Book Xv. The Odes Of Pin. Iv. P'o Fu
*
"The Book of Poetry", tr. by James Legge, [1876],
p. 178
Iv
The "P'o Fu;" narrative. Responsive to the last ode. His soldiers praise the duke of Chou for his magnanimity and sympathy with the people.
1 We splintered our axes, and brought
Our hatchets all to the same plight.
But the duke of Chou meant, when eastward he went,
What was wrong in those, four 'states to right.
Oh! the pity was great
Which he felt for their state!
2 Our axes and chisels we broke
To pieces, and splintered and rent.
But the duke of Chou meant, when eastward he went,
The four states all reformed to present.
Oh! the pity was good
That on them he bestowed!
3 Our axes we broke, and our clubs
To fragments were splintered and split. p. 179
But the duke of Chou meant, when eastward he went,
The four states in close union to knit.
Oh! the pity was rare
That he showed for them there!
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