Then, on high verandas, soaring towers,
In tall mansions, secluded chambers,
On winter nights, cold and still,
The bright moon shining down its light,
New clothes rustling and swishing,
Colored tie-strings wafting a sweet scent:
Then, the instrument is cold, but its strings are tuned;
The heart is relaxed, but the hands are nimble.
One touches and plucks the strings at will,
And all is played only as intended.
初涉《渌水》，中奏《清徵》。雅昶《唐尧》，终咏《微子》。宽明弘润，优游躇跱。拊弦安歌，新声代起。
One first launches into "Limpid Waters,"
Midway plays "Clear Zhi,"
Gracefully plays "Tang Yao,"
Ends by intoning "Viscount of Wei."
These melodies are magnanimous and wise, broad and rich,
Relaxed and at ease, hesitant and slow.
To the strumming of strings songs are gently sung,
New melodies begin one after another.
"Soaring on the whirling wind, I come to rest in Yingzhou;
I invite Liezi as my boon companion.
I dine on midnight vapors, weave morning mists into a belt;
Gliding and soaring afar, near Heaven I roam.
Viewing all things as the same, I am free from worldly cares;
I yield to fate, go or stay at will."
激清响以赴会，何弦歌之绸缪！
The sounds resonate clearly, in accord with the cadence;
How harmoniously blended are song and zither tune!
VII.
于是曲引向阑，众音将歇，改韵易调，奇弄乃发。
And then, as the song comes to a close,
And the various sounds are about to cease,
Chords are changed, modes are altered,
And a wonderful melody sounds forth.
扬和颜，攘皓腕。飞纤指以驰骛，纷（涩去掉三点水加单人旁）譶以流漫。或徘徊顾慕，拥郁抑按，盘桓毓养，从容秘玩。闼尔奋逸，风骇云乱。牢落凌厉，布濩半散。丰融披离，斐韡奂烂。英声发越，采采粲粲。或间声错糅，状若诡赴。双美并进，骈驰翼驱。初若将乖，后卒同趣。或曲而不屈，直而不倨。或相凌而不乱，或相离而不殊。时劫掎以慷慨，或怨㜘而踌躇。忽飘飖以轻迈，乍留联而扶疏。
The players raise their heads and reveal a mild expression,
Lift their sleeves and display gleaming wrists.
Their slender fingers swiftly fly over the strings,
And a profusion of tones flows forth.
At times the sounds are hesitant, as if looking back with longing:
Held in and held back, restrained and repressed,
Lingering and loitering, reticent and reserved,
All is calm and composed, well-practiced.
Then swiftly they race off,
Like a startling breeze agitating the clouds:
Thin and faint, they fly into the air,
Scattering and spreading in all directions,
Full and strong, broadly dispersed,
Resplendently beautiful, vibrant and bright.
Grand strains issue forth,
Richly colored, brilliantly toned.
Sometimes mixed harmonies are intermingled,
As if two separate melodies are counterpoised.
Two beautiful strains advance together,
Like two horses galloping in double-harness.
At first they seem about to part,
Then, blend together at the end.
At times they bend, but are not obsequious,
Are straightforward, but not overbearing.
Sometimes they cross into one another, but are never disorderly,
Sometimes they separate, but never break apart.
Sometimes they seem compelled and constrained, beset with frustration;
Sometimes they are plaintive and sad, timid and tentative.
Suddenly they whirl away, as if lightly traveling on the wind,
Then linger for a moment before spreading out in all directions.
或参谭繁促，复叠攒仄。纵横骆驿，奔遁相逼。拊嗟累赞，间不容息。瑰艳奇伟，殚不可识。
Sometimes they follow each other in hasty pursuit,
Resounding and re-echoing, as if pushed and pressed together.
This way and that, in an unending stream,
They race and run, pushing each other along,
And the audience repeatedly claps and sighs its praise;
There is not even a moment to draw a breath.
This melody is so ornate and rich, so wondrous and grand,
One cannot comprehend it completely.
VIII.
若乃闲舒都雅，洪纤有宜。清和条昶，案衍陆离。穆温柔以怡怿，婉顺叙而委蛇。或乘险投会，邀隙趋危。譻若离鹍鸣清池，翼若游鸿翔层崖。纷文斐尾，慊縿离纚。微风余音，靡靡猗猗。或搂批攦捋，缥缭潎冽。轻行浮弹，明婳𥉻慧。疾而不速，留而不滞。翩绵飘邈，微音迅逝。
Then, if one plays slowly and refined,
The broad and delicate tones are in their proper place.
The sounds are clear and harmonious, graceful and smooth,
Now high, now low, in manifold forms,
Gentle and soft, joyful and gay,
Mild and compliant, swaying to and fro.
Sometimes through a difficult passage the notes follow the beat,
Then, awaiting an opening, they go to a more perilous height:
Screeching like a stray jungle fowl crying by a limpid pond,
Winging like a wandering swan soaring over steep cliffs.
The tones, diversely hued, brightly colored,
Hang thickly like drooping fringe.
The echoing sounds carried by a gentle breeze,
Dainty and delicate, linger in the air.
Sometimes the strumming and thrumming
Is like the sound of the plashing and splashing of waves.
The strings are lightly touched, barely plucked,
Yet the sounds are clearly and distinctly perceived.
They are fast but never hurried,
Slow but never sluggish.
Fluttering about, distant and far,
Faint tones swiftly depart.
远而听之，若鸾凤和鸣戏云中；迫而察之，若众葩敷荣曜春风。既丰赡以多姿，又善始而令终。嗟姣妙以弘丽，何变态之无穷！
Heard from afar,
They are like the harmonious singing of simurgh and phoenix playing amidst the clouds;
Examined more closely,
They are like a cluster of spreading blossoms glistening in a spring breeze.
The music is rich and of manifold elegance,
Is excellent from beginning to end.
Oh, what charming grace and grand beauty!
How inexhaustible its changing forms!
IX.
若夫三春之初，丽服以时。乃携友生，以遨以嬉。涉兰圃，登重基，背长林，翳华芝，临清流，赋新诗。嘉鱼龙之逸豫，乐百卉之荣滋。理重华之遗操，慨远慕而长思。
In the first of the three spring months,
Clad in pretty clothes fit for the season,
Hand in hand with good friends,
We go for a stroll to amuse ourselves.
We enter a garden of fragrant herbs,
Climb a lofty knoll.
With a tall grove at our backs,
Covered by a flowery sunshade,
We go down to a limpid stream,
And compose new songs.
We admire the relaxed ease of fish and dragon,
Enjoy the fecund splendor of the many plants.
We then play the zither song handed down from Chonghua;
Heaving sighs, we long for the distant, ponder the far away.
X.
若乃华堂曲宴，密友近宾，兰肴兼御，旨酒清醇。进《南荆》，发《西秦》，绍《陵阳》，度《巴人》。变用杂而并起，竦众听而骇神。料殊功而比操，岂笙籥之能伦？
Then, at an informal banquet in an ornate hall,
With intimate friends and close companions:
Savory viands are served to all,
Fine wine is clear and mellow.
We then present "Southern Jing,"
Sound forth "Western Qin,"
Continue with "Lingyang,"
Play "Man of Ba."
Vulgar and elegant sounds, mingling and rising together,
Stir the listeners' ears and startle their souls.
Judging the zither's incomparable merits and comparing its tunes,
How could it be matched by mouth organ and flute?
XI.
若次其曲引所宜，则《广陵》《止息》，《东武》《太山》。《飞龙》《鹿鸣》，《鹍鸡》《游弦》。更唱迭奏，声若自然。流楚窈窕，惩躁雪烦。下逮谣俗，蔡氏五曲，王昭楚妃，《千里别鹤》。犹有一切，承间簉乏，亦有可观者焉。
If one orders the tunes in their proper places,
There are "Guangling" and "Stopping the Breath,"
"Dongwu" and "Mount Tai,"
"Flying Dragon" and "Deer Calls,"
"Jungle Fowl" and "Roaming Strings."
They are alternately sung and played,
Their sounds seem as if spontaneously born.
Smooth and clear, gracile and graceful,
They dispel anxiety, wash away cares.
Next come popular ballads,
Master Cai's five tunes,
Songs of Wang Zhao and the Consort of Chu,
"Crane Separated a Thousand Leagues,"
As well as ordinary tunes
That can be used to fill in the gaps,
And these, too, may be appreciated.
然非夫旷远者，不能与之嬉游；非夫渊静者，不能与之闲止；非夫放达者，不能与之无（希去布加厷）；非夫至精者，不能与之析理也。
However, only he who is detached and carefree
Can share in the enjoyment of the zither music.
Only he whose thoughts are profound and tranquil
Can comfortably dwell with it.
Only he who is unrestrained and untrammeled
Can devote himself to it without begrudging the effort.
And only he who is of the most refined attainment
Can understand its inherent principle.
XII.
若论其体势，详其风声，器和故响逸，张急故声清，间辽故音庳，弦长故徽鸣。性洁静以端理，含至德之和平。诚可以感荡心志，而发泄幽情矣！
Now let us discuss its form and structure,
And examine the manner of its tones:
The instrument has a mellow quality and thus its sounds are resonant;
Its strings are strung tight and thus the tones are clear.
The spacing between the strings is far, and thus low notes can be played;
The strings are long, and thus the studs can be used to sound the notes.
Its nature is pure and tranquil, upright and true,
And it embraces the harmonious peace of perfect virtue.
Truly it can be used to stir the heart,
And release deep emotions.
是故怀戚者闻之，莫不憯懔惨凄，愀怆伤心，含哀懊咿，不能自禁。其康乐者闻之，则欨愉欢释，抃舞踊溢，留连澜漫，嗢噱终日。
Thus, if the downhearted and dejected hear it,
They will not fail to shudder and shake from sorrow and sadness;
Anguish and care will pain their hearts.
The grief they feel will be so bitter and strong,
They will be unable to restrain their feelings.
If the content and happy hear it,
They will be joyful and glad.
Clapping and dancing, they will leap about,
Lingering on in wild abandon,
Laughing heartily all day long.
若和平者听之，则怡养悦愉，淑穆玄真，恬虚乐古，弃事遗身。是以伯夷以之廉，颜回以之仁，比干以之忠，尾生以之信，惠施以之辩给，万石以之讷慎。
If the placid and serene hear it,
They will be contented and pleased.
Solemn and sedate, natural and unaffected,
Unperturbed and empty of care, rejoicing in antiquity,
They abandon worldly affairs and are oblivious of self.
Thus, from the zither Boyi obtained his incorruptibility,
From it Yan Hui obtained his benevolence,
From it Bi Gan obtained his loyalty,
From it Wei Sheng obtained his fidelity,
From it Hui Shi obtained his gift for argument,
And from it Wanshi obtained his circumspection.
其余触类而长，所致非一，同归殊途。或文或质，总中和以统物，咸日用而不失。其感人动物，盖亦弘矣。
A list of other worthies can be extended from these examples.
The effects the music achieves are manifold—
They attain the same ends, albeit by different paths:
Sometimes it is elaborate, sometimes plain.
It embraces central harmony and thereby controls all things,
And one can use it every day and never be led astray.
Its influence on humankind, its effects on things
Are great indeed!
XIII.
于时也，金石寝声，匏竹屏气，王豹辍讴，狄牙丧味。天吴踊跃于重渊，王乔披云而下坠。舞鸑鷟于庭阶，游女飘焉而来萃。感天地以致和，况蚑行之众类。嘉斯器之懿茂，咏兹文以自慰。永服御而不厌，信古今之所贵。
At the time it is played:
Metal and stone silence their sounds,
Gourd and bamboo hold back their air,
Wang Bao stops singing,
Di Ya loses his sense of taste,
Tianwu leaps from his deep pool,
Wang Qiao unfolds the clouds and descends to earth,
The phoenix dances on the courtyard steps,
River nymphs come floating in and gather here.
Since zither music influences Heaven and Earth and thereby brings about harmony,
How much more does it affect common creatures that creep on the ground?
To praise the great splendor of this instrument
I intone the poem to console myself.
Never shall I tire of its use,
For in truth it has been treasured, both in the past and present.
XIV.
乱曰：
