七月 诗经

七月流火，九月授衣。 一之日觱发，二之日栗烈。 无衣无褐，何以卒岁。 三之日于耜，四之日举趾。 同我妇子，饁彼南亩，田畯至喜。 七月流火，九月授衣。 春日载阳，有鸣仓庚。 女执懿筐，遵彼微行，爰求柔桑。 春日迟迟，采蘩祁祁。 女心伤悲，殆及公子同归。 七月流火，八月萑苇。 蚕月条桑，取彼斧斨， 以伐远扬，猗彼女桑。 七月鸣鵙，八月载绩。 载玄载黄，我朱孔阳，为公子裳。 四月秀葽，五月鸣蜩。 八月其获，十月陨蘀。 一之日于貉，取彼狐狸，为公子裘。 二之日其同，载缵武功， 言私其豵，献豜于公。 五月斯螽动股，六月莎鸡振羽。 七月在野，八月在宇，九月在户。 十月蟋蟀，入我牀下。 穹窒熏鼠。塞向墐户。 嗟我妇子，曰为改岁，入此室处。 六月食郁及薁，七月亨葵及菽。 八月剥枣，十月获稻。 为此春酒，以介眉寿。 七月食瓜，八月断壶，九月叔苴，采荼薪樗。 食我农夫。 九月筑场圃，十月纳禾稼。 黍稷重穋，禾麻菽麦。 嗟我农夫，我稼既同，上入执宫功。 昼尔于茅，宵尔索綯。 亟其乘屋，其始播百谷。 二之日凿冰冲冲，三之日纳于凌阴。 四之日其蚤，献羔祭韭。 九月肃霜，十月涤场。 朋酒斯飨，曰杀羔羊。 跻彼公堂，称彼兕觥，万寿无疆。

July (literal translation)

The Fire Star descends in July, clothes are given out in September. On the first day, the wind howls; on the second, the chill is biting. Without clothes or coarse garments, how will we survive the year? On the third day, we take up our hoes; on the fourth, we lift our feet. With my wife and children, we bring food to the southern fields, and the field overseer is overjoyed. The Fire Star descends in July, clothes are given out in September. The spring sun shines brightly, and orioles sing. Women carry their baskets, following the narrow paths, seeking tender mulberry leaves. The spring days are long, and the gathering of artemisia is abundant. Women’s hearts are filled with sorrow, almost as if they will return home with their lord. The Fire Star descends in July, reeds and rushes grow in August. In the silkworm month, mulberry branches are trimmed; they take their axes and hoes to cut down the tall branches, and the women gather the mulberry leaves. The shrike cries in July, and spinning begins in August. They spin black and yellow, and my red is very bright, to make a robe for my lord. In April, the grasses flourish; in May, the cicadas sing. In August, the harvest is plentiful; in October, the grass withers. On the first day, we hunt badger and foxes to make a fur coat for the young master. On the second day, we gather together, continuing our martial exploits, saying we’ll keep the small boars for ourselves and present the big ones to the lord. In May, the grasshoppers stir; in June, the crickets flutter their wings. In July, they are in the fields; in August, in the eaves; in September, in the doorways. In October, the crickets enter under my bed. I stuff the doorway to smoke out the rats. I seal the door and windows. Alas, my wife and children, saying, "To change the year, we enter this room." In June, we eat jasmine and grapes; in July, we cook mallow and beans. In August, we peel dates; in October, we harvest rice. We make this spring wine to wish for long life In July, we eat melons; in August, we cut gourds; in September, we gather hemp and collect tea and firewood. Eat my food, my farmers. In September, build the threshing floor; in October, store the harvest. Millet, sorghum, and rice; grain, hemp, beans, and wheat. Alas, my farmers, now that our harvest is complete, go to the palace to perform your duties. By day you cut thatch; by night you weave ropes. Quickly climb onto the roof; soon you begin to sow the hundred grains. On the second day, chisel the ice with a resounding crash; on the third day, store it in the icehouse. On the fourth day, rise early and offer a lamb as a sacrifice to leeks. In September, the frost is severe; in October, clean the threshing floor. Friends feast with wine, and slaughter a lamb. Ascend to the ancestral hall, raise the rhinoceros horn cup, and wish for boundless longevity.