Carol on the Minor Fairy of the Fate

Qu Yuan was a Chinese scholar and minister to the King from the southern Chu during the Warring States Period. His works are mostly found in an anthology of poetry known as Chu Ci. His death is traditionally commemorated on the occasion of the Duanwu Festival , which is commonly known in English as the Dragon Boat Festival or Double Fifth

九歌·少司命
屈原（约前339—前278）

秋兰兮麋芜，罗生兮堂下。
绿叶兮素枝，芳菲菲兮袭予。
夫人兮自有美子，荪何以兮愁苦？

秋兰兮青青，绿叶兮紫茎。
满堂兮美人，忽独与余兮目成。

入不言兮出不辞，乘回风兮载云旗。
悲莫悲兮生离别，乐莫乐兮新相知。

荷衣兮蕙带，倏而来兮忽而逝。
夕宿兮帝郊，君谁须兮云之际？

与女沐兮咸池，晞女发兮阳之阿。
望美人兮未来，临风怳兮浩歌。

孔盖兮翠旗，登九天兮彗星。
竦长剑兮拥幼艾，荪独宜兮为民正。

Carol on the Minor Fairy of the Fate
Qu yuan(approx. 339BC—278BC)

Translated by Hui

Autumn orchis and aromatic strawberry,
They grow in the hall brightly.
Green leaves and paint branches,
The fragrance of the flowers lingers around me.
O, everyone may have their own pretty children,
Why could thou worry so far?

Autumn orchis looks blueness,
Green leaves and purple pedicel.
The hall is full of pilgrims,
Thine eyen only are on mine quickly.

Thou come and go without saying,
Thou ride circle wind with cloud flag,
Sadly so far, nothing is sadder than live parting,
Happily so far, nothing is happier than meeting bosom friend.

In lotus garment with orchis cincture,
Suddenly thou come, swiftly go.
Settling down in the open of palaces at night,
Whom thou will be waiting midst the clouds?

Wishing to bath with thee in Xian Pond，
Drying thy locks where the sun passes.
Waiting for the bosom friend but not coming,
Chanting a song in the wind.

In peacock cape and jade green flag,
Thou soar up the Highest Sky to touch the comet.
Holding up thy long sword, embracing the child,
Thou are alone the person to protect the people.

注：“孔盖兮翠旗，登九天兮彗星”中的孔盖一般注解为孔雀羽毛做的车盖，但我认为还是解释为孔雀羽毛做的披肩更好，一是和“荷衣兮蕙带，倏而来兮忽而逝”相呼应，二是，我国京剧中有古代人物、神仙肩上着翠旗形象因有其渊源的。三是神可以腾云驾雾，并不一定要驾车在天上飞行。.......故试着如此译之。