王风•君子于役
Ode (Keun-tsze Yu Yih)
君子于役，不知其期。曷至哉？ 鸡栖于埘。曰之夕矣，羊牛下来。君子于役，如之何勿思！
My husband is away on service,And I know not when he will return.Where is he now?The fowls roost in their holes in the walls;And in the evening of the day,The goats and cows come down [from the hill].But my husband is away on service. How can I but keep taking of him?
君子于役，不日不月。曷其佸？鸡栖于桀，日之夕矣，羊牛下括。君子于役，苟无饥渴？
My husband is away on service,Not for days [merely] or for months. When will he come back to me?The fowls roost on their perches;And in the evening of the day,The goats and cows come down and home;But my husband is away on service.Oh if he be bin kept from hunger and thirst!