The Wisdom of Confucius: with Critical and Biographical SketchesConfucius
ReligionEastern
The Wisdom of Confucius: with Critical and Biographical Sketches
Confucius
Ethics -- China; Philosophy, Chinese
In the South are the trees whose branches are bent,
And droop in such fashion that o'er their extent
All the dolichos' creepers are spread.
See our princely lady, from whom we have got
Rejoicing that's endless! Of her happy lot
And her honors the greatness ne'er fade!
In the South are the trees whose branches are bent,
And droop in such fashion that o'er their extent
All the dolichos' creepers entwine.
See our princely lady, from whom we have got
Rejoicing that's endless! May her happy lot
And her honors complete ever shine!
THE FRUITFULNESS OF THE LOCUST
Ye locusts, wingèd tribes,
Gather in concord fine;
Well your descendants may
In numerous bright hosts shine!
Ye locusts, wingèd tribes,
Your wings in flight resound;
Well your descendants may
In endless lines be found!
Ye locusts, wingèd tribes,
Together cluster strong;
Well your descendants may
In swarms forever throng!
LAMENTING THE ABSENCE OF A CHERISHED FRIEND
Though small my basket, all my toil
Filled it with mouse-ears but in part.
I set it on the path, and sighed
For the dear master of my heart.
My steeds, o'er-tasked, their progress stayed,
When midway up that rocky height.
Give me a cup from that gilt vase--
When shall this longing end in sight?
To mount that lofty ridge I drove,
Until my steeds all changed their hue.
A cup from that rhinoceros's horn
May help my longing to subdue.
Striving to reach that flat-topped hill,
My steeds, worn out, relaxed their strain;
My driver also sank oppressed:--
I'll never see my lord again!
CELEBRATING THE GOODNESS OF THE DESCENDANTS OF KING WAN
As the feet of the _lin_, which avoid each living thing,
So our prince's noble sons no harm to men will bring.
They are the _lin_!
As the front of the _lin_, never forward thrust in wrath,
So our prince's noble grandsons of love tread the path.
They are the _lin_!
As the horn of the _lin_, flesh-tipped, no wound to give,
So our prince's noble kindred kindly with all live.
They are the _lin_!
[NOTE.--The "lin" is the female of "K‘e"--a fabulous animal--the
symbol of all goodness and benevolence; having the body of a deer,
the tail of an ox, the hoofs of a horse, one horn, the scales of a
fish, etc. Its feet do not tread on any living thing--not even on
live grass; it does not butt with its forehead; and the end of its
horn is covered with flesh--to show that, while able for war, it
wills to have peace. The "lin" was supposed to appear inaugurating
a golden age, but the poet finds a better auspice of that in the
character of Wan's family and kindred.]
THE VIRTUOUS MANNERS OF THE YOUNG WOMEN
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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