Out of bounds Tom Sharp

A bandit came scheming to marry me on the pretext of trading cloth for silk. I escorted him across the Qi River, as far as Dunqiu. I didn’t break our promise; he just didn’t offer me a dowry. Don’t be angry; let’s meet again in the fall. I climbed the crumbling wall and looked toward the pass. Since I couldn’t see him coming, I cried. After he came across, we laughed and talked. He consulted an oracle, which revealed no misfortune. Come in your chariot, and I will offer you a bribe. Before they fall, mulberry leaves are lush and green. We hope the doves don’t eat all the berries. We hope the woman isn’t infatuated with a rogue. We can explain a man’s infatuation. I can’t explain why I was infatuated. After they fall, mulberry leaves are withered and yellow. After three years living with him, I suffered in poverty. We lived in a damp tent, eating watered-down soups. Even though he loved me, he didn’t treat me right. You fell in love, but you were half-hearted. After three years, I was tired of endless toil, rising early, retiring late, without a moment’s rest. I guess I got what I wanted, and I became violent. My brothers laughed at me, unaware of my torment. Thinking back, I have only myself to blame. I wanted to grow old together, not to resent him, but everything, like the river, has its limits. As children, we happily ate and played. When we married, we were just as innocent. Betrayal was unthinkable, but it’s over now.

氓 诗经

氓之蚩蚩，抱布贸丝。 匪来贸丝，来即我谋。 送子涉淇，至于顿丘。 匪我愆期，子无良媒。 将子无怒，秋以为期。 乘彼垝垣，以望复关。 不见复关，泣涕涟涟。 既见复关，载笑载言。 尔卜尔筮，体无咎言。 以尔车来，以我贿迁。 桑之未落，其叶沃若。 于嗟鸠兮，无食桑葚。 于嗟女兮，无与士耽。 士之耽兮，犹可说也。 女之耽兮，不可说也。 桑之落矣，其黄而陨。 自我徂尔，三岁食贫。 淇水汤汤，渐车帷裳。 女也不爽，士贰其行。 士也罔极，二三其德。 三岁为妇，靡室劳矣。 夙兴夜寐，靡有朝矣。 言既遂矣，至于暴矣。 兄弟不知，咥其笑矣。 静言思之，躬自悼矣。 及尔偕老，老使我怨。 淇则有岸，隰则有泮。 总角之宴，言笑晏晏。 信誓旦旦，不思其反。 反是不思，亦已焉哉。