The Book of Poetry: Book VIII. The Odes of Ch‘i: VII. Fu T‘ien
The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876]
2If fields too large you seek to till,
The weeds will only rise more strong.
To try to gain men far away
Will but your heart's distress prolong.
3Things grow the best when to themselves
Left, and to nature's vigor rare.
How young and tender is the child,
With his twin tufts of falling hair!
But when you him erelong behold,
That child shall cap of manhood wear!