Book Viii. The Odes Of Ch'i. Ix. Pi Kou

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

Ix

The "Pi Kou;" metaphorical. The bold licentious freedom of Wn Chiang in returning to Ch'i;--against Duke Chuang of Lu, her son.

1Rent is the basket at the dam,

Where bream and kuan abound;

As useless is the prince of Lu,

In vigor wanting found.

Ch'i's daughter now to Chi comes back,

Her followers as a cloud;

Her son should hold her fast in Lu,

Her wickedness to shroud.

2Rent is the basket at the dam,

Where bream and tench abound;

As useless is the prince of Lu,

In vigor wanting found.

Back comes Ch'i's daughter, with a shower

Of followers at her side, p. 113

Her son should hold her fast in Lu,

Her wanton ways to hide.

3Rent is the basket at the dam;

Fish in and out can go;

As useless is the prince of Lu,

And vigor fails to show.

Back comes Ch'i's daughter, with a stream

Of followers behind;

Her son should hold her fast in Lu,

From such lewd ways confined.