III. Ts‘ao Ch‘ung

The Ts‘ao Ch‘ung; narrative. The wife of some great officer bewails his absence on duty, and longs for the joy of his return.

1Shrill chirp the insects in the grass;
  All about the hoppers spring.
While I my husband do not see,
  Sorrow must my bosom wring.
    O to meet him!
    O to greet him!
Then my heart would rest and sing.

2Ascending high that southern hill,
  Turtle ferns I strove to get.
While I my husband do not see,
  Sorrow must my heart beset.
    O to meet him!
    O to greet him!
Then my heart would cease to fret.

3Ascending high that southern hill,
  Spinous ferns I sought to find.
While I my husband do not see,
  Rankles sorrow in my mind.
    O to meet him!
    O to greet him!
Then my heart would peace be shrined.