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Book Ix. The Odes Of Wei. Vi. Fa T'an

*
"The Book of Poetry", tr. by James Legge, [1876],

p. 122

Vi

The "Fa T'an;" allusive. Against the idle and greedy ministers of the state. Contrast between them and a stalwart woodman.

1"K'an-k'an" upon the sandal trees

The woodman's strokes resound.

Then on the bank he lays the trunks

His ax brings to the ground;

The while the stream goes rippling by,

Its waters cool and clear.

You work not so, O Wei's great men,

From me the truth now hear.

You sow no seed; no harvest tasks

Your soft hands take in charge;

And yet each boasts three hundred farms,

And stores the produce large.

You never join the hunt's halloo,

Nor dare to share its toils;

Yet lo! your wide courtyards are seen

Hung round with badgers' spoils.

I must conclude that woodman rude

A man of higher style.

To eat the bread of idleness

He feels would stamp him vile. p. 123

2
\"K'an-k'an" upon the sandalwood

The woodman's strokes resound,

Then by the river's side he lays

What fit for spokes is found;

The while the river onward flows,

Its waters clear and smooth.

You work not so, O Wei's great men,

From me now hear the truth.--

You sow no seed; no harvest tasks

Your dainty fingers stain;

And yet each boasts three million sheaves;--

Whence gets he all that grain?

You never join the hunt's halloo,

Nor brave its ventures bold;

Yet lo! your wide courtyards display

Those boars of three years old.

I must conclude that woodman rude

A man of higher style.

To eat the bread of idleness

He feels would stamp him vile. p. 124

3
\"K'an-k'an" resound the woodman's strokes

Upon the sandalwood;

Then on the river's lip he lays

What for his wheels is good;

The while the river onward flows,

Soft rippled by the wind.

That you don't work, O Wei's great men,

Is thus brought to my mind.

You sow no seed; no harvest tasks

Your soft hands undertake;

Yet grain each boasts, three hundred bins;--

Who his that grain did make?

You never join the hunt's halloo,

Your feeble courage fails;

Yet lo! your wide courtyards display

Large strings of slaughtered quails.

I must conclude that woodman rude

A man of higher style.

To eat the bread of idleness

He feels would stamp him vile.
exodus chapter 40| exodus chapter 40
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