The Swallows | The swallows fly

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Translation © by Kairui (Kerry) Zhou

燕燕

Language: Chinese (中文)

Our translations: ENG

燕燕于飞，
差池其羽。
之子于归，
远送于野。
瞻望弗及，
泣涕如雨。

燕燕于飞，
颉之颃之。
之子于归，
远于将之。
瞻望弗及，
伫立以泣。

燕燕于飞，
下上其音。
之子于归，
远送于南。
瞻望弗及，
实劳我心。

仲氏任只，
其心塞渊。
终温且惠，
淑慎其身。
先君之思，
以勖寡人。

Notes from the researcher (Kairui Zhou): The text is from 诗经 (Classic [Collection] of Poems), a collection created between the 11th and 7th centuries BCE (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_of_Poetry [wikipedia] ). The source website was https://so.gushiwen.cn/gushi/shijing.aspx. This type of ancient Chinese is written in an unbroken series of characters, without modern punctuation, but the editor of the website has added punctuation to provide a more structural feeling. We have changed the formatting to allow the English translation to appear in parallel.

Text Authorship:

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, appears in Shi Jing (or Schi-King) - Classic of Poetry - Book of Songs -- Book of Odes -- Chinesische Liederbuch [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "燕燕" [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Kairui (Kerry) Zhou) , "The Swallows", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Kairui (Kerry) Zhou

This text was added to the website: 2024-03-06
Line count: 24
Word count: 24

The Swallows

Language: English after the Chinese (中文)

The swallows fly,
Their wings brushing against each other.
My wife is returning,
I escort her far into the field.
Straining my eyes, I can't see her,
For tears flow like rain.

The swallows fly,
Chirping and hovering.
My wife is returning,
I escort her off far away.
Straining my eyes, I cannot see,
I stand and weep.

The swallows fly,
Their calls rise and fall.
My wife is returning,
I escort you off to the south.
Straining my eyes, I can't see her,
Truly, my heart is worried.

Zhongshi, you are righteous,
Your heart is deep and mysterious.
Truly gentle and gracious,
Your virtue is cultivated.
Don’t forget our love, 
Your advice is engraved in my heart.

Translator's note for stanza 4: Zhongshi refers to a woman whose last name is “Zhong” and is used to show respect. It’s highly possible that the woman is the author’s sister.

Text Authorship:

Translation from Chinese (中文) to English copyright © 2024 by Kairui (Kerry) Zhou, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in Chinese (中文) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Shi Jing (or Schi-King) - Classic of Poetry - Book of Songs -- Book of Odes -- Chinesische Liederbuch
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2024-03-06
Line count: 24
Word count: 118