The Book of Poetry: Book X. The Odes of T‘ang: I. Hsi So
The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876]
2The cricket appears in the hall,
And the year is fast passing on.
Then let us to-day to pleasure give way,
Ere the days and months shall be gone.
But some things our care still demand;
Against all excess we must guard.
Take heed lest the joy our reason destroy:
The good man thinks no toil too hard.—
3The cricket appears in the hall;
The need for our carts is all o’er.
Then let us to-day to pleasure give way,
Ere the days and months be no more.
But first think of griefs that may come;
Between the extremes keep the mean.
Take heed lest the joy our reason destroy:—
The good man is calm and serene.