History & Politics
The P‘o Foo
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book XV
We splintered our axes, and brought
Our hatchets all to the same plight.
But the duke of Chow meant, when eastward he went,
What was wrong in those four States to right.
Oh! the pity was great
Which he felt for their state !
Our axes and chisels we broke
To pieces, and splintered and rent.
But the duke of Chow meant, when eastward he went,
The four States all reformed to present.
Oh! the pity was good
That on them he bestowed !
Our axes we broke, and our clubs
To fragments were splintered and split.
But the duke of Chow meant, when eastward he went,
The four States in close union to knit.
Oh! the pity was rare
That he showed for them there !
Codex Note
Responsive to the last ode. his soldiers praise the duke of Chow for his magnanimity and sympathy with the people.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The P‘o Foo.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/152/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The P‘o Foo.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/152/.
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