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.

Legge 1

A l'unisson crient les mouettes
dans la rivière sur les rocs !
La fille pure fait retraite,
compagne assortie du Seigneur !

Haute ou basse, la canillée :
à gauche, à droite, cherchons-la !
La fille pure fait retraite :
De jour, de nuit, demandons-la !
Demandons-la !... Requête vaine !...
de jour, de nuit, nous y pensons !
Ah ! quelle peine !... Ah ! quelle peine !...
De-ci, de-là, nous nous tournons !...

Haute ou basse, la canillée :
à gauche, à droite, prenons-la !
La fille pure fait retraite :
guitares, luths, accueillez-la !

Haute ou basse, la canillée :
à gauche, à droite, cueillons-la !
La fille pure fait retraite :
cloches et tambours, fêtez-la !

Granet LVI.

[Xref] Lunyu III. 20. quotes Shijing I. 1. (1)

gbog – Lunyu 60 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Lunyu VIII. 3. quotes Shijing II. 5. (195)

gbog – Lunyu 191 – 95 – 2005/12/02

[Xref] Lunyu XII. 10. quotes Shi Jing II. 4. (188)

gbog – Lunyu 303 – 88 – 2005/12/02

Chop ,chop ,we cut down the elms
And pile the wood on the bank,
By the waters clear and rippling.
They neither sow nor reap;
How then have they three hundred sheaves of corn?
They neither hunt nor chase;
How then do we see badgers hanging in their courtyards?
Ah,those lords
They do not need to work for their food!

Chop, chop, we cut wood for wheel-spokes
And pile it on the shore,
By the waters clear and flowing.
They neither sow nor reap;
How then have they three hundred stacks of corn?
They neither hunt nor chase;
How then do we see bulls hanging in their courtyards?
Ah, those lords
They do not need to work to eat!

Chop, chop, we cut hard wood for wheels
And pile it at the river's brink,
By the waters clear and dimpling.
They neither sow nor reap;
How then have they three hundred ricks of corn?
They neither hunt nor chase;
How then do we see quails hanging in their courtyards?
Ah, those lords
They do not have to work to live!

Gregor Kneussel – 12 – 2004/12/04

Translation into Nonohai:

Settuman ionikin-hai bibijor moorooiin hai-chou?
Yii laoii uolon-kapaar!

SuperTranslator – 22 – 2003/12/04

Shi Jing I. 1. (1)