40 Pr e - q i n t i m e s
verses, which were performed by individual shamans, this part must have been
sung by a choir.
C 2. 2
The Lady of the Xiang River 湘夫人 (xiāng fū rén)Child of god, please come down to the north bank! 帝子降兮北 (dì zĭ jiàng xi bĕi zhŭ)
Longingly I let my vision roam, heart heavy with grief. 目眇眇兮愁予 (mù miăo miăo xi chóu yú)
Gently the autumn wind wafts, 嫋嫋兮秋風 (niăo niăo xi qiū fēng)
Leaves fall on the waves of Dong-ting Lake. 洞庭波兮木葉下 (dòng tíng bō xi mù yè xià)
5 I climb the white-sedge spot to look out for her, 登 8 白薠兮騁望 (dēng bái fán xi chĕng wàng)
And get ready for the meeting with my love
this evening. 與佳期兮夕張 (yŭ jiā qī xi xī zhāng)
Why should birds want to gather in the duckweed? 鳥何 9 萃兮蘋中 (niăo hé cuì xi pín zhōng)
And what are the fishnets doing in the treetops?10 罾何為兮木上 (zēng hé wéi xi mù shàng)
The Yuan has its angelica, and the Li its orchids, 沅有茝兮醴有蘭 (yuán yŏu zhĭ xi lĭ yŏu lán)
10 I am thinking of my lady, but afraid of saying so. 思公子兮未敢言 (sī gōng zĭ xi wèi găn yán)
I look out into the misty distance, 荒忽兮遠望 (huāng hū xi yuăn wàng)
And observe the murmuring waters flow. 觀流水兮潺湲 (guān liú shuĭ xi chán yuán)
Why are the deer eating in the courtyard? 麋何食兮庭中 (mí hé shí xi tíng zhōng)
What are the water dragons doing by the riverside? 蛟何為兮水裔 ( jiāo hé wéi xi shuĭ yì)
15 In the morning I let my horse gallop by the river, 朝馳余馬兮江皐 (zhāo chí yú mă xi jiāng gāo)
In the evening I cross the western shore. 夕濟兮西澨 (xī jì xi xī shì)
I seem to hear my love calling to me, 聞佳人兮召予 (wén jiā rén xi zhāo yú)
So I will gallop aloft to ride by her. 將騰駕兮偕逝 (jiāng téng jià xi xié shì)
I will build her a house in the water, 筑室兮水中 (zhù shì xi shuĭ zhōng)
20 And cover its roof with lotus leaves. 葺之兮荷蓋 (qì zhī xi hé gài)
I will use iris to paint its walls, purple shells to
decorate its court, 蓀壁兮紫壇 (sūn bì xi zĭ tán)
And will spread perfumed peppers in its hall. 播芳椒兮成堂 (bo fāng jiāo xi chéng táng)
Its beams will be made of cassia, rafters of orchid, 桂棟兮蘭橑 (guì dòng xi lán lăo)
The lintel of the peony room will be from lily trees. 辛夷楣兮藥房 (xīn yí méi xi yào fáng)
25 Woven fig leaves will be used for its curtains, 罔薜荔兮為帷 (wăng pì lì xi wéi wéi)
And melilot screens will be set up. 擗蕙櫋兮既張 (pĭ huì mián xi jì zhāng)
White jade will be there to hold the mats, 白玉兮為鎮 (bái yù xi wéi zhèng)
Thoroughworts will be placed to spread their scent. 疏石蘭兮為芳 (shū shí lán xi wéi fāng)
White sedges will cover the lotus room, 芷葺兮荷屋 (zhĭ qì xi hé wū)
30 Stalks of asarum will circle around it. 繚之兮杜衡 (liáo zhī xi dù héng)
A hundred sweet flowers will fill the courtyard 合百草兮實庭 (hé băi căo xi shí tíng)
To disperse their fragrance in the chambers and
hallways. 建芳馨兮廡門 ( jiàn fāng xīn xi wú mén)
The spirits of Jiuyi Mountain will all come out to
welcome us,11 九嶷繽兮并迎 ( jiŭ yí bīn xi bìng yíng)
They will arrive in large throngs like clouds. 靈之來兮如雲 (líng zhī lái xi rú yún)