The Book of Poetry: Book I. The Odes of Chou and the South: III. Chüan Êrh
The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876]
2My steeds, o’ertasked, their progress stayed,
When midway up that rocky height.
Give me a cup from that gilt vase,
When shall this longing end in sight?
3To mount that lofty ridge I drove,
Until my steeds all changed their hue.
A cup from that rhinoceros’ horn
May help my longing to subdue.
4Striving to reach that flat-topped hill,
My steeds, worn out, relaxed their strain;
My driver also sank oppressed:
I'll never see my lord again!