Though modified from a marriage poem, this shi is used to celebrate the audience given by a feudal lord to a vassal.
菁菁者莪
菁菁者莪、在彼中阿。
旣見君子、樂且有儀。
旣見君子、樂且有儀。
菁菁者莪、在彼中沚。
旣見君子、我心則喜。
旣見君子、我心則喜。
菁菁者莪、在彼中陵。
旣見君子、錫我百朋。
旣見君子、錫我百朋。
汎汎楊舟、載沈載浮。
旣見君子、我心則休。
旣見君子、我心則休。
Luscious
is the Tarragon
Lusciously
the
tarragon grows,
In
the midst
of the
slope.
The
audience
with our
lord,
Blissful
but
yet courteous.
Lusciously
the
tarragon grows,
In
the centre of the islet.
The
audience
with our
lord,
Gladdens
my heart.
Lusciously
the
tarragon grows,
In
the middle
of the mound.
The
audience
with our
lord,
Bestows
me much prosperity.
Unsteadily
the osier boat rocks,
Oft-times
it plunges and bobs.
The
audience
with our
lord,
Has
set my heart to rest.
