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DU REN SHI

Those officers of the [old] capital,
With their fox-furs so yellow,
Their deportment unvaryingly [correct],
And their speech full of elegance! --
If we could go back to [the old] Zhou,
They would be admiringly looked up by all the people.
Those officers of the [old] capital,
With their hats of Tai leaves and small black caps! --
Those ladies of noble Houses.
With their hair so thick and straight! --
I do not see them [now],
And my heart is dissatisfied.
Those officers of the [old] capital,
With their ear-plugs of xiu-stones! --
Those ladies of noble Houses,
Each fit to be called a Yin or a Ji! --
I do not see them [now],
And my heart grieves with indissoluble sorrow.
Those officers of the [old] capital,
With their girdles hanging elegantly down! --
Those ladies of great Houses,
With their [side] hair curving up like a scorpion's tail! --
I do not see them [now],
[If I could], I would walk along after them.
Not that they purposely let their girdles hang down; --
The girdles were naturally long.
Not that they gave their hair that curve; --
The hair had a natural curl.
I do not see them [now],
And how do I long for them!
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IATHPublished by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003 by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia