离骚英语全文(2)

　　The faction for illict pleasure longed; Dreadful their way where hidden perils thronged.

　　Danger against myself could not appal, But feared I lest my sovereign's sceptre fall.

　　Forward and back I hastened in my quest, Followed the former kings, and took no rest.

　　The prince my true integrity defamed, Gave ear to slander, high his anger flamed;

　　Integrity I knew could not avail, Yet still endured; my lord I would not fail.

　　Celestial spheres my witness be on high, I strove but for his sacred majesty.

　　Twas first to me he gave his plighted word, But soon repenting other counsel heard.

　　For me departure could arouse no pain; I grieved to see his royal purpose vain.

　　Nine fields of orchids at one time I grew, For melilot a hundred acres too.

　　And fifty acres for the azalea bright, The rumex fragrant and the lichen white.

　　I longed to see them yielding blossoms rare, And thought in season due the spoil to share.

　　I did not grieve to see them die away, But grieved because midst weeds they did decay.

　　Insatiable in lust and greediness, The faction strove, and tired not of excess;

　　Themselves condoning, others they'd decry, And steep their hearts in envious jealousy.

　　Insatiably they seized what they desired, It was not that to which my heart aspired.

　　As old age unrelenting hurried near, Lest my fair name should fail was all my fear.

　　Dew from magnolia leaves I drank at dawn, At eve for food were aster petals borne;

　　And loving thus the simple and the fair, How should I for my sallow features care?

　　With gathered vines I strung valeria white, And mixed with blue wistaria petals bright.

　　And melilotus matched with cassia sweet, With ivy green and tendrils long to meet.

　　Life I adapted to the ancient way, Leaving the manners of the present day;

　　Thus unconforming to the modern age, The path I followed of a bygone sage.