彼汾沮洳,言采其莫。彼其之子,美无度。美无度,殊异乎公路。
彼汾一方,言采其桑。彼其之子,美如英。美如英,殊异乎公行。
彼汾一曲,言采其 藚 。彼其之子,美如玉。美如玉,殊异乎公族。
By riverside, alas!
A scholar gathers grass.
He gathers grass at leisure,
Careful beyond measure,
Beyond measure his grace,
Why not in a high place?
By riverside picks he
The leaves of mulberry.
Amid the leaves he towers
As brilliant as flowers.
Such brilliancy and beauty,
Why not on official duty?
By riverside he trips
To gather the ox-tips.
His virtue not displayed
Like deeply buried jade.
His virtue once appears,
He would surpass his peers.
汾水低洼处,我采羊蹄草。
但见意中人,美貌世无匹。
美貌世无匹,官员怎能及。
汾水河道旁,提篮来采桑。
但见意中人,容貌比花好。
容貌比花好,官员怎能及。
汾水弯曲处,我采泽泻草。
但见意中人,其人美如玉。
其人美如玉,官员怎能及。
“公路”“公行”“公族”都是当时的官员,想来就像当下的公务员一样,在大众眼里自有光环。但是,在这女子眼中,她心上人的美貌和品格秒杀一切;当别人羡慕那些官员的风光,她仍相信纯真的爱情。