44 Pr e - q i n t i m e s
The poet, however, is denied the chance to guide his king because the king
has “refused to examine [the poet’s] true feelings.” Not only that, he has “lent ear
instead to slander, and raged against” the poet. In order to persuade his king to
change his way, Qu Yuan looks back in history. He cites both positive and negative
examples from the past so that his king may learn a lesson from them. Historical
references such as these have found acceptance among critics. Liu Xie, for ex-
ample, singled them out and praised their adherence to the classics. In this pas-
sage, the poet also provides some information about his relationship with King
Huai, whom he addresses variously as the “Fragrant One” (quan) and “Godly One”
(lingxiu). Quan is a kind of fragrant plant, and ling is often used to refer to matters
related to a shaman or shamanism in the Chuci. As we shall see in the poem, Qu
Yuan draws heavily on these two sources for his symbolism:Glorious and great were Yao and Shun,21 彼堯舜之耿介兮 (bĭ yáo shùn zhī gĕng jiè xi)
30 Because they had kept their feet on the right path. 既遵道而得路 (jì zūn dào ér dé lù)
And how great was the folly of Jie and Zhou,22 何桀紂之猖披兮 (hé jié zhòu zhī chāng pī xi)
They hastened by crooked paths, facing perils at
each step. 夫唯捷徑以窘步 (fú wéi jié jìng yĭ jiŏng bù)
Men of faction may enjoy their stolen pleasures 惟夫黨人之偷樂兮 (wéi fú dăng rén zhī tōu lè xi)
But their way is dark and leads to danger. 路幽昧以險隘 (lù yōu mèi yĭ xiăn ài)
35 I have no fear for the peril of my own person, 豈余身之憚殃兮 (qĭ yú shēng zhī dàn yāng xi)
But only lest the chariot of my lord should be
dashed. 恐皇輿之敗績 (kŏng huáng yú zhī bài jī)
I hurried about your chariot in attendance, 忽奔走以先後兮 (hū bēn zŏu yĭ xiān hòu xi)
Leading you in the tracks of the kings of old, 及前王之踵武 (jí qiáng wáng zhī zhŏng wŭ)
But the Fragrant One refused to examine my
true feelings, 荃不察余之中情兮 (quán bù chá yú zhī zhōng qíng xi)
40 He lent ear instead to slander, and raged against me. 反信讒而齌怒 (făn xìn chán ĕr jì nù)
How well I know that loyalty brings disaster, 余固知謇謇之為患兮 (yú gù zhī jiăn jiăn zhī wéi huàn xi)
Yet I will endure: I will not give up. 忍而不能舍也 (rĕn ĕr bù néng shĕ yĕ)
I called on the nine-fold heaven to be my witness, 指九天以為正兮 (zhĭ jiŭ tiān yĭ wéi zhèng xi)
And all for the sake of the Godly One, and no other. 夫唯靈脩之故也 (fú wéi líng xiū zhī gù yĕ)
45 Once he spoke with me in frankness, 初既與余成言兮 (chū jì yŭ yú chéng yán xi)
But then he repented and was of another mind. 后悔遁而有他 (hòu huĭ dùn ĕr yŏu tā)
I do not care, on my own account, of this
divorcement, 余既不難夫離別兮 (yú jì bù nán fú lí bié xi)
But it grieves me to find the Godly so inconstant. 傷靈脩之數化 (shāng líng xiū zhī shù huà)
I had tended many an acre of orchids, 余既滋蘭之九畹兮 (yú jì zī lán zhī jiŭ wăn xi)
50 And planted a hundred rods of melilotus. 又樹蕙之百畝 (yòu shù huì zhī băi mŭ)
I had raised sweet lichens and the cart halting flower, 畦留夷與揭車兮 (qí liú yí yŭ jiē chē xi)
And asarums mingled with fragrant angelica. 雜杜衡與方芷 (zá dù héng yŭ fāng zhĭ)
And hoped that when leaf and stem were in their full
prime, 冀枝葉之峻茂兮 (jì zhī yè zhī jùn mào xi)