grow lank and pale?
“长太息以掩涕兮，哀民生之多艰。余虽好修姱以靰羁兮，謇朝谇而夕替。”
I sigh and wipe away my tears, oh! I'm grieved at a life full of woes.
Good and just, I hear only jeers, oh! Morning and night I suffer blows.
“鸷鸟之不群兮，自前世而固然。何方圜之能周兮，夫孰异道而相安？”
The eagle cleaves alone the air, oh! Since olden days it has been fleet.
The round cannot fit with the square, oh! Who go different ways ne'er meet.
“屈心而抑志兮，忍尤而攘诟。伏清白以死直兮，固前圣之所厚。”
I curb my will and check my heart, oh! Endure reproach as well as blame.
I'd die to play a righteous part, oh! The ancient sages would bear no shame.
“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。”
I'll make a coat with lotus leaves, oh! And patch my skirt with lilies white.
Unknown, I care not if it grieves, oh! My heart will shed fragrance and light.
“吾令羲和弭节兮，望崦嵫而勿迫。路曼曼其修远兮，吾将上下而求索。”
I bid the Driver of the Sun, oh! To Holy Mountains slowly go.
My way ahead's a long, long one, oh! I'll seek my Beauty high and low.
“吾令凤鸟飞腾兮，继之以日夜。飘风屯其相离兮，帅云霓而来御。”
I order giant birds to fly, oh! All day long, by night as by day.
The whirlwinds gather up on high, oh! The rainbow greets me all the way.
九歌
云中君
“浴兰汤兮沐芳，华采衣兮若英。灵连蜷兮既留，烂昭昭兮未央。”
Bathed in orchid's, oh! sweet-scented dews And dressed in robes, oh! of varied hues,
With fleecy hair, oh! you slowly rise To beautify, oh! the morning skies.
湘夫人
“沅有茝兮醴有兰，思公子兮未敢言。荒忽兮远望，观流水兮潺湲。”
White clover grows, oh! beside the creek; I long for you, oh! but dare not speak.
I gaze afar, oh! my beloved one, I only see, oh! rippling water run.
大司命
“愁人兮奈何，愿若今兮无亏。固人命兮有当，孰离合兮可为？”
With a broken heart, oh! what can I do? Better keep fit, oh! in mind and heart!
Each man is fated, oh! to have his due; It's not up to us, oh! to meet or part.
少司命
“入不言兮出不辞，乘回风兮载云旗。悲莫悲兮生别离，乐莫乐兮新相知。”
Wordless you come, oh! wordless you go As cloud-flags spread, oh! and whirlwinds blow.
None is so sad, oh! as those who part; Nor so happy, oh! as new sweetheart.
河伯
“登昆仑兮四望，心飞扬兮浩荡。日将暮兮怅忘归，惟极浦兮寤怀。”
On Mount Kunlun, oh! I look around; My heart surges up, oh! beyond the bounds.
Homesick at dusk, oh! why not go back? I gaze afar, oh! to find lost track.
山鬼
“余处幽篁兮终不见天，路险难兮独后来。表独立兮山之上，云容容兮而在下。”
The bamboo grove, oh! obscures the day; I come too late, oh! hard is the way.
Standing alone, oh! on mountain proud, I see below, oh! a sea of cloud.
“杳冥冥兮羌昼晦，东风飘兮神灵雨。留灵修兮憺忘归，岁既晏兮孰华予。”
The day is dark, oh! as dark as night; The east wind blows, oh! rain blurs the sight.
Waiting for you, oh! I forget hours. Late in the year, oh! who'd give me flowers?
九章
哀郢
“鸟飞反故乡兮，狐死必首丘。信非吾罪而弃逐兮，何日夜而忘之？”
A bird flies nowhere but home-bound; oh! A dying fox turns its head to its mound.
Guiltless but banished, I take flight; oh! How can I forget you day and night?
抽思
“与美人抽怨兮，并日夜而无正。吾以其美好兮，敖朕辞而不听。”
I pour out thoughts to my prince fair and bright; oh! There is no witness day and night.
He showed his beauty in high glee; oh! He's too proud to listen to me.
怀沙
“古固有不并兮，岂知其何故？汤禹久远兮，邈而不可慕。”
Few kings and lords meet as of old, oh! The reason why cannot be told.
Kings Yu and Tang lived long before, oh! Too remote for me to adore.
思美人
“登高吾不说兮，人下吾不能。固朕形之不服兮，然容与而狐疑。”
I do not like to climb up high, oh! And I cannot go down and lie.
My body will not yield, I wait, oh! Undecided, I hesitate.
惜往日
“或忠信而死节兮，或谩而不疑。弗省察而按实兮，听谗人之虚词。芳与泽其杂糅兮，孰申旦而别之？”
As martyrs loyal friends may die, oh! Those are not doubted, who cheat and lie.
Acting nor with care nor on truth, oh! One would believe slanders, forsooth.
The foul is mixed up with the fair, oh! Who could discern between them anywhere?
“自前世之嫉贤兮，谓蕙若其不可佩。妒佳冶之芬芳兮，嫫母姣而自好。虽有西施之美容兮，谗妒入以自代。”
As of old, jealous of the fair, oh! They say orchids unfit to wear.
Jealous of fragrant beauty sweet, oh! The ugly queen thought herself neat.
The Western Lady had a lovely face, oh! Jealous women would take her place.
悲回风
“惟佳人之独怀兮，折若椒以自处。曾歔欷之嗟嗟兮，独隐伏而思虑。”
Over beauties alone I brood, oh! I pluck flowers from fragrant wood.
I heave deep sigh upon deep sigh, oh! Alone and pondering, I lie.
“穆眇眇之无垠兮，莽芒芒之无仪。声有隐而相感兮，物有纯而不可为。”
Immensity mute has no border, oh! Vast wilderness can have no order.
Sound unseen can be felt and heard, oh! Things uncreated can't be put in word.
远游
“惟天地之无穷兮，哀人生之长勤。往者余弗及兮，来者吾不闻。”
Between the boundless earth and sky, oh! Forever man must toil, I sigh.
Beyond my reach are bygone days, oh! Can I hear what the future says?
“恐天时之代序兮，耀灵晔而西征。微霜降而下沦兮，悼芳草之先零。”
The seasons will change without rest, oh! I fear the sun will ever go west.
Hoar frost will fall, I am afraid, oh! And fragrant grass and flowers will fade.
“道可受兮，不可传；其小无内兮，其大无垠；无滑而魂兮，彼将自然；壹气孔神兮，于中夜存；虚以待之兮，无为之先；庶类以成兮，此德之门。”
We may learn the Way, oh! Which we can't to others convey.
Small, nothing within it is found; oh! Great, there is no boundary around.
If to disorder not inclined, oh! Naturally will work your mind.
If your spirit is unified, oh! At midnight it's kept pure inside.
Empty-minded you may await, oh! Do not strive to be first or great!
Let all things be formed as they may, oh! Then you'll find the door to the Way.
卜居
“夫尺有所短，寸有所长，物有所不足，智有所不明，数有所不逮，神有所不通。”
A foot may be too short for something long; For something weak an inch is strong.
Everything has its weak points; Sometimes a wise man disappoints.
There's something which to fate we must resign, And other things beyond the power divine.
渔父
“举世皆浊我独清，众人皆醉我独醒，是以见放。”
When all the world in mud has sunk, Alone I am clean;
When all the people are drunk, Sober I'm seen.
How can I not get banished?
