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菀柳

有菀者柳。
不尚息焉。
上帝甚蹈。
無自暱焉。
俾予靖之。
後予極焉。
有菀者柳。
不尚愒焉。
上帝甚蹈。
無自瘵焉。
俾予靖之。
後予邁焉。
有鳥高飛。
亦傅于天。
彼人之心。
于何其臻。
曷予靖之。
居以凶矜。

WAN LIU

There is a luxuriant willow tree; --
Who would not wish to rest [under it]?
[But this] god is very changeable; --
Do not approach him.
If I were to [try and] order his affairs,
His demands afterwards would be extreme.
There is a luxuriant willow tree; --
Who would not wish to take shelter [under it]?
[But this] god is very changeable,
Do not get yourself into trouble with him.
If I were to [try and] order his affairs,
His demands on me afterwards would be beyond measure.
There is a bird flying high,
Even up to heaven.
The heart of that man, --
To what will it proceed?
Why should I [try to] order his affairs?
I should only find myself in pitiable misery.
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IATHPublished by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003 by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia