离骚（其一)
Li Sao(excerpted)
[战国]屈原
By Chu Yuan
宁溘死以流亡兮，
In exile rather would I meet my end
余不忍为此态也!
Than to the baseness of their ways descend.
鸷鸟之不群兮，
Remote the eagle spurns the common range,
自前世而固然，
Nor deigns since time began its way to change;
何方圆之能周兮，
A circle fits not with a square design:
夫孰异道而相安!
Their different ways could not be merged with mine.
屈心而抑志兮,
Yet still my heart I checked and curbed my pride;
忍尤而攘诟,
Their blame endured and iheir reproach beside.
伏清白以死直兮，
To die for righteousness alone I sought,
固前圣之所厚。
For this was what the ancient sages taught.