Love
The Ts‘aou-Ch‘ung
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book II
Shrill chirp the insects in the grass ;
All about the hoppers spring.
While I my husband do not see,
Sorrow must my bosom wring.
O to meet him!
O to greet him!
Then my heart would rest and sing.
Ascending high that southern hill,
Turtle ferns I strove to get.
While I my husband do not see,
Sorrow must my heart beset.
O to meet him!
O to greet him !
Then my heart would cease to fret.
Ascending high that southern hill,
Spinous ferns I sought to find.
While I my husband do not see,
Rankles sorrow in my mind.
O to meet him!
O to greet him!
In my heart would peace be shrined.
Codex Note
The wife of some great officer bewails his absence on duty, and longs for the joy of his return.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Ts‘aou-Ch‘ung.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/13/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Ts‘aou-Ch‘ung.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/13/.
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