5.

As the coy marsh-flower
Gathered here and there,
So the graceful lass;
Bells now ring for her.

SONG ONE (SECOND TRANSLATION)

KING WAN'S EPITHALAMIUM 3

1.

They sent me to gather the cresses, which lie
And sway on the stream, as it glances by,
That a fitting welcome we might provide
For our prince's modest and virtuous bride.

2.

I heard, as I gathered the cress, from the ait
The mallard's endearing call to its mate;*
And I said, as I heard it, "Oh, may this prove
An omen of joy to our master's love!"

3.

Long, long for his bride has the prince been yearning,

With such desire has his heart been burning,

That his thoughts by day and his dreams by night Have had but her as his sole delight.

4.

But a doubt tormented his anxious brain,

And sleep was banished by aching pain,

As tossing in fear and distress he lay

Till the long night watches had passed away.

5.

And now he has won her, this lady fair,
With her modest mind and her gracious air.
Let our lutes and our music and feasting show
The love we to her and our master owe.

-C. ALLEN.

SONG ONE (THIRD TRANSLATION)

1.

Kwan-kwan go the ospreys,

On the islet in the river.

The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady:

For our prince a good mate she.

2.

Here long, there short, is the duckweed,

To the left, to the right, borne about by the current.

The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady:

Waking and sleeping, he sought her.

He sought her and found her not,

And waking and sleeping he thought about her.

Long he thought; oh! long and anxiously;
On his side, on his back, he turned, and back again.

3.

Here long, there short, is the duckweed;

On the left, on the right, we gather it,

The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady:

With lutes, small and large, let us give her friendly

welcome.

Here long, there short, is the duckweed;

On the left, on the right, we cook and present it.
The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady:
With bells and drums let us show our delight in her.

-J. LEGGE.

SONG ONE (FOURTH TRANSLATION)

CELEBRATING THE VIRTUE OF KING WAN'S BRIDE

1.

Hark! from the islet in the stream the voice
Of the fish-hawks that o'er their nests rejoice!
From them our thoughts to that young lady go,
Modest and virtuous, loth herself to show.
Where could be found to share our prince's state,
So fair, so virtuous, and so fit a mate?

2.

See how the duckweed's stalks, or short or long,
Sway left and right, as moves the current strong!
So hard it was for him the maid to find!

By day, by night, our prince with constant mind
Sought for her long, but all his search was vain.
Awake, asleep, he ever felt the pain
Of longing thought, as when on restless bed,
Tossing about, one turns his fevered head.

3.

Here long, there short, afloat the duckweed lies;
But caught at last, we seize the longed-for prize.
The maiden modest, virtuous, coy, is found;
Strike every lute, and joyous welcome sound.
Ours now, the duckweed from the stream we bear,
And cook to use with other viands rare.

He has the maiden, modest, virtuous, bright;
Let bells and drums proclaim our great delight.

- J. LEGGE.

SONG TWO

1.

It is a lovely summer scene,
And sweet and clear mid foliage green

Is heard the oriole's song.
Throughout the vale wherein we dwell
The hemp and flax are growing well,
With fibers thick and strong.

2.

Now let me like a faithful spouse
Contrive to deck my husband's house

With fabrics that we need.
I'll shrink not from the useful toil,
The flax I'll cut, the hemp I'll boil,
For strong and lasting weed.

3.

And when 'tis done, then leave to roam,
And see once more my childhood's home

Shall prove a guerdon meet.
When clad in robes washed bright and clean

And linen of the glossiest sheen,

My parents dear I'll greet.

SONG THREE

THE ABSENT ONE

1.

My heart is oppressed and weary;
The husband I love has gone;
He has gone to some distant country,
And has left me to weep alone.

2.

To gather the blue rush blossoms,
I went through the fields to stray;
But too heartsick to fill my basket,
I cast all the flowers away.

3.

I said I will climb to the hill-top,
To gaze on the distant plain,
That thence I may see returning
My lord and his martial train.5

4.

So rough was the ridge and rocky,
So steep was the hill and high,
That my servants had sunk exhausted,

Ere the goal of my hopes was nigh.