Love

The Chow-Mow

by Shi Jing (The Book of Songs) poems c. 1000–600 BC; compilation traditionally ascribed to Confucius

Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book X

Love

Round and round the faggots ve bound,
And the Heart in heaven shines clear.
Oh! that I such an évening have found!
That this good man should be here !
Ome! Ome!
With a husband like this I have nothing to fear.

Round and round the grass we have bound ;
At the corner shines the Heart.
Strange that we such an evening have found!
Thus to meet and never to part !
O joy! O joy!
That this meeting should come without scheming or art!

Round and round the thorns I have bound;
From the door the Heart I see.
Oh! that I such an evening have found !
That this Beauty is come to me!
Ome! Ome!
That this lady so lovely mine only should be!

✦ ✦ ✦

Husband and wife express their delight at their unexpected union.

MLA

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Chow-Mow.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/113/.

Chicago

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Chow-Mow.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/113/.

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