My Lord Goes Riding in a Field
by Frank Watson
My lord goes riding in a field,
A team of steady horses;
He holds the reins
Like movements in dance.
He rides in a marsh,
Shooting fire with violent tools;
He grabs a tiger—with just his hands—
And shows it at the palace:
My lord, quit hunting please—
I cannot bear to see you wounded.

My lord goes riding in a field,
Speeding through and through;
His inside horses are fine,
The outside ones like wild geese.
He rides in a marsh,
Shooting fire all around;
A good shot he is,
and skilled rider too:
First they gallop,
Then he reins anew.

My lord goes riding in a field,
Soaring like eagles unsealed;
His inside team run smoothly,
The outside ones like limbs.
He rides in a marsh,
But the fire’s spread too far.
His horses go slowly,
He shoots but rarely:
He finally puts down his bow
And covers his quivers.


Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation
大叔於田
大叔于田
dà shū yú tián



叔於田，
叔于田，
shū yú tián ，
乘乘馬。
乘乘马。
chéng chéng mǎ 。
執轡如組，
执辔如组，
zhí pèi rú zǔ ，
兩驂如舞。
两骖如舞。
liǎng cān rú wǔ 。
叔在藪，
叔在薮，
shū zài sǒu ，
火烈具舉。
火烈具举。
huǒ liè jù jǔ 。
襢裼暴虎，
襢裼暴虎，
tǎn xī bào hǔ ，
獻於公所。
献于公所。
xiàn yú gōng suǒ 。
將叔勿狃，
将叔勿狃，
jiāng shū wù niǔ ，
戒其傷女。
戒其伤女。
jiè qí shāng nǚ 。
叔於田，
叔于田，
shū yú tián ，
乘乘黃。
乘乘黄。
chéng chéng huáng 。
兩服上襄，
两服上襄，
liǎng fú shàng xiāng ，
兩驂雁行。
两骖雁行。
liǎng cān yàn xíng 。
叔在藪，
叔在薮，
shū zài sǒu ，
火烈具揚。
火烈具扬。
huǒ liè jù yáng 。
叔善射忌，
叔善射忌，
shū shàn shè jì ，
又良禦忌。
又良御忌。
yòu liáng yù jì 。
抑磬控忌，
抑磬控忌，
yì qìng kòng jì ，
抑縱送忌。
抑纵送忌。
yì zòng sòng jì 。
叔於田，
叔于田，
shū yú tián ，
乘乘鴇。
乘乘鸨。
chéng chéng bǎo 。
兩服齊首，
两服齐首，
liǎng fú qí shǒu ，
兩驂如手。
两骖如手。
liǎng cān rú shǒu 。
叔在藪，
叔在薮，
shū zài sǒu ，
火烈具阜。
火烈具阜。
huǒ liè jù fù 。
叔馬慢忌，
叔马慢忌，
shū mǎ màn jì ，
叔發罕忌，
叔发罕忌，
shū fā hǎn jì ，
抑釋冰忌，
抑释冰忌，
yì shì bīng jì ，
抑鬯弓忌。
抑鬯弓忌。
yì chàng gōng jì。



Translation Notes


大叔於田
Big Uncle In Field


叔於田，
Uncle in field,
乘乘馬。
Ride ride horse.
[Riding a four-horse chariot]
執轡如組，
Holds reins like team,
兩驂如舞。
Pair two-outside-horses like dance.
叔在藪，
Uncle in marsh,
火烈具舉。
Fire fiery tool raise.
襢裼暴虎，
Strip take-off-vest violent tiger,
[With bear hands fight tiger]
獻於公所。
Display at lord place.
[Lord place = king’s palace]
將叔勿狃，
Will uncle must-not covet,
[Covet = repeatedly doing something]
戒其傷女。
Guard-against his wounded woman.
叔於田，
Uncle in field,
乘乘黃。
Ride ride fall-through.
兩服上襄，
Pair clothes above aid,
兩驂雁行。
Pair two-outside-horses wild-goose travel.
叔在藪，
Uncle in marsh,
火烈具揚。
Fire fiery tool scatter.
叔善射忌，
Uncle good shot jealous,
又良禦忌。
And good defense jealous.
抑磬控忌，
Press chimes accuse jealous,
[Press = first character of an auxiliary phrase having a grammatical function]
[Chimes = release horses to a gallop]
[Jealous = a grammatical particle]
抑縱送忌。
Press give-free-reign-to send jealous.
叔於田，
Uncle in field,
乘乘鴇。
Ride ride bustard.
兩服齊首，
Pair clothes even head,
兩驂如手。
Pair two-outside-horses like hand.
叔在藪，
Uncle in marsh,
火烈具阜。
Fire fiery tool mound.
叔馬慢忌，
Uncle horse leisurely jealous,
叔發罕忌，
Uncle emit rare jealous,
抑釋冰忌，
Press-down release arrow-tube-cover jealous,
抑鬯弓忌。
Press unhindered bow jealous/fear.




All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2013