The Reeds and Rushes Excerpt from The Airs of Qin, The Book of Songs Translated by Arthur Waley Thick grow the rush leaves; Their white dew turns to frost. He whom I love Must be somewhere along this stream. I went up the river to look for him, But the way was difficult and long. I went down the stream to look for him, And there in mid-water Sure enough, it’s he! Close grow the rush leaves, Their white dew not yet dry. He whom I love Is at the water’s side. Up stream I sought him; But the way was difficult and steep. Down stream I sought him, And away in mid-water There on a ledge, that’s he! Very fresh are the rush leaves; The white dew still falls. He whom I love Is at the water’s edge. Up stream I followed him; But the way was hard and long. Down stream I followed him, And away in mid-water There on the shoals is he! Arthur Waley (1889—1966), a distinguished British Sinologist, was an outstanding translator of Chinese culture and literature to the English-reading public. Self-taught in Chinese and Japanese, he reached admirable levels in both languages and translated many volumes of the Chinese classics, including The Book of Songs (《诗经》, 1937) , The Monkey (《西游记》, 1942) and The Analects of Confucius (《论语》, 1938). He also wrote critical criticisms on classical Chinese poetry and painting.