銅雀台賦: Rhapsody of The Bronze Sparrow Terrace

Rhapsody of The Bronze Sparrow Terrace	曹植 銅雀台賦
By: Cao Zhi	曹植
After Qing Ming I went out to have some fun, and I decided to ascend the many steps to entertain my soul.	從明後而嬉游兮 登層臺以娛情
I saw the great halls of the government opened, and watched the works of the benevolent and wise ruler.	見太府之廣開兮 觀聖德之所營
The gates were built high into the heavens, and the two auxiliary towers seemed to float in the sky.	建高門之嵯峨兮 浮雙闕乎太清
A terrace rises in the middle with grandeur, connected to the pagodas over the west of the city.	立中天之華觀兮 連飛閣乎西城
Near the long-flowing Zhang River, I saw the fruits in the gardens's nourishment.	臨漳水之長流兮 望園果之滋榮
Raise two terrace to the left and right, we have the Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix.	立雙台於左右兮 有玉龍與金鳳
I saw the two bridges that connect them east and west, arching over heaven itself. (Note 1)	連二橋於東西兮 若長空之蝦蠑
I looked down to see the majesty of the Imperial Capital, and looked up to see the clouds and mist float.	俯皇都之宏立兮 聼雲霞之浮動
I welcomed talented people gathering left and right, so they could help me accomplish my Grand Dream(Note 2)	欣群才知來萃兮 協飛熊之吉夢
I raised my head to feel the spring breeze, and heard the flocks of birds sing.	仰春風之和穆兮 聽百鳥之悲鳴
These walls in Heaven have now stood, thus pronouncing my family's ambition.	天雲垣其既立兮 家願得乎獲逞
Spreading benevolence to all under heaven, so they would all tribute back to me in the capital.	揚仁化於宇內兮 盡肅恭於上京
Only the Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin's state had such splendor (Note 3), but I am not satisfied with just their brilliance.	惟桓文之為盛兮 豈足方乎聖明
Their brilliance ended! How Beautiful! Spread our kindness to the ends of the earth!	休矣美矣 惠澤遠揚
Come everyone and assist us in our Imperial quest, and not scatter to the four directions to aid others!	翼佐我皇家兮 寧彼四方
We will share the entire world together, and our brilliance will match the Sun and the Moon!	同天地之規量兮 齊日月之煇光
Let us always be the noble rulers, and let our longevity match the East Emperor! (Note 4)	永貴尊而無極兮 等君壽於東皇
Fly our Dragon banners and wander the world, and circle the city in our royal carriage!	御龍旂以遨遊兮 迴鸞駕而周章
Our benevolence will reach all in the land, and they will all live long and prosper.	恩化及乎四海兮 嘉物阜而民康
Let this terrace stand forever, and let us revel in happiness always!	願斯臺之永固兮 樂終古而未央

Note 1: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this phrase was modified to "Snatch the Two Qiao beauties of the Southeast, for my happiness day and night." （攬二喬于東南兮 樂朝夕之與共). Since the elder Qiao was Zhou Yu's ruler and friend Sun Jian's Wife and the younger Qiao was Zhou Yu's wife, this greatly incensed Zhou Yu to fight with Cao Cao rather than surrender. This worked because the Qiao of the name 喬 could be used in lieu for the character "Bridge" 橋 at that time.
Note 2: The first King of Zhou dreamed of being visited by a flying bear, and that was the omen of him becoming ruler of all of China.
Note 3: Both dukes were hegemons during the Spring and Autumn period, and lived with great prosperity over an empire of alliances.
Note 4: The East Emperor is known for his longevity.

陌上桑: Mulberry on the Path

Mulberry on the Path	陌上桑
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The sun rose from the southeast, and shone on the Qin Family House	日出東南隅 照我秦氏樓
The Qin family had a beautiful daughter, who called herself Luo Fu.	秦氏有好女 自言名羅敷
Luo Fu liked to collect silkworms and mulberries, and picked them at the south of the city.	羅敷善蠶桑 采桑城南隅
Green thread bound her basket together, laurel branches formed the handle.	青絲為籠繩 桂枝為籠鉤
Her hair was tied in a bun behind her head, and she wore bright pearls in her ear.	頭上倭墮髻 耳中明月珠
The Xiang silk formed her top, and the Zi Silk her skirt.	綠綺為下裙 紫綺為上襦
When an old man saw Luo Fu, he puts his stuff down and rubs his beard.	行者見羅敷 下擔捋髭鬚
When the youths saw Luo Fu, they remove their headbands and bow.	少年見羅敷 脫巾著帩頭
The farmers forgot their plows, and the gardeners forgot their hoes.	耕者忘其耕 鋤者忘其鋤
After, they blamed each other for being late, but for now, they just looked at Luo Fu.	來歸相喜怒 但坐觀羅敷
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The Governor came from the south, his five-horse carriage all of a sudden stopped.	使君從南來 五馬立踟躕
The Governor sent his subordinate forth, to ask whose daughter it was?	使君遣吏往 問此誰家姝
"She is the Qin family's daughter, who named herself Luo Fu."	秦氏有好女 自名為羅敷
"How old is Luo Fu?"	羅敷年幾何
"Not yet twenty, but over fifteen."	二十尚未滿 十五頗有餘
The Governor asked Luo Fu, "Do you want to ride with me?"	使君謝羅敷 甯可共載不
Luo Fu steps forth and replied, "Your Grace is foolish!	羅敷前置辭 使君一何愚
You have your own wife, and I have my husband."	使君自有婦 羅敷自有夫
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"In the East there's a thousand riders, my husband is foremost among them."	東方千餘騎 夫壻居上頭
"How do you recognize him? He rides the only white stallion."	何以識夫壻 白馬從驪駒
"Green Silk adorns the horse's tail, solid gold decorates the horse's head."	青絲繫馬尾 黃金絡馬頭
"The jeweled sword in his sash, is worth millions."	腰間鹿盧劍 可值千萬餘
"At fifteen he's a mere page, at twenty he's a court official."	十五府小史 二十朝大夫
"At thirty he has the emperor's privy, At forty he's trusted with a piece of His Majesty's land."	三十侍中郎 四十專城居
"His skin is white as snow, and he has a small stub of a beard."	為人潔白晳 鬑鬑頗有鬚
"His steps are graceful, and he walks slowly in his mansion."	盈盈公府步 冉冉府中趨
"The thousands of guests in the imperial court, all say my husband is special."	坐中數千人 皆言夫壻殊

採薇: Foraging the Vetches

Classic of Poetry - Lesser Court Odes - The Decade of Deer Call - Foraging the Vetches	詩經‧小雅‧鹿鳴之什‧採薇
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Foraging the vetches and foraging the vetches, its sprouts sprang from the earth.	採薇採薇 薇亦作止
Returning triumphant and returning triumphant , but it never happens year after year.	曰歸曰歸 歲亦莫止
Having no wives and having no family, we take the war to the Xianyun tribes.	靡室靡家 玁狁之故
No time for leisure or family, we take the war to the Xianyun tribes.	不遑啟居 玁狁之故
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Foraging the vetches and foraging the vetches, its sprouts are soft and juicy.	採薇採薇 薇亦柔止
Returning triumphant and returning triumphant , I worry about it day and night.	曰歸曰歸 心亦憂止
In my heart is endless worry, as I bore the hunger and thirst.	憂心烈烈 載飢載渴
Peace has not come to this garrison, I have no way to send word home.	我戍未定 靡使歸聘
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Foraging the vetches and foraging the vetches, its sprouts are tough and withered.	採薇採薇 薇亦剛止
Returning triumphant and returning triumphant , It's already winter again.	曰歸曰歸 歲亦陽止
The King's wars never end, allowing us no peace to settle.	王事靡盬 不遑啟處
The pains of worry burn in my heart, as even now I can't return home.	憂心孔疚 我行不來
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What blooms yonder? That kerria flower of fraternity.	彼爾維何 維常之華
What chariot passes the road near us? The rides of the noble commanders.	彼路斯何 君子之車
Our chariots began its journey after them, its four stalwart horses rushes forward.	戎車既駕 四牡業業
There's no time for us to rest, for there's many engagements per month.	豈敢定居 一月三捷
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Guiding the four horses to our destination, their stalwart forms rage on.	駕彼四牡 四牡騤騤
The noble commanders are seated above, and the common footmen crowd below.	君子所依 小人所腓
The four horses are well-trained, elephant-bone bows and shark-skin quivers arm the commanders.	四牡翼翼 象弭魚服
How can we not be on alert? The Xianyun tribes assaults us with haste.	豈不日戒 玁狁孔棘
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Back then when I left my home, lush willow fluttered with the wind.	昔我往矣 楊柳依依
Now that I have returned from war, bleak snow covered my homeland.	今我來思 雨雪霏霏
The road is deep in muck making travel dificult, hunger and thirst battered my form.	行道遲遲 載渴載飢
My heart is filled with sorrow, no one could possibly understand.	我心傷悲 莫知我哀

氓: The Vagabond

The Classic of Poetry - The Songs of Wei (衛) - The Vagabond	詩經 衛風 氓
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The vagabond looked sincere as he held the cloth to trade for silk	氓之蚩蚩 抱布貿絲
He isn't looking for silk business, but he wooed me for marriage.	匪來貿絲 來即我謀
I accompanied him across the Qi River until Dun Qiu	送子涉淇 至于頓丘
It's not that I want to delay the date, but you didn't have any references.	匪我愆期 子無良媒
Please don't be angry, the date's set in the autumn.	將子無怒 秋以為期
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I climbed up the broken walls, to look for the man.	乘彼垝垣 以望復關
I didn't see him, and tears dripped into my clothing.	不見復關 泣涕漣漣
After I saw him, I resumed my smile.	既見復關 載笑載言
After many rounds of divination, there was not a single bad omen.	爾卜爾筮 體無咎言
Send your carriage over, and I'll come with you.	以爾車來 以我賄遷
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The Mulberry Leaves have not fallen, and it grows green still.	桑之未落 其葉沃若
Oh little bird, I'm telling you not to eat the mulberries.	于嗟鳩兮 無食桑葚
Oh foolish women, I'm telling you not to be infatuated with men.	于嗟女兮 無與士耽
When a man is infatuated, he can easily extract himself from it.	士之耽兮 猶可說也
When a woman is infatuated, there's no way out for her.	女之耽兮 不可說也
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The Mulberry leaves fell, it became yellow and rotting.	桑之落矣 其黃而隕
Since the day I married you, we've lived in poverty for three years.	自我徂爾 三歲食貧
The Qi River rolls, and the water splashes into the cart and my clothes.	淇水湯湯 漸車帷裳
I never had any complaints, but you seem to have other thoughts.	女也不爽 士貳其行
You don't know what enough means, and took on two other women.	士也罔極 二三其德
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For three years I've been your wife, I've worked night and Day	三歲為婦 靡室勞矣
I wake up early and sleep late, not a day had that changed.	夙興夜寐 靡有朝矣
Every little argument we have, you resorted to violence.	言既遂矣 至于暴矣
Our relations don't know what's going on, and just laughs at my misfortune.	兄弟不知 咥其笑矣
Now that I think about it, I'm overworking myself for nothing.	靜言思之 躬自悼矣
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You said we'd grow old together, but growing old just gives me sorrow.	及爾偕老 老使我怨
Even the Qi River has banks, even the endless marsh has an edge.	淇則有岸 隰則有泮
When we were little, we played carelessly with each other.	緫角之宴 言笑晏晏
You swore to love me always, I didn't think you'd renege.	信誓旦旦 不思其反
But now I've thought it over, we are done.	反是不思 亦已焉哉

登徒子好色賦: Rhapsody on Dengtuzi's Lechery

Rhapsody on Dengtuzi's Lechery	登徒子好色賦
By: Song Yu	宋玉
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Sir Dengtuzi is an attendant of the King of Chu.	大夫登徒子侍於楚王
One day he badmouthed Song Yu to the King,	短宋玉曰
"Song Yu has extremely good looks,	玉為人 體貌閑麗
he is extremely manipulative, and he is extremely lecherous.	口多微辭 又性好色
This kind of man is not something your majesty should allow into your palaces where your women reside."	願王勿與出入後宮
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The King demanded a rebuttal from Song Yu.	王以登徒子之言問宋玉
​	​
Song Yu said,	玉曰
"Looks is a gift from heaven,	體貌閑麗 所受於天也
speechcraft is a gift from my teachers.	口多微辭 所學於師也
As for lechery, that is not my quality."	至於好色 臣無有也
​	​
The King said,	王曰
"Defend your claim about lechery,	子不好色 亦有說乎？
If you can, then you can stay. If you can't, then you must leave."	有說則止 無說則退
​	​
Song Yu then said,	玉曰
"The truly matchless women in China are all in our state of Chu.	天下之佳人莫若楚國
The truly matchless women in Chu are all from my hometown.	楚國之麗者莫若臣里
the truly matchless beauties of my hometown are all no match for the daughter of my east neighbor.	臣里之美者莫若臣東家之子
How perfect is she? If you add a bit of height she'd be too tall.	東家之子 增之一分則太長
If you take away a bit of height she'd be too short.	減之一分則太短
If you powder her skin she'd be too pale, if you put rouge on her she'd be too red.	著粉則太白 施朱則太赤
Her eyebrows are as lovely as the feathers of a bird, her skin is as white as the snow.	眉如翠羽 肌如白雪
Her form is lithe as though it has been wrapped in silk, her teeth are as perfect as seashells.	腰如束素 齒如含貝
With one smile she would daze all of Yangcheng and charm all of Xiacai.	嫣然一笑 惑陽城 迷下蔡
However, such a perfect beauty has been eying me from her walls for three years,	然此女登牆闚臣三年
but I have yet to agree to her entreaty.	至今未許也
Dentuzi, on the other hand, has a wife as ugly as sin itself.	登徒子則不然
Her hair is like a crow's nest and dirt covers her face. Her ears are shriveled, her lips flip outwards, and she has jagged teeth.	其妻蓬頭攣耳 齞脣歷齒
Her back is crooked and her waist is deformed. She walks with a limp and she's infested with warts and hemorrhoids.	旁行踽僂 又疥且痔
Even though she's this bad, Dengtuzi would still hit it and had five children with her.	登徒子悅之 使有五子
Your majesty, who, then, is more lecherous?"	王孰察之 誰為好色者矣
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At that time, Sir Zhanghua of Qin was visiting Chu.	是時 秦章華大夫在側
Zhanghua immediately said to the King,	因進而稱曰
"Here we have Song Yu lavishing praises on his neighbor, and says that she is of utmost beauty, that's just utterly misguided.	今夫宋玉盛稱鄰之女 以為美色 愚亂之邪
Even though for following the ancient customs and conscience, I feel that I am not as adequate as he is,	臣自以為守德 謂不如彼矣
still I feel that of the random women in remote places of Chu like the neighbor's daughter,	且夫南楚窮巷之妾
it is not worthy of mention in the King's presence.	焉足為大王言乎
If, however, I indeed have no taste, then I will not speak anymore."	若臣之陋 目所曾睹者 未敢雲也
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The King said,	王曰
"Try then."	試為寡人說之
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Zhanghua said,	大夫曰
"Yes, my liege. "	唯唯
​	​
"When I was young I loved to travel.	臣少曾遠遊
I went through all nine prefectures and passed every city of worth.	周覽九土 足歷五都
After I left Xianyang, I went to Handan.	出咸陽 熙邯鄲
I stayed at the banks of the Zhen and the Wei rivers, between the states of Zheng and Wei.	從容鄭衛溱洧之間
At that time it was near the end of spring, with the bright sun of summer looming by.	是時向春之末 迎夏之陽
The birds all chirped, and the beauties all picked mulberries in the field.	鶬鶊喈喈 群女出桑
They were rare beauties, and their radiance shone all over	此郊之姝 華色含光
Their beauty is self-evident, not needing any further decoration. "	體美容冶 不待飾裝
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"The way I saw them was just as the Classic of Poetry says,	臣觀其麗者 因稱詩曰
'Walk that wide path, holding my beloved's hand.'	遵大路兮攬子袪
It would be best to dedicate this to them.	贈以芳華辭甚妙
However, while they seemed to wish to come, they didn't,	於是處子怳若有望而不來
Even if they seemed like they had came, I couldn't see them.	忽若有來而不見
Spiritually close yet physically far away, everything about her was different.	意密體疏 俯仰異觀
With loning hidden in smiles, we stole glances at each other.	含喜微笑 竊視流眄
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"She invoked the Classic of Poetry as well,	復稱詩曰
'Everything revived under the spring breeze, and its lushness covered the earth	寤春風兮發鮮榮
With a solemnness I received your graceful dedication,	絜齋俟兮惠音聲
but a gift like this is worse than death.'"	贈我如此兮不如無生
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"She did not accept, and withdrew with her grace.	因遷延而辭避
It is probably because I never found the correct line, but instead relied on my spirit for victory.	蓋徒以微辭相感動 精神相依憑
With desire in my eyes, but propriety in my heart in the manners of the ancients,	目欲其顏 心顧其義
Reciting the wisdom of the ancient odes to remember the rites, the key of not overstepping its bounds	揚詩守禮 終不過差
makes this worth speaking of."	故足稱也
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The King approved of his words.	於是楚王稱善
And thus, Song Yu did not need to leave the court.	宋玉遂不退