Sacred Texts  Confucianism  Index  Previous  Next 


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


V

The Tung Fang Wei Ming; narrative and metaphorical. The irregularity and disorder of the court of Ch‘i; as seen especially in the time of giving the morning audience.

1I was putting my clothes on upside down,
  Before the eastern sky was clear.
I was putting my clothes on upside down,
  When a call to the court came here.

2I was putting my clothes on upside down,
  Ere showed the east the rising flame.
I was putting my clothes on upside down,
  When from the court an order came. p. 109

3On garden fence, made but of willow wands,
  E’en reckless fellows look with fear.
Our prince can't tell the night from dawn;—
  Too soon, or late, his calls appear!


Next: VI. Nan Shan