History & Politics
A Wearied Statesman
Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part I, Book vi
Wily were the hares;
Pheasants came to net.
In my early days
Cares I never met;
While my later life
Meets with all these ills.
Welcome were that sleep
That all trouble kills!
Wily were the hares;
Pheasants took the bait.
In my early days
Calm was every State;
On my later life
Come these hundred woes.
Welcome were that sleep
That no waking knows!
Wily were the hares;
Pheasants were decoyed.
All my early days
Lived I unemployed;
On my later life
Fall these hundred cares.
Welcome were that sleep
That the senses spares!
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “A Wearied Statesman.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/346/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “A Wearied Statesman.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/346/.
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