The first spring thunder
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跪敷衽以陈词兮，耿吾既得中正；
驷玉虬以乘【“翳”，下为“鸟”】（音“义”）兮，溘埃风余上征；
朝发轫于苍梧兮，夕余至乎县圃；
欲少留此灵琐兮，日忽忽其将暮；
吾令羲和弭节兮，望崦嵫而匆迫；
路曼曼其修远兮，吾将上下而求索；
饮余马于咸池兮，总余辔乎扶桑；
折若木以拂日兮，聊逍遥以相羊；
前望舒使先驱兮，后飞廉使奔属；
鸾皇为余先戒兮，雷师告余以未具；
吾令凤鸟飞腾夕，继之以日夜；
飘风屯其相离兮，帅云霓而来御；
纷总总其离合兮，斑陆离其上下；
吾令帝阍开关兮，倚阊阖而望予；
时暧暧其将罢兮，结幽兰而延伫；
世溷浊而不分兮，好蔽美而嫉妒。
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Li Sao (The Lament)
Poems by Qu Yuan (340 - 278 B.C.)
The dragons quenched their thirst beside the lake
Where bathed the sun, whilst I upon the brake
Fastened my reins; a golden bough I sought
To brush the sun, and tarred there in sport.
The pale moon’s charioteer I then bade lead,
The master of the winds swiftly succeed;
Before, the royal blue bird cleared the way;
The lord of thunder urged me to delay.
I bade the phoenix scan the heaven wide;
But vainly day and night its course it tried;
The gathering whirlwinds drove it from my sight,
Rushing with lowering clouds to check my flight;
Sifting and merging in the firmament,
Above, below, in various hues they went.