Li Sao is one of the masterpieces of the famous poet Qu Yuan during the Warring States period, and is one of the longest political lyric poems in the history of ancient Chinese poetry. The poet starts from describing his own life, character and ideals, expressing his bitterness and contradictory feelings when he was slandered and killed, exposing the political reality that the king of Chu was incompetent, the small group of people was rampant and the dynasty’s governance was getting worse.
屈原 《楚辞·离骚》
欲从灵氛之吉占兮，心犹豫而狐疑。巫咸将夕降兮，怀椒糈而要之。
百神翳其备降兮，九疑缤其并迎。皇剡剡其扬灵兮，告余以吉故。
曰：“勉升降以上下兮，求矩矱之所同。汤、禹俨而求合兮，挚、咎繇而能调。
苟中情其好修兮，又何必用夫行媒？说操筑於傅岩兮，武丁用而不疑。
吕望之鼓刀兮，遭周文而得举。宁戚之讴歌兮，齐桓闻以该辅。
及年岁之未晏兮，时亦犹其未央。恐鹈鴂之先鸣兮，使夫百草为之不芳。”
Li Sao
Qu Yuan
WAlthough the witches counsel I held good,
In foxlike indecision still I stood.
At night the wizard great made his descent,
And meeting him spiced rice I did present.
The angels came, shading with wings the sky;
From mountains wild the deities drew nigh.
With regal splendor shone the solemn sight,
And thus the wizard spake with omens bright:
“Take office high or low as days afford,
If one there be that could with thee accord;
Like ancient kings austere who sought their mate,
Finding the one who should fulfill their fate.
Now if thy heart doth cherish grace within,
What need is there to choose a go-between?
A convict toiled on rocks to expiate
His crime; his sovereign gave him great estate.
A butcher with his knife made roundelay;
His king chanced there and happy proved the day.
A prince who heard a cowherd chanting late
Raised him to be a councilor of state.
Before old age o’ ertake thee on thy way,
Life still is young; to profit turn thy day.
Spring is but brief, when cuckoos start to sing,
And flowers will fade that once did spread and spring.”
