Living
The Séang Shoo
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book IV
Behold a rat! Its skin has glossy sheen!
Then mark that man’s demeanour, poor and mean !
‘Bearing of bearing void !—what means it? This :—
’Twere better death than longer life were his!
Behold a rat! Its teeth can sharply bite!
Then mark deportment careless of what’s right !
Manners thus careless of what’s right declare
’Twere well the man himself for death prepare.
Behold a rat! How small its limbs, and fine!
Then mark the course that scorns the proper line !
Propriety’s neglect may well provoke
A wish the man would quickly court death’s stroke.
Codex Note
A man without propriety is not equal to a rat.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Séang Shoo.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/51/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Séang Shoo.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/51/.
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