I. Fou Yu
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The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876], at sacred-texts.com
p. 163
Book XIV. The Odes of Ts‘ao
I
The Fou Yu; metaphorical. Against some parties in the state, occupied with frivolous pursuits, and oblivious of important matters.
1Like splendid robes appear the wings
Of the ephemeral fly;
And such the pomp of those great men,
Which soon in dust shall lie!
I grieve! Would they but come to me!
To teach them I should try.
Of the ephemeral fly;
And such the pomp of those great men,
Which soon in dust shall lie!
I grieve! Would they but come to me!
To teach them I should try.
2The wings of the ephemeral fly
Are robes of colors gay;
And such the glory of those men,
Soon crumbling to decay!
I grieve! Would they but rest with me,
They’d learn a better way!
3The ephemeral fly bursts from its hole,
With gauzy wings like snow;
So quick the rise, so quick the fall,
Of those great men we know!
I grieve! Would they but lodge with me,
Forth they would wiser go.
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