古有皇英之二女，
From the two princesses of ancient day①,
乃在洞庭之南，
Where the two rivers meet awake,
瀟湘之浦。
And flow for miles and miles into the sea.
海水直下萬里深，
From the sorrow of separation who is free?
誰人不言此離苦？
The sun is gloomy, veiled by dark cloud;
日慘慘兮雲冥冥，
In mist and rain the monkeys wail and ghosts cry loud.
猩猩啼煙兮鬼嘯雨。
Of what avail is all that I say?
我縱言之將何補？
The Royal Dome knows not my loyalty;
皇穹窈恐不照余之忠誠，
Its thunder roars against me.
雷憑憑兮欲吼怒，
Even emperors to successors should give way.
堯舜當之亦禪禹。
When the king's not supported, the dragon turns into fish;
君失臣兮龍為魚，
The rats in power become tigers as they wish.
權歸臣兮鼠亦虎。
Alike the Nine Mysterious Peaks loom.
或云堯幽囚， 舜野死，
The princesses wept among the cloud green;
九疑連綿皆相似。
They're gone with the wind and waves, unseen.
重瞳孤坟竟何是？
They gazed from afar and shed tears;
帝子泣兮綠雲間，
Now only the deep green mountain appears.
隨風波兮去無還。
Only when mountains crumble and rivers go dry
慟哭兮遠望，
Would the tear-specked bamboos vanish from the eye.
見蒼梧之深山。 蒼梧既崩湘水絕， 竹上之淚乃可滅。
tears specked the bamboos.