"Song of Chu: On Encountering Sorrow" by Qu Yuan

屈原 《楚辞·离骚》

纷吾既有此内美兮， 又重之以修能。 扈江离与辟芷兮， 纫秋兰以为佩。 汨余若将不及兮， 恐年岁之不吾与。 朝搴阰之木兰兮， 夕揽洲之宿莽。 日月忽其不淹兮， 春与秋其代序。 惟草木之零落兮， 恐美人之迟暮。 不抚壮而弃秽兮， 何不改乎此度？ 乘骐骥以驰骋兮， 来吾道夫先路！

With lavished innate qualities indued, By art and skill my talents I renewed; Angelic herbs and sweet selineas too, And orchids late that by the water grew, I wove for ornament; till creeping time, Like water flowing, stole away my prime. Magnolias of the glade I plucked at dawn, At eve beside the stream took winter-thorn. Without delay the sun and moon sped fast, In swift succession spring and autumn passed; The fallen flowers lay scattered on the ground, The dusk might fall before my dream was found. Had I not loved my prime and spurned the vile, Why should I not have changed my former style? My chariot drawn by steeds of race divine I urged; to guide the king my sole design.

Translation source.

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