Here long, there short, is the duckweed,

To the left, to the right, borne about by the current.

The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady：一 

Waking and sleeping, he sought her.

He sought her and found her not.

And waking and sleeping he thought about her.

Long he thought； oh! long and anxiously；

On his side，on his back, he turned, and back again.

Here long, there short, is the duckweed；

On the left, on the rights we gather it，

The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady；—

With lutes, small and large, let us give her friendly welcome.

Here long，there short，is the duckweed；

On the left，on the right, we cook and present it.

The modest, retiring, virtuous young lady：——

With bells and drums let us show our delight in her.

【批】

Legge译标题不用Osprey而用Ode再于括号内加注（Kwan ts'eu)，意在使读者将象声词“关关”与下文第一行的Kwan-Kwan联系起来，用心甚苦。但因为只从发音方面照顾一个“关”字，却将更重要的东西丢掉了：“关雎”之名，实际上暗示着全诗主旨，译文不直译而作Ode实在是一大败笔。在中国人眼中，雎鸠求鱼象征男子求女，然而“雎鸠贞洁慎匹”，是典型的中国式恋爱观。这些对于欧美人来说，正是难以理喻之处。可以说没看懂标题寓意，译诗先就败了一半。此处的补救办法，可采取直译加脚注。

第1行：Kwan-kwan为雎鸠的叫声，或解为“雌雄相应之和声”。译文取音译法，妙。但此句重在用“关关”表达雎鸠求爱时的欢叫，如用动词go，诗趣大减。倒不如索性将Kwan-kwan作动词用，译作The Ospreys kwan-kwan/ On the islet in the river。下加脚注：Kwan-Kwan，the calling of the ospreys。