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


p. 152

II

The Tung Mên Chih Fên; narrative. Wanton associations of the young people of Ch‘ên.

1The white elms by the east gate grow,
  And clumps of oaks crown Yüan Ch‘iu’s head;
There Tzŭ-chung’s daughter oft we see,
  Dancing about beneath their shade.

2On a bright morning they have fixed,
  To seek the plain that southward lies.
Then from her task of twisting hemp,
  See! dancing through the mart she hies.

3The morning fair, young men and girls
  Together go. You hear a youth
Say to his mate, "O sunflower bright,
  Pledge me with pepper stalk your truth!"


Next: III. Hêng Mên