The book of odes and hymns – part 13

CAI FAN

She gathers the white southernwood,

By the ponds, on the islets.

She employs it,

In the business of our prince.

She gathers the white southernwood,

Along the streams in the valleys.

She employs it,

In the temple of our prince.

With head-dress reverently rising aloft,

Early , while yet it is night, she is in the prince's temple;

In her dead-dress, slowly retiring,

She returns to her own apartments.

采蘩

于以采蘩、于沼于沚。

于以用之、公侯之事。

于以采蘩、于澗之中。

于以用之、公侯之宮。

被之僮僮、夙夜在公。

被之祁祁、薄言還歸。