Shi Jing 
– The Book of Odes
The oldest collection of Chinese poetry, more than three hundred songs, odes and hymns. Tr. Legge (en) and Granet (fr, incomplete).
Shijing I. 13. (146)
In your lamb's fur you saunter about ;
In your fox's fur you hold your court.
How should I not think anxiously about you ?
My toiled heart is full of grief.
In your lamb's fur you wander aimlessly about ;
In your fox's fur you appear in your hall.
How should I not think anxiously about you ?
My heart is wounded with sorrow.
Your lamb's fur, as if covered with ointment ;
Glistens when the sun comes forth.
How should I not think anxiously about you ?
To the core of my heart I am grieved.
Legge 146
Shijing I. 13. (147)
If I could but see the white cap,
And the earnest mourner worn to leanness ! –
My toiled heart is worn with grief !
If I could but see the white [lower] dress ! –
My heart is wounded with sadness !
I should be inclined to go and live with the wearer !
If I could but see the white knee-covers ! –
Sorrow is knotted in my heart !
I should almost feel as of one soul with the wearer !
Legge 147
Shijing I. 13. (148)
In the low wet grouds is the carambola tree ;
Soft and pliant are its branches,
With the glossiness of tender beauty.
I should rejoice to be like you, [O tree], without consciousness.
In the low, damp grounds is the carambola tree ;
Soft and delicate are its flowers,
With the glossiness of its tender beauty.
I should rejoice to be like you, [O tree], without a family.
In the low, damp grounds is the carambola tree ;
Soft and delicate is its fruit,
With the glossiness of its tender beauty.
I should rejoice to be like you, [O tree], without a household.
Legge 148
Au val est un carambolier ;
douce est la grâce de ses branches !
Que sa jeunesse a de vigueur !
quelle joie que tu n'aies pas de connaissance !
Au val est un carambolier ;
douce est la grâce de ses fleurs !
Que sa jeunesse a de vigueur !
quelle joie que tu n'aies pas de mari !
Au val est un carambolier ;
douce est la grâce de ses fruits !
Que sa jeunesse a de vigueur !
quelle joie que tu n'aies pas de femme !
Granet II.
Shijing I. 13. (149)
Not for the violence of the wind ;
Not for a rushing motion of a chariot ; –
But when I look to the road to Zhou,
Am I pained to the core of my heart.
Not for the whirlwind ;
Not for the irregular motion of a chariot ; –
But when I look to the road to Zhou,
Am I sad to the core of my heart.
Who can cook fish ?
I will wash his boilers for him.
Who will loyally go to the west ?
I will cheer him with good words.
Legge 149
The Book of Odes – Shi Jing I. 13. – Chinese off/on – Français/English
Alias Shijing, Shi Jing, Book of Odes, Book of Songs, Classic of Odes, Classic of
Poetry, Livre des Odes, Canon des Poèmes.
The Book of Odes, The Analects, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Three-characters book, The Book of Changes, The Way and its Power, 300 Tang Poems, The Art of War, Thirty-Six Strategies
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