History & Politics
The Kaou K‘ew (Part I, Book X)
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book X
You, of the leopard’s cuff and lambkin’s fur,
To us have been a governor unkind ;
But we look back on many an ancestor,
And stay, when we another chief might find.
Unsympathizing, violent, and rough
With us poor folks from day to day are you.
Man of the lambkin fur and leopard cuff,
What keeps us here but hearts that still beat true ?
Codex Note
The people of some great officer complain of his hard treatment of them, while they declare their loyalty.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Kaou K‘ew (Part I, Book X).” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/115/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Kaou K‘ew (Part I, Book X).” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/115/.
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