抚长剑兮玉珥，璆锵鸣兮琳琅
We lay hold of our swords, which are inlaid With jadeite, clanking the pendants of jade.
瑶席兮玉瑱，盍将把兮琼芳
Fix'd with opal weights is th' cushion divine, And th' lemongrass is so fragrant and fine.
蕙肴蒸兮兰藉，奠桂酒兮椒浆
In orchids and on boneset is steam'd meat, And brew'd with cassia is th' nectar sweet.
扬枹兮拊鼓，疏缓节兮安歌
Drum-sticks rais'd, resounding many a drum; 'Tis in slow rhythms that we sing and hum.
陈竽瑟兮浩倡
To the yu and se's perfect melody, The anthems we carol in harmony.
灵偃蹇兮姣服，芳菲菲兮满堂
Fragrance imbuing the ritual hall's space, Plum'd enchantresses dance with easy grace.
五音纷兮繁会，君欣欣兮乐康。
The pitches of the music rise and fall; Contented, the Sovereign will bless us all!
浴兰汤兮沐芳，华采衣兮若英
In orchid water he has bathed and been perfumed, Brilliantly the Lord Incarnate is now plumed.
灵连蜷兮既留，烂昭昭兮未央
The Spirit of the Lord of Cloud descends and stays, And th' cosmos is imbued in his splendorous rays.
謇将憺兮寿宫，与日月兮齐光
So pleased and contented with my majestic shrine, Like th' Major and the Minor Lights I now do shine.
In th' cart with Draught Dragons and in kingly attire,
龙驾兮帝服，聊翱游兮周章
I oft-times, when I please, visit the world entire.
Having stayed long in th' secular world, he does rise,
灵皇皇兮既降，猋远举兮云中
In a twinkle, high back into the holy skies.
Dominating over Jiuzhou the Middle Land, His glory o'er th' infinity he does expand.
览冀洲兮有余，横四海兮焉穷
O'er the departure of the Lord of Cloud I grieve; With yearning seething in me, oh, long sighs I heave!
思夫君兮太息，极劳心兮忡忡
Oh, why are you still hesitating?
For whom are you on the isle still waiting?
君不行兮夷犹，蹇谁留兮中洲
Though fair, we've both adorned ourselves to taste;
美要眇兮宜修，沛吾乘兮桂舟
We get on the cassia boat in haste.
May th' Yuan and the Xiang Rivers calmly go,
令沅湘兮无波，使江水兮安流
And the waters therein tranquilly flow.
望夫君兮未来，吹参差兮谁思
It is for you, who fails to appear, That our flutes sound melancholic, our dear!
驾飞龙兮北征，邅吾道兮洞庭
In th' Dragon Boat a northbound course you take, By twists and turns you head for th' Dongting Lake.
薜荔柏兮蕙绸，荪桡兮兰旌
Angelica mats the orchids secure, Jasmine flags fly, sweet-flag oars are applied.
望涔阳兮极浦，横大江兮扬灵
Though the shore of Jinyang still looks obscure, O'er the Great River you are bound to glide!
扬灵兮未极，女婵媛兮为余太息
We row and row but you're still out of sight.
E'en our maids sigh for our unfulfill'd dreams.
横流涕兮潺湲，隐思君兮陫侧
We could hardly hide our yearning and plight, With sad tears rolling down our cheeks like streams!
桂棹兮兰枻，斵冰兮积雪
Magnolia helm and Cassia oars Plough the waves, which splash up like gobs of snows.