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The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876], at sacred-texts.com


XVIII

The Yang Chih Shui; allusive. One party asserts good faith to another, and protests against people who would make them doubt each other.

1    Fretted its waters seem,
  Yet gently flows the stream:—
A bundle of thorns ’twill not bear. p. 101
    Our brethren are so few;
    There are but I and you:—
Let nothing our friendship impair.
    People's words don't believe;
    They are meant to deceive:—
Their purpose is but to ensnare.

2    Fretted its waters seem,
    Yet gently flows the stream:—
A bundle of wood ’twill not bear.
    Our brethren are so few;
    There are only we two:—
Let nothing our friendship impair.
    Trust not the people's breath;
    They don't deserve your faith:—
Their purpose is but to ensnare.


Next: XIX. Ch‘u Ch‘i Tung Mên