Living
The Yang Che Shwuy (Part I, Book VII)
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book VII
Fretted its waters seem,
Yet gently flows the stream :—
A bundle of thorns ’twill not bear.
Our brethren are so few ;
There are but I and you :—
Let nothing our friendship impair.
People’s words don’t believe ;
They are meant to deceive :—
Their purpose is but to ensnare.
Fretted its waters seem,
Yet gently flows the stream :—
A bundle of wood ’twill not bear.
Our brethren are so few ;
There are only we two :—
Let nothing our friendship impair.
Trust not the people’s breath ;
They don’t deserve your faith :—
Their purpose is but to ensnare.
Codex Note
One party asserts good faith to another, and protests against people who would make them doubt each other.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Yang Che Shwuy (Part I, Book VII).” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/88/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Yang Che Shwuy (Part I, Book VII).” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/88/.
Read this poem with the Codex →