{"collection":"cfu","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cfu/bop/bop273.htm","path":"cfu/bop/bop273.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cfu/bop/bop273.htm","text":"The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876]\n2You now, O king, possess the lands,\n \u00a0\u00a0Which as their own men once could claim;\n And chiefs, who led their faithful bands,\n \u00a0\u00a0Are stript of wealth, and brought to shame.\n Men blameless, free from slightest taint,\n \u00a0\u00a0Within that fearful net are snared;\n While others walk without restraint,\n \u00a0\u00a0Whose guilt is openly declared.\n3A wise man builds the city wall;\n \u00a0\u00a0But a wise woman throws it down.\n Wise is she? Good you may her call;\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0She is an owl we should disown! p. 428\n To woman's tongue let length be given,\n \u00a0\u00a0And step by step to harm it leads.\n Disorder does not come from Heaven;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u2019Tis woman's tongue disorder breeds.\n Women and eunuchs! Never came\n \u00a0\u00a0Lesson or warning word from them!\n4Hurtful and false, their spite they wreak;\n \u00a0\u00a0And when exposed their falsehood lies,\n The wrong they do not own, but sneak,\n \u00a0\u00a0And say, \"No harm did we devise.\"\n Thrice cent. per cent! Why that is trade,\n \u00a0\u00a0And would the wise man but disgrace.\n Public affairs to wife and maid\n \u00a0\u00a0Must not silkworms and looms displace.\n5 Why is it Heaven thus sends reproof?\n \u00a0\u00a0Why have the spirits ceased to bless?\n From the wild Ti you keep aloof,\n \u00a0\u00a0And me would in your wrath oppress.\n Omens of ill you slight, though rife;\n \u00a0\u00a0Nor for your outward bearing care.\n The good fly from the scene of strife;\n \u00a0\u00a0Ruin impends, and blank despair. p. 429\n6Heaven's awful net o\u2019erhangs the land,\n \u00a0\u00a0Full of more woes than tongue can tell.\n The good retire on every hand.\n \u00a0\u00a0What sorrows in my bosom swell!\n Near and more near the net of Heaven!\n \u00a0\u00a0Soon will its meshes all enfold.\n Good men are from their duties driven,\n \u00a0\u00a0And how can grief of mine be told?\n7The waters bubbling up make known\n \u00a0\u00a0How deep and strong the spring below;\n And long the inward grief has grown,\n \u00a0\u00a0From which my words of sorrow flow.\n Why came not this ere I was born?\n \u00a0\u00a0Why happened it ere I was dead?\n Yet still the sorrowing and forlorn\n \u00a0\u00a0Great and mysterious Heaven can aid.\n O king, your sires no more disgrace!\n \u00a0\u00a0So may you save your future race.","title":"The Book of Poetry: Book III. Decade of Tang: X. Chan Ang","type":"page"}