Living
Mind not Idle Tales
Translated by William Jennings (1891) · From The Shi King (Jennings, 1891), Part I, Book x
Who, a-gathering mouse-ear fungus,
Gathers it on Shau-yang's crest?—
People's stories are but fiction,
And on no foundation rest.
Put them from thee, put them from thee;
Fictions are they, and untrue;
Tales invented by the people, —
Tush! what can they do?
Who, a-gathering in the rue-leaf,
Gathers it at Shau-yang's base? —
People's stories are but fiction,
Ne'er agree they with the case.
Put them from thee, put them from thee;
Fictions are they, and untrue;
Tales invented by the people, —
Tush! what can they do?
Who, that goes a-gathering parsley,
East of Shau-yang ever went? —
People's stories are but fiction,
And are all-inconsequent.
Put them from thee, put them from thee;
Fictions are they, and untrue;
Tales invented by the people,
Tush! what can they do?
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Mind not Idle Tales.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/383/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “Mind not Idle Tales.” Translated by William Jennings. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/383/.
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