Living
The Ts‘ing-Ts‘ing Chay Ngo
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part II, Book III
Bright grows the aster-southernwood,
Luxuriant on that spacious mound.
Our lord, renowned for courtesy,
Wakes in our hearts a joy profound.
The aster, clothing yonder isle,
Its colour throws o’er all the stream.
When we our noble lord behold,
Our hearts reflect his gladdening beam.
The aster on that lofty height
In beauteous state luxuriant grows.
An hundred sets of cowries bright
Our noble lord on us bestows.
Our youth were like the willow boat,
Sinking and rising on the tide.
Our noble lord now for them cares ;—
In him our resting hearts confide.
Codex Note
An ode, celebrating the attention paid by the early kings of Chow to the education of talent.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Ts‘ing-Ts‘ing Chay Ngo.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/171/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Ts‘ing-Ts‘ing Chay Ngo.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/171/.
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