质菲薄而无因兮，焉讬乘而上浮？
But alas, my cultivation is poor And my luck slim, how could I ride on th' air?
遭沈浊而污秽兮，独郁结其谁语！
Oh, born to a foul and confounded world I find none to impart my deep concern.
夜耿耿而不寐兮，魂营营而至曙。
Forlorn, in th' course of long and weary nights I lie on bed awake and toss and turn.
惟天地之无穷兮，哀人生之长勤。
Man is destin'd to endlessly toil, oh, Just as boundless is th' cosmos wide and vast.
往者余弗及兮，来者吾不闻。
The future is not yet predictable, And yonder my reach is the bygone past!
步徙倚而遥思兮，怊惝怳而乖怀。
Lost in reveries I linger around; Th' ideal thwarted, I'm driven to despair.
意荒忽而流荡兮，心愁悽而增悲。
In a trance I know not on what I could Rely, which adds much sorrow to my care.
神倏忽而不反兮，形枯槁而独留。
My soul all of a sudden does depart, Leaving behind th' flesh which withers away.
内惟省以操端兮，求正气之所由。
I struggle to keep my integrity So that I can find out where Truth does stay!
漠虚静以恬愉兮，澹无为而自得。
'Tis in void that one finds tranquility; 'Tis in simplicity that one finds ease.
闻赤松之清尘兮，愿承风乎遗则。
The mode of Master Brown-Pine, who is known For freedom from worldliness, does me please.
贵真人之休德兮，美往世之登仙。
The virtues of the True Men I admire; For th' Immortals' sublimation I pine.
与化去而不见兮，名声著而日延。
How I wish I could vanish as they did, Whose good name will for generations shine!
奇傅说之讬辰星兮，羡韩众之得一。
I marvel at Fu Yue, who's now a star, And envy Han Zhong who obtain'd the Way.
形穆穆以浸远兮，离人群而遁逸。
Their flesh peacefully disappear'd, and their Souls parted with th' secular world for aye.
因气变而遂曾举兮，忽神奔而鬼怪。
If only I could, sublimated, fly Skyward, at which ghosts and spirits take fright.
时仿佛以遥见兮，精晈晈以往来。
In th' distance as if were seen deities Coming and going with their divine light.
超氛埃而淑邮兮，终不反其故都。
Transcending th' dusty world I'd stand aloft, Visits to home I'd never, never pay.
免众患而不惧兮，世莫知其所如。
Void of cares and anxieties, fearless I'd be, and th' world wouldn't know where I stay.
恐天时之代序兮，耀灵晔而西征。
But oh, th' seasons each other supersede, And the Major Light will descend to th' west.
微霜降而下沦兮，悼芳草之先零。
When from th' sky the merciless frost does speed, The fragrant flowers will first be distress'd.
聊仿佯而逍遥兮，永历年而无成！
To appease my heart I rove far and near, Turn'd into naught has my life-long career.
谁可与玩斯遗芳兮？
With whom could I enjoy th' bloom in distress?
To th' winds my feeling I could but express!
长向风而舒情。
With whom could I enjoy th' bloom in distress?
To th' winds my feeling I could but express!