The Foo T‘een (Part I, Book VIII)

The weeds will but the ranker grow,
If fields too large you seek to till.
To try to gain men far away
With grief your toiling heart will fill.

If fields too large you seek to till,
The weeds will only rise more strong.
To try to gain men far away
Will but your heart’s distress prolong.

Things grow the best when to themselves
Left, and to nature’s vigour rare.
How young and tender is the child,
With his twin tufts of falling hair!
But when you him ere long behold,
That child shall cap of manhood wear !