靜女 JING NU

靜女 JING NU
靜女其姝、俟我於城隅。
愛而不見、搔首踟躕。

靜女其孌、貽我彤管。
彤管有煒、說懌女美。

自牧歸荑、洵美且異。
匪女以為美、美人之貽。

How lovely is the retiring girl !
She was to await me at a corner of the wall .
Loving and not seeing her ,
I scratch my head , and am in perplexity .

How handsome is the retiring girl !
She presented to me a red tube .
Bright is the red tube ; --
I delight in the beauty of the girl .

From the pasture lands she gave a shoet of the white grass ,
Truly elegant and rare .
It is not you , O grass , that are elegant ; --
You are the gift of an elegant girl .


From: 邶風 (THE ODES OF BEI)