Ch'u Yuan: Encountering Sorrow

This poem is by Ch'u Yuan (otherwise Qu Yuan) ca.340-278 BC. At a time of political upheaval he committed suicide by drowing in the Mi-lo river. See Wikepedia for fuller details http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qu_Yuan This marvellous translation - marvellous because it makes a wonderful poem in English - is by the English Sinologist and Fellow of All Souls Oxford David Hawkes (b. 6.7.23). - See Wikipedia also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hawkes_(scholar) David Hawkes translated the poem as 'Encountering Sorrow'. This poem has been a favourite of mine for many years and I first read it in the Anthology of Chinese Literature published by Penguin Books in 1967....This is only a section of the poem; read the whole thing for the fuller flavour of this exquisite flower-poem. Scion of the High Lord Kao Yang, Po Yung was my father's name. When She T'i pointed to the first month of the year, on the day keng yin, I passed from the womb. My father, seeing the aspect of my nativity, took omens to give me an auspicious name. The name he gave me was True Exemplar; the title he gave me was Divine Balance. Having from birth this inward beauty, I added to it fair outward adornment: I dressed in selinea and shady angelica, and twined autumn orchids to make a garland. Swiftly I sped, as in fearful pursuit, afraid Time would race on and leave me behind. In the morning I gathered the angelica on the mountains; in the evening I plucked the sedges of the islets....