鄘风·蝃

蝃(dì)(dōng)在东,莫之敢指。女子有行,远父母兄弟。

(jī)于西,崇朝其雨。女子有行,远兄弟父母。

乃如之人也,怀昏姻也。大无信也,不知命也!

Elopement

A rainbow rose high in the east;

None dared to point to it at least.

I went to wed like others

And left my parents and my brothers.


The morning clouds rose in the west;

The day with rain would then be blest.

I went to wed another

When I left my father and mother.


Did I know I’d be raped by such a man

Who would do whatever he can!

He is a faithless mate.

Is it my fault or fate?

彩虹悬挂在东方,谁敢以手相指?

女子要嫁人,远离父母和兄弟。


彩虹悬挂在西方,雨落了一早晨。

女子要嫁人,远离兄弟和父母。


像这样一个人啊,不按正道来婚配。

完全不管信义名誉,父母教导也不理。

在古代,彩虹是不祥之兆,这个女子奔赴的,应该是一桩不被父母和兄弟认可的婚姻。在古代,婚姻更多意味着职责。激情则是危险的,就像这无处不在的彩虹。一方面暗喻着私奔的放荡,另一方面也警示着这孤注一掷的奔赴,凶险多多。