Living
The Tséaou Léaou
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book X
What clusters so rare
The pepper plants bear !
A measure, luxuriant and large, they would fill.
As much without peer
Is this hero here !
Sing hey for the shoots of the pepper plant still!
What clusters so rare
The pepper plants bear !
Luxuriant and large, both your hands they would fill.
So generous and great
This chief of our State !
And it’s hey for the far-shooting pepper plant still!
Codex Note
Supposed to celebrate the power and prosperity of Hwan-shuh, and to predict the growth of his family.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Tséaou Léaou.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/112/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Tséaou Léaou.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/112/.
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