Shi Jing XIV
Odes Of Cao
The wings of the ephemera, Are robes, bright and splendid. My heart is grieved; - Would they but come and abide with me!
The wings of the ephemera, Are robes, variously adorned. My heart is grieved; - Would they but come and rest with me!
The ephemera bursts from its hole, With a robe of hemp like snow. My heart is grieved; - Would they but come and lodge with me!
Those officers of escort, Have their carriers of lances and halberds. But these creatures, With their three hundred red covers for the knees! -
The pelican is on the dam, And will not wet his wings! These creatures, Are not equal to their dress!
The pelican is on the dam, And will not wet his beak! These creatures, Do not respond to the favour they enjoy.
Extensive and luxuriant is the vegetation, And up the south hill in the morning rise the vapours. Tender is she and lovely, But the young lady is suffering from hunger.
The turtle dove is in the mulberry tree, And her young ones are seven. The virtuous man, the princely one, Is uniformly correct in his deportment. He is uniformly correct in his deportment, His heart is as if it were tied to what is correct.
The turtle dove is in the mulberry tree, And her young ones are in the plum tree. The virtuous man, the princely one, Has his girdle of silk. His girdle is of silk, And his cap is of spotted deer-skin.
The turtle dove is in the mulberry tree, And her young ones are in the jujube tree. The virtuous man, the princely one, Has nothing wrong in his deportment. He has nothing wrong in his deportment, And thus he rectifies the four quarters of the State.
The turtle dove is in the mulberry tree, And her young ones are in the hazel tree. The virtuous man, the princely one, Rectifies the people of the State. He rectifies the people of his State: May he continue for ten thousand years!
Cold come the waters down from that spring, And overflow the bushy wolf's-tail grass, Ah me! I awake and sigh, Thinking of that capital of Zhou.
Cold come the waters down from that spring, And overflow the bushy southernwood, Ah me! I awake and sigh, Thinking of that capital of Zhou.
Cold come the waters down from that spring, And overflow the bushy divining plants, Ah me! I awake and sigh, Thinking of that capital-city.
Beautifully grew the fields of young millet, Enriched by fertilizing rains. The States had their sovereign, And there was the chief of Xun to reward their princes.
Note:
The State of Cao was a small state in the Shandong peninsula. This poem is an allegory against several groups in the country, occupying any place they please and forgetting important matters. It is interpreted that this poem is aimed at the lazy prince Cao Zhao Gong (660 – 652 BC), who only liked luxury and was fond of small, worthless animals.
Note:
This poem is satirical and figurative; lamenting what was shown by the worthless court officers and showing disappointment at the time of the young king Cao Gong Gong (651 – 617 bc) who was accused of having done many wrongs by prince Jin Wen Gong (636 – 628 bc) when he entered Cao's country (631 bc) because of the behavior of the three hundred useless officers.
Note:
This poem is figurative; it contains praise for some princes, probably from the state of Cao for their virtuous behavior and wide influence despite being a small state.
Note:
This poem is figurative and satirical. The misgovernment in Cao's country made the writer of this poem commemorate Cao's capital city and its predecessor rulers who brought prosperity and prosperity.