鸤鸠在桑,其子七兮。淑人君子,其仪一兮。其仪一兮,心如结兮。
鸤鸠在桑,其子在梅。淑人君子,其带伊丝。其带伊丝,其弁伊骐。
鸤鸠在桑,其子在棘。淑人君子,其仪不忒。其仪不忒,正是四国。
鸤鸠在桑,其子在榛。淑人君子,正是国人。正是国人。胡不万年?
The cuckoo in the mulberries
Breeds seven fledglings with ease.
An ideal ruler should take care
To deal with all men fair and square.
If he treats all men fair and square,
He would be good beyond compare.
The cuckoo in the mulberries
Breeds fledglings in mume trees.
An ideal ruler should be fair and bright,
His girdle hemmed with silk white.
If he’s as bright as silken hems,
He’d be adorned with jade and gems.
The cuckoo in the mulberries
Breeds fledglings in the jujube trees.
An ideal ruler should be polite;
Whatever he does should be right.
If he is right as magistrate,
He’d be a model for the state.
The cuckoo in the mulberries
Breeds fledglings in the hazel trees.
Ruler should be a good magistrate
To help the people of the state.
If he helps people to right the wrong,
May he live ten thousand years loiag!
布谷鸟在桑林里,有七个孩子。
有风度的君子,态度始终如一。
态度始终如一,内心的坚定写在脸上。
布谷鸟在桑林里,它的孩子在梅树上。
有风度的君子,系着素丝带子。
系着素丝带子,皮帽子是青黑色的。
布谷鸟在桑林里,它的孩子落在荆棘树上。
有风度的君子,他的仪容从不改变。
他的仪容从不改变,足以做四方表率。
布谷鸟在桑林里,它的孩子落在榛树上。
有风度的君子,正为国人拥戴。
正为国人拥戴,为什么不能万年永在?
《诗经》里最令人费解的诗之一。传说布谷鸟能够公平对待所有的孩子——当然现在知道这不科学——那么以“鸤鸠在桑”开头,到底在暗示什么呢?
若是说君子当如布谷鸟公平,为什么后来又扯到君子的穿衣戴帽上来?有没有可能,这只是一句随意的起兴?这首诗就是赞扬君子从外到内的坚定?他衣着颜色素朴,仪容始终如一,大家希望他能活一万年。这也许就是一首简单的颂诗。