Living
The Hwan-Lan
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book V
Feeble as branch of sparrow-gourd, this youth,
Wears spike at girdle, as if he, forsooth,
‘Were quite a man; but though the spike he wears,
He knows not us at whom he proudly stares.
How easy and conceited is his mien!
How drop his girdle-ends, full jaunty seen!
Like leaf of sparrow-gourd, that coxcomb young,
With archer’s thimble at his girdle hung !
He wears the thimble, but he’s not the Swell
To lord it over us who know him well.
How easy and conceited is his mien!
How drop his girdle-ends, full jaunty seen !
Codex Note
Picture of a conceited young man of rank.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Hwan-Lan.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/59/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Hwan-Lan.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/59/.
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