搜索
LISAO(TheLament)isnotonlyoneofthemostremarkableworksofCh'üYüan,itranksasoneofthegreatestpoemsinChineseorworldpoetry.Itwasprobablywrittenduringtheperiodwhenthepoethadbeenexiledbyhisking,andwaslivingsouthoftheYangtseRiver.ThenameLISAOhasbeeninterpretedbysomeasmeaningencounteringsorrow,byothersassorrowafterdeparture.Somerecentscholarshaveconstrueditassorrowinestrangement,whileyetothersthinkitwasthenameofacertaintypeofmusic.Thislonglyricalpoemdescribesthesearchanddisillusionmentofasoulinagony,ridingondragonsandserpentsfromheaventoearth.Bymeansofrichimageryandskilfulsimiles,itexpressesloveofone'scountryandthesadnessofseparation.Ittouchesuponvarioushistoricalthemesintermingledwithlegendsandmyths,anddepicts,directlyorindirectly,thesocialconditionsofthattimeandthecomplexdestiniesofthecitystatesofancientChina.Theconflictbetweentheindividualandtherulinggroupisrepeatedlydescribed,whileatthesametimethepoetaffirmshisdeterminationtofightforjustice.Thispassionatedesiretosavehiscountry,andthisloveforthepeople,accountforthepoem'ssplendourandimmortality.AprinceamIofancestryrenowned,Illustriousnamemyroyalsirehathfound.WhenSiriusdidinspringitslightdisplay,Achildwasborn,andTigermarkedtheday.Whenfirstuponmyfacemylord'seyeglanced,Formeauspiciousnameshestraightadvanced,DenotingthatinmeHeaven'smarksdivineShouldwiththevirtuesoftheearthcombine.Withlavishedinnatequalitiesindued,ByartandskillmytalentsIrenewed;Angelicherbsandsweetselineastoo,Andorchidslatethatbythewatergrew,Iwoveforornament;tillcreepingTime,Likewaterflowing,stoleawaymyprime.MagnoliasofthegladeIpluckedatdawn,Atevebesidethestreamtookwinter-thorn.Withoutdelaythesunandmoonspedfast,Inswiftsuccessionspringandautumnpassed;Thefallenflowerslayscatteredontheground,Theduskmightfallbeforemydreamwasfound.HadInotlovedmyprimeandspurnedthevile,WhyshouldInothavechangedmyformerstyle?MychariotdrawnbysteedsofracedivineIurged;toguidethekingmysoledesign.ThreeancientkingsthereweresopureandtrueThatroundthemeveryfragrantflowergrew;Cassiaandpepperofthemountain-sideWithmelilotuswhiteinclustersvied.Twomonarchsthen,whohighrenownreceived,Followedthekinglyway,theirgoalachieved.Twoprincesproudbylusttheirreignabused,Soughteasierpath,andtheirownstepsconfused.Thefactionforillictpleasurelonged;Dreadfultheirwaywherehiddenperilsthronged.Dangeragainstmyselfcouldnotappal,ButfearedIlestmysovereign'ssceptrefall.ForwardandbackIhastenedinmyquest,Followedtheformerkings,andtooknorest.Theprincemytrueintegritydefamed,Gaveeartoslander,highhisangerflamed;IntegrityIknewcouldnotavail,Yetstillendured;mylordIwouldnotfail.Celestialspheresmywitnessbeonhigh,Istrovebutforhissacredmajesty.Twasfirsttomehegavehisplightedword,Butsoonrepentingothercounselheard.Formedeparturecouldarousenopain;Igrievedtoseehisroyalpurposevain.NinefieldsoforchidsatonetimeIgrew,Formelilotahundredacrestoo,Andfiftyacresfortheazaleabright,Therumexfragrantandthelichenwhite.Ilongedtoseethemyieldingblossomsrare,Andthoughtinseasonduethespoiltoshare.Ididnotgrievetoseethemdieaway,Butgrievedbecausemidstweedstheydiddecay.InsatiableinlustandgreedinessThefactionstrove,andtirednotofexcess;Themselvescondoning,othersthey'ddecry,Andsteeptheirheartsinenviousjealousy.Insatiablytheyseizedwhattheydesired,Itwasnotthattowhichmyheartaspired.Asoldageunrelentinghurriednear,Lestmyfairnameshouldfailwasallmyfear.DewfrommagnolialeavesIdrankatdawn,Ateveforfoodwereasterpetalsborne;Andlovingthusthesimpleandthefair,HowshouldIformysallowfeaturescare?WithgatheredvinesIstrungvaleriawhite,Andmixedwithbluewistariapetalsbright,Andmelilotusmatchedwithcassiasweet,Withivygreenandtendrilslongtomeet.LifeIadaptedtotheancientway,Leavingthemannersofthepresentday;Thusunconformingtothemodernage,ThepathIfollowedofabygonesage.LongdidIsighandwipeawaymytears,Toseemypeoplebowedbygriefsandfears.ThoughImygiftsenhancedandcurbedmypride,Atmornthey'dmockme,wouldatevederide;FirstcursedthatIangelicashouldwear,Thencursedmeformymelilotusfair.Butsincemyheartdidlovesuchpurity,I'dnotregretathousanddeathstodie.Imarvelatthefollyoftheking,Soheedlessofhispeople'ssuffering.Theyenviedmemymothlikeeyebrowsfine,Andsomynamehisdamselsdidmalign.Trulytocraftalonetheirpraisetheypaid,Thesquareinmeasuringtheydisobeyed;Theuseofcommonrulestheyhelddebased;Withconfidencetheircrookedlinestheytraced.Insadnessplungedandsunkindeepestgloom,AloneIdroveontomydrearydoom.InexileratherwouldImeetmyend,Thantothebasenessoftheirwaysdescend.Remotetheeaglespurnsthecommonrange,Nordeignssincetimebeganitswaytochange;Acirclefitsnotwithasquaredesign;Theirdifferentwayscouldnotbemergedwithmine.YetstillmyheartIcheckedandcurbedmypride,Theirblameenduredandtheirreproachbeside.TodieforrighteousnessaloneIsought,Forthiswaswhattheancientsagestaught.Ifailedmyformererrorstodiscern;Itarriedlong,butnowIwouldreturn.MysteedsIwheeledbacktotheirformerway,LestalltoolongdownthewrongpathIstray.Onorchid-coveredbankIloosedmysteed,Andlethimgallopbytheflow'rymeadAtwill.Rejectednowandindisgrace,Iwouldretiretocultivatemygrace.WithcressleavesgreenmysimplegownImade,Withlilieswhitemyrusti