History & Politics
The Kéw Yih
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book XV
The nine enclosures of the net
The rud and bream keep tight.
Our prince in dragon robe we see,
And skirt with figures bright.
The geese brief time fly round the isles ;
Home bends the duke his way.
’T' was only for two passing nights
He deigned with us to stay.
Back to the land now fly the geese ;
The duke comes not again.
Twas only for two passing nights
He could with us remain.
Short time the single dragon robe
Among us we have had.
Our duke O take not to the west,
Nor bid our hearts be sad !
Codex Note
The people of the east express their admiration of the duke of Chow, and sorrow at his returning to the west.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Kéw Yih.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/154/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Kéw Yih.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/154/.
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