The Book of Poetry: Book III. The Odes of P‘ei: XVII. Ching Nü
The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876]
2Oh! the maiden, so handsome and coy,
For a pledge gave a slim rosy reed.
Than the reed is she brighter, my joy;
On her loveliness how my thoughts feed!
3In the pastures a t‘i blade she sought,
And she gave it, so elegant, rare.
Oh! the grass does not dwell in my thought,
But the donor, more elegant, fair.