Living
The Hoo Yeh
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part II, Book VIII
A few gourd leaves that waved about
Cut down and boiled ;—the feast how spare !
But the good host his spirits takes,
Pours out a cup, and proves them rare.
A single rabbit on the mat,
Or baked, or roast :—how small the feast !
But the good host his spirits takes,
And fills the cup of every guest.
A single rabbit on the mat,
Roasted or broiled :—how poor the meal!
But the guests from the spirit vase
Fill their host’s cup, and drink his weal.
A single rabbit on the mat,
Roasted or baked :—no feast we think !
But from the spirit vase they take,
Both host and guests, and joyous drink.
Codex Note
Where the provisions are most frugal, all the rules of polite intercourse may yet be preserved.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Hoo Yeh.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/226/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Hoo Yeh.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/226/.
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