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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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