Living

In Memory of a Worthy Chieftain

by Shi Jing (The Book of Songs) poems c. 1000–600 BC; compilation traditionally ascribed to Confucius

Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part I, Book ii

Living

O pear-tree, with thy leafy shade!
Ne'er be thou cut, ne'er be thou laid; —
Once under thee Shan's chieftain stayed.

O pear-tree, with thy leafy crest,
Ne'er may they cut thee, ne'er molest; —
Shau's chief beneath thee once found rest.

O pear-tree, with thy leafy shroud,
Ne'er be those branches cut, nor bowed,
That shelter to Shau's chief allowed.

MLA

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “In Memory of a Worthy Chieftain.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/311/.

Chicago

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “In Memory of a Worthy Chieftain.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/311/.

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