The Book of Poetry: Book IV. The Odes of Yung: VIII. Hsiang Shu
The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876]
2Behold a rat! Its teeth can sharply bite!
Then mark deportment careless of what's right!
Manners thus careless of what's right declare
’Twere well the man himself for death prepare.
3Behold a rat! How small its limbs, and fine!
Then mark the course that scorns the proper line!
Propriety's neglect may well provoke
A wish the man would quickly court death's stroke.