Section I — 國 風 Lessons from the states

Chapter 1 — 周 南 The odes of Zhou and the South
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.

 Chapter 2 — 召 南 The odes of Shao and the South
The nest is the magpie's ;
The dove dwells in it.
This young lady is going to her future home ;
A hundred carriages are meeting her.

The nest is the magpie's ;
The dove possesses it.
This young lady is going to her future home ;
A hundred carriages are escorting her.

The nest is the magpie's ;
The dove fills it.
This young lady is going to her future home ;
These hundreds of carriages complete her array.

Chapter 3 — 邶 風 The odes of Bei

It floats about, that boat of cypress wood ;
Yea, it floats about on the current.
Disturbed am I and sleepless,
As if suffering from a painful wound.
It is not because I have no wine,
And that I might not wander and saunder about.

My mind is not a mirror ; –
It cannot [equally] receive [all impressions].
I, indeed, have brothers,
But I cannot depend on them,
I meet with their anger.

My mind is not a stone ; –
It cannot be rolled about.
My mind is not a mat ; –
It cannot be rolled up.
My deportment has been dignified and good,
With nothing wrong which can be pointed out.

My anxious heart is full of trouble ;
I am hated by the herd of mean creatures ;
I meet with many distresses ;
I receive insults not a few.
Silently I think of my case,
And, starting as from sleep, I beat my breast.

There are the sun and moon, –
How is it that the former has become small, and not the latter ?
The sorrow cleaves to my heart,
Like an unwashed dress.
Silently I think of my case,
But I cannot spread my wings and fly away.

Chapter 4 — 鄘 風 The odes of Yong
It floats about, that boat of cypress wood,
There in the middle of the He.
With his two tufts of hair falling over his forehead,
He was my mate ;
And I swear that till death I will have no other.
O mother, O Heaven,
Why will you not understand me ?

It floats about, that boat of cypress wood,
There by the side of the He.
With his two tufts of hair falling over his forehead,
He was my only one ;
And I swear that till death I will not do the evil thing.
O mother, O Heaven,
Why will you not understand me ?

Chapter 5 — 衛 風 The odes of Wei

Look at those recesses in the banks of the Qi,
With their green bamboos, so fresh and luxuriant !
There is our elegant and accomplished prince, –
As from the knife and the file,
As from the chisel and the polisher !
How grave is he and dignified !
How commanding and distinguished !
Our elegant and accomplished prince, –
Never can he be forgotten !

Look at those recesses in the banks of the Qi,
With their green bamboos, so strong and luxuriant !
There is our elegant and accomplished prince, –
With his ear-stoppers of beautiful pebbles,
And his cap, glittering as with stars between the seams !
How grave is he and dignified !
How commanding and distinguished !
Our elegant and accomplished prince, –
Never can he be forgotten !

Look at those recesses in the banks of the Qi,
With their green bamboos, so dense together !
There is our elegant and accomplished prince, –
[Pure] as gold and as tin,
[Soft and rich] as a sceptre of jade !
How magnanimous is he and gentle !
There he is in his chariot with its two high sides !
Skilful is he at quips and jokes,
But how does he keep from rudeness from them !