Nine Debates

Nine Debates

This long lyric was considered be written by Song Yu，another poet of Chu and the follower of Qu Yuan.It shows deep feeling with the sigh that the poor scholar officials lost position but their ambition could not be pressed.The lyric also revealed the darkness of the then society.

Alas，sad and dreary，look at the bleak scenery of late autumn！

Wind is rustling；grasses and wood are withered in yellow fields.

I feel sad，just like a decoy is in a remote place.

O，climb mounts and watch water，I see my friend off，he is going home.

O，the vast blue sky，it is bright and clear.

O，the autumn water is calm；the river is clear and bright.

Feeling sad and sigh，I can hardly bear the cold wind.

Absent-minded and melancholy，I leave my native place.

The road is rough；I'm poor and lost position with resentment.

The environment is quiet.I live in a strange place with no friend.

Melancholy，I feel sorrowful and painful.

Swallows are flying toward their homeland.

The lonely autumn cicada stopped chirping.

Wild geese are flying toward south.

Kunji is chirping and I feel sorrowful.

In the long night I wait till daybreak.

Crickets are chirping；suddenly I feel sad.

Times passed away and half year slid over.

I was forced to stay away from home with my cause unfinished.

My heart is filled with anxiety.

I have to live in the wilderness.

The beauty can hardly remove her sorrow.

I leave my home and live in a strange land.

I cannot but drift everywhere alone.

I don't know where my real home is.

I miss my king with my honest heart.

But the king does not understand me.

Deeply thinking I can't press my resentment.

In a bad mood how can I care sleeping and eating？

I wish to meet the king to express my feelings.

But the king's mind always goes against mine.

Driving a wagon I left far away and return again.

I'm anxious because I failed to meet the king.

Leaning against the shaft I give a long sigh.

My tears dropped on the wagon endlessly.

I can't cut off the deep feelings with the king.

In great confusion I'm like a drunken person.

How can I remove the great grief from my heart？

My loyalty will last long without any changes at all.

The year was divided into four seasons.

Only I feel sorrowful for the cold autumn.

The autumn dew is white and covers grasses.

The parasols are withered all of a sudden.

The white sun is gradually setting.

The long and dark night will come.

The season for flowers will finish.

Only dead twigs and withered leaves were left.

White dew comes first in autumn as a warning.

I can't bear the cold winter feeling damaged.

The vigor of summer has finished.

Vitality of everything was put to an end.

The dry twigs and withered leaves lost colors.

They cover each other and sway constantly.

The flourishing twigs and leaves are withered.

They became dry in yellow and fell down.

The withered twigs and leaves made me sad.

The withered outer shape is like inner damage.

I am thinking of the withered grasses.

I sigh with emotion for my misfortune.

I hold the rein and put down the horse whip.

I want to wander freely for the time being.

One year will pass over.

I'm afraid my life cannot last long.

Sadly I was born at the wrong time.

I encountered trouble times.

I stroll slowly and then lean on the rails.

I listen to the crickets chirping in the western hall.

I feel upset and terrified and gave a long sigh.

Why do I often feel sad and anxious？

I look up at the bright moon in deep thought.

I wander under the starry heaven till daybreak.

I sigh with emotion for hui grasses in blossom layer by layer.

They are used to decorate the nice palace.

Why don't these flowers bear fruit？

They drift everywhere in the storms.

I though the king would love hui grasses in blossom only.

But there's no fragrant flower in his eyes.

What a pity the king doesn't know my loyalty.

I'll go far away leaving the king forever.

I'll hide the great grief deeply in my heart.

I only want to see the king to pour my loyalty.

I feel innocent but I want to leave the king.

With inner pain accumulating I feel more sorrowful.

How can't I miss my king when I'm depressed？

I feel sorry because the palace doors are closed.

The ferocious dogs are madly barking at me.

The road is obstructed with no way to enter.

A lingering autumn rain is falling from the sky.

When will the vast earth become dry？

I lonely stay in the bleak marshes.

Looking up at the drifting clouds I give a long sigh.

Why are common customs along for the ride？

Why do they go against the right rules and regulations？

But they choose bad horses for journey in a hurry.

It surely doesn't mean there's no good horse today.

It's because of having no one able to control them.

The good horses found there's no good driver.

They ran away immediately to remote places.

Wild ducks and goose take duckweed as food.

Phoenixes disdain them and flew away.

One wants to make a round hole yet with a square tool.

I've long known they are in a contradiction.

Every bird has its place to perch for a rest.

Only phoenixes have no places to stay.

I'm willing to keep silence like Xianmei.

But I can't forget the grace offered by the king.

Taigong got reputation at the age of ninety.

It's really because he hadn't met a wise king.

Where is the place for good horse to stay？

Where is the place for phoenixes to perch？

The manners and morals of the time are declining.

Swift horses hid themselves and wouldn't appear again.

Phoenixes flew far and high without returning again

Birds and animals know honesty and dignity.

How can wise men refuse to help wise kings？

Good horses cannot look for drivers in a hurry.

Phoenixes refuse to eat madly only to fill stomach.

The king gave me up with no clear observation.

There was no use at all for me to be loyal to you.

I once wanted to completely retire from public life.

But I dare not forget the grace offered by the king.

I cannot but feel sorrowful and painful.

My resentment is hard to be removed.

Autumn frost and white dew cover the earth.

I wish I can keep myself far away from disaster.

A snow is falling heavier and heavier.

This indicates misfortune will befall kind men.(https://www.daowen.com)

I take chances with something to expect.

I cannot help but perish together with grasses.

I am going to see the king directly.

But the road is cut off and too hard to take.

I want to go forward along a wide road.

But I don't know where it leads me to.

I feel more confused midway.

I forcibly control myself and sing songs.

Stupid by nature my thoughts are superficial.

I am not good at flattering at all.

I secretly praise Shen Baoxu's patriotic deeds.

I'm afraid the current situation is different with the past.

Why are common customs good at being along for the ride？

They cast the regular rules away and casually change the laws.

I work in just ways without going with stream.

I only wish to admire the teachings of the deceased.

Living in muddy world one wants to get good reputation.

But this is not the goal that I am willing to pursue.

I would rather live in poverty and preserve chastity.

I don't pursue undeserved reputation against justice.

I can't drag out an ignoble existence only for food.

I can't wear clothes casually only for keep warm.

I admire the customs left by preceding generations.

I'm willing to express my inspiration by living a simple life.

Suffering from injustice I feel disappointed.

I'm drifting in the boundless wilderness alone.

I've no leathered clothes to resist the chilly cold.

I'm afraid I'll die suddenly and can't see charming spring.

The autumn night is long and cold.

Anxiety is lingering without leaving.

Time pasts fast and I'm older and older.

I feel extremely sad with secret melancholy.

This year will end with season alternation.

It's too hard to follow the alternation of yin and yang.

Dusk has come with the sun setting now.

The moon is waning with less and less light.

Times passed over rapidly.

I'm weakened with my old age drawing near.

By chances I once expected something secretly.

But I have to give up my hope because of sadness.

My inner sorrow is extremely great.

But I can only give sigh and weep.

Years passed away with times wasted in vain.

I'm already old without knowing where I'll go.

There are so many changes with some progress.

I therefore made up my mind not to hesitate at all.

Why are the dark clouds scudding across the sky？

Why is the bright moon covered all of a sudden？

I am going to see the king with a loyal heart.

But I cannot see him in the cloudy night.

I wish the sun will lighten the road.

But clouds and fog come to cover.

I want to be loyal to my king.

But I am vilified by slanderers.

Kings Yao and Shun were of high morality.

Their glory can be connected with heaven.

Why should I be envied by those very base men？

Why should I be wronged and it's hard to clarify？

Yao-Shun's sun and moon shine the earth day and night.

But the mean people still say that they have black spots.

Let alone the government affairs of a state.

The so called clues are extremely confused.

My short clothes are really very light and soft.

They are too loose to make waist band knots.

The king tried to flaunt his morality and military forces.

He thinks his subordinates are selfless and fair-minded.

He hates those loyal and noble people.

He only listen to and believe base men.

Base men try to make themselves promoted.

Wise men have to resign and hide themselves.

Farmers stop working and take a pleasant life.

But weeds are overgrowing the barren farmlands.

The greedy base men only seek personal gains.

I feel plaintive for the state which will perish.

Common people only know how to praise each other.

They cannot distinguish good things from bad ones.

I want to take a mirror to make self-examination.

There are still some places for me to hide myself.

I wish to invite the star to convey my feelings.

Nevertheless，it comes and goes in a hurry.

The bright moon is covered by the drifting clouds at last.

The vast earth is completely dark without any lights at all.

Kings Yao and Shun could reasonably use wise ministers.

He could sleep well without any trouble to worry about.

I'm convinced no one blamed them in the world.

But for what reasons do I always feel very upset？

Riding a swift horse I can run freely.

Why do I use a driver and a whip？

Cities can't be relied on no matter how strong they're.

Heavy armors are useless no matter how thick they're.

The road is very long with no end.

Penniless and frustrated I feel upset.

A person is just like a passenger in a hurry.

I've nothing accomplished with difficulties.

I'm going to go and live in seclusion.

But I want to spread my reputation.

Hope is remote and hard to be realized.

Borrowing troubles is absolutely useless.

The grass field is so vast that one cannot see its end.

I have to drift around without knowing where to stop.

The state has swift horses but no one knows how to drive them.

For what reasons am I making inquiries everywhere in a hurry？

Ningqi sang under the cart while feeding cow.

Lord Huan knew he was an extraordinary man.

If the kind minister Bole did not exist ever in this world，

Fine horses and wise men were hard to be distinguished.

I feel distracted and burst into tears and think hard.

I hope the king look for wise men wholeheartedly.

I am willing to serve the king honestly.

But the base persons blocked my way.

I hope that the king may allow me to leave him.

I will express my ideal by traveling in the cloud.

I'll take the vital essence of the sun and the moon.

I'll follow the gods to fly to the vast and remote sky.

I'll drive the white rainbow and fly up.

I want to visit gods and sparking stars.

The Scarlet Bird is flying gracefully on the left.

The Green Dragon is moving actively on the right.

I order thunder master to beat drum behind.

I ask wind God to pave a way for me in front.

The wagon bell in front gives out a qiangqiang sound.

The baggage wagon behind gives out a longlong sound.

Flags with cloud decoration are fluttering in the wind.

Attendants and horses are crowding before and behind.

I will never change my honest heart to the king.

I hope the king can punish bad and praise good.

I will rely on the great grace given to me by heaven.

I hope the heaven ensures a good health to the king.