楚襄王问于宋玉曰：「先生其有遗行与？何(he)士民众(zhong)庶(shu)不誉之(zhi)甚(shen)也(ye)！」
宋玉对曰(yue)：「唯，然，有(you)之(zhi)(zhi)！愿大(da)王宽(kuan)其(qi)罪(zui)，使得(de)毕其(qi)辞。客有(you)歌(ge)于郢(ying)中(zhong)(zhong)者，其(qi)始曰(yue)『下里巴人』，国中(zhong)(zhong)属而和者数千(qian)(qian)人；其(qi)为(wei)(wei)『阳阿(a)薤露』，国中(zhong)(zhong)属而和者数百人；其(qi)为(wei)(wei)『阳春白雪』，国中(zhong)(zhong)属而和者不(bu)过数十人；引(yin)商刻羽，杂(za)以流徵(zhi)，国中(zhong)(zhong)属而和者，不(bu)过数人而已。是其(qi)曲弥高，其(qi)和弥寡。故鸟(niao)有(you)凤而鱼有(you)鲲(kun)(kun)，凤凰上击九(jiu)千(qian)(qian)里，绝云霓，负苍天(tian)，翱翔(xiang)乎杳(yao)冥之(zhi)(zhi)上；夫蕃篱之(zhi)(zhi)鷃，岂能与之(zhi)(zhi)料天(tian)地之(zhi)(zhi)高哉？鲲(kun)(kun)鱼朝(chao)发昆仑之(zhi)(zhi)墟，暴(bao)鳍于碣石，暮(mu)宿于孟诸；夫尺泽之(zhi)(zhi)鲵，岂能与之(zhi)(zhi)量江海之(zhi)(zhi)大(da)哉？故非独鸟(niao)有(you)凤而鱼有(you)鲲(kun)(kun)也，士亦有(you)之(zhi)(zhi)。夫圣(sheng)人瑰意琦行(xing)，超然独处；夫世俗之(zhi)(zhi)民，又安(an)知臣之(zhi)(zhi)所为(wei)(wei)哉？」