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


IV

The Chiao Liao; allusive and metaphorical. Supposed to celebrate the power and prosperity of Huanshu, and to predict the growth of his family.

1                What clusters so rare
                The pepper plants bear!
A measure, luxuriant and large, they would fill.
                As much without peer
                Is this hero here!
Sing hey for the shoots of the pepper plant still!

2                What clusters so rare
                The pepper plants bear!
Luxuriant and large, both your hands they would fill.
                So generous and great
                This chief of our state!
And it's hey for the far-shooting pepper plant still!


Next: V. Ch‘ou Mou