何彼襛矣[1]
何彼襛矣?
唐棣之华。
曷不肃雍,
王姬之车。
何彼襛矣?
华如桃李。
平王之孙,
齐侯之子。
其钓维何?
维丝伊缗[2]。
齐侯之子,
平王之孙。
怎么那样绚艳繁盛?
像郁李的花一样。
多么雍容又大方,
那是王姬的花车。
怎么那么绚艳繁盛?
盛放的桃李般漂亮。
那是平王的孙女,
齐侯儿子是新郎。
用什么钓鱼最适宜?
用丝麻搓合成钓绳。
那是齐侯的儿郎,
平王的孙女结婚姻。
注释:
[1] 襛:繁盛的样子。
[2] 缗:绳。
The Princess’ Wedding[1]
Luxuriant in spring
As plum flowers o’er water,
How we revere the string
Of cabs for the king’s daughter!
Luxuriant in spring
As the peach flowers red,
The daughter of the king
To a marquis’ son is wed.
we use the silken thread
To form a fishing line.
The son of marquis is wed
To the princess divine.
[1]This song described the marriage in 683 B. C. of the granddaughter of King Ping (769—719 B. C.) and the son of the Marquise of Qi. The silken thread forming a fishing line might allude to the newly-wed forming a happy family.