Shi Jing, The Book of Odes: Lessons from the states, Odes Of Bei

[x_los]

This is a longer chapter than the previous two, and people are still catching up with the last two chapters/acclimating to the format. Thus we'll only do one chapter this week.

I'm going to post this week's poem translations in the body of the discussion to make commenting a bit easier. 

Get your 'odes of bae' jokes out early, before the rush.

Comments

35. 谷風 - Gu Feng

[x_los]

習習谷風、以陰以雨。
黽勉同心、不宜有怒。
采葑采菲、無以下體。
德音莫違、及爾同死。

Gently blows the east wind,
With cloudy skies and with rain.
[Husband and wife] should strive to be of the same mind,
And not let angry feelings arise.
When we gather the mustard plant and earth melons,
We do not reject them because of their roots.
While I do nothing contrary to my good name,
I should live with you till our death.

行道遲遲、中心有違。
不遠伊邇、薄送我畿。
誰謂荼苦、其甘如薺。
宴爾新昏、如兄如弟。

I go along the road slowly, slowly,
In my inmost heart reluctant.
Not far, only a little way,
Did he accompany me to the threshold.
Who says that the sowthistle is bitter?
It is as sweet as the shepherd's purse.
You feast with your new wife,
[Loving] as brothers.

涇以渭濁、湜湜其沚。
宴爾新昏、不我屑以。
毋逝我梁、毋發我笱。
我躬不閱、遑恤我後。

The muddiness of the Jing appears from the Wei,
But its bottom may be seen about the islets.
You feast with your new wife,
And think me not worth being with
Do not approach my dam,
Do not move my basket.
My person is rejected; -
What avails it to care for what may come after?

就其深矣、方之舟之。
就其淺矣、泳之游之。
何有何亡、黽勉求之。
凡民有喪、匍匐救之。

Where the water was deep,
I crossed it by a raft or a boat.
Where it was shallow,
I dived or swam across it.
Whether we had plenty or not,
I exerted myself to be getting.
When among others there was a death,
I crawled on my knees to help them.

不我能慉、反以我為讎。
既阻我德、賈用不售。
昔育恐育鞫、及爾顛覆。
既生既育、比予于毒。

You cannot cherish me,
And you even count me as an enemy.
You disdain my virtues, -
A pedlar's wares which do not sell.
Formerly, I was afraid our means might be exhausted,
And I might come with you to destitution.
Now, when your means are abundant,
You compare me to poison.

我有旨蓄、亦以御冬。
宴爾新昏、以我御窮。
有洸有潰、既詒我肄。
不念昔者、伊余來塈。

My fine collection of vegetables,
Is but a provision against the winter.
Feasting with your new wife,
You think of me as a provision [only] against your poverty.
Cavalierly and angrily you treat me;
You give me only pain.
You do not think of the former days,
And are only angry with me.

Re: 35. 谷風 - Gu Feng

[x_los]

Another translation:

Gu-feng: The Valley Wind
by Arthur Waley
Zip, zip the valley wind,
Bringing darkness, bringing rain.
" Strive to be of one mind;
Let there be no anger between you. "
He who plucks greens, plucks cabbage
Does not judge by the lower parts
In my reputation there is no flaw,
I am yours till death.

Slowly I take the road,
Reluctant at heart
Not far, no, near;
See, you escort me only to the gateway
Who says that sow-thistle is bitter?
It is sweeter than shepherd's-purse.
You feast your new marriage-kin,
As though they were older brothers, were younger brothers.

" It is the Wei that makes the Jing look dirty;
Very clear are its shoals.
You feast your new relations,
And think me no fit company.
" Do not break my dam,
Do not open my fish-traps.
Though for my person you have no regard,
At least pity my brood. "

Where the water was deep
I rafted it, boated it;
Where the water was shallow
I swam it, floated it.
Whether a thing was to be had or no
I strove always to find it.
When any of your people were in trouble
I went on my knees to help them.

Why do you not cherish me,
But rather treat me as an enemy?
You have spoilt my value;
What is used, no merchant will buy.
Once in times of peril, of extremity
With you I shared all troubles.
But now that you are well-nurtured, well-fed,
You treat me as though I were a poison.

I had laid by a good store,
Enough to provide against the winter;
You feast your new kin,
And that provision is eaten up
Then you were violent, were enraged,
And it gave me great pain.
You do not think of the past;
It is only anger that is left.

Re: 35. 谷風 - Gu Feng

[aeriallon]

"Zip, zip" Arthur Waley, no, wyd bb

Re: 35. 谷風 - Gu Feng

[x_los]

魏 , 湜 CLOSER! But sill no. It's never the one you think. The one you think is like fuckin lupus.

Ok so this HORRIBLE guy has finally stabilised this family's financial situation and he's taken a hot new second wife and is neglecting the first wife who helped him through the shitty years. She hopes that at LEAST he will still be good to their kids?

What a fucker.