东门之枌[1]
东门之枌,
宛丘之栩[2]。
子仲之子,
婆娑[3]其下。
穀旦[4]于差[5],
南方之原。
不绩其麻,
市也婆娑。
穀旦于逝,
越以鬷[6]迈。
视尔如荍[7],
贻我握椒。
东门外的白榆树,
宛丘上的柞树。
子仲家的姑娘,
大树下起舞。
选择一个好日子,
去到南边的平原上。
不纺手中麻,
闹市舞一场。
大好时光要结束,
你我屡屡总相遇。
看你美如荆葵花,
送我一束香花椒。
注释:
[1] 枌(fén):白榆树。
[2] 栩:柞树。
[3] 婆娑:舞蹈。
[4] 穀旦:好日子。
[5] 差:选择。
[6] 鬷(zōng):总,屡次。
[7] 荍(qiáo):荆葵。
Secular Dancers[1]
From white elms at east gate
To oak-trees on the mound
Lad and lass have a date;
They dance gaily around.
A good morning is chosen
To go to the south where,
Leaving the hemp unwoven,
They dance at country fair.
They go at morning hours
Together to highland.
Lasses look like sunflowers,
A token of love in hand.
[1]This song described wanton associations of the young people of Chen. The mound at the eastern gate was a favorite resort of pleasure-seekers.