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  Sadness

[translation by C.E.R. Allen, 1891]

THE sun is ever full and bright,

The pale moon waneth night by night.

Why should this be?



My heart that once was full of light

Is but a dying moon to-night.



But when I dream of thee apart,

I would the dawn might lift my heart,

O sun, to thee.

Confucius

  Trysting Time

[translation by C.E.R. Allen, 1891]

I



A PRETTY girl at time o' gloaming

Hath whispered me to go and meet her

Without the city gate.



I love her, but she tarries coming.

Shall I return, or stay and greet her?

I burn, and wait.



II



Truly she charmeth all behooders,

'Tis she hath given me this jewel,

The jade of my delight;



But this red jewel-jade that smoulders,

To my desire doth add more fuel,

New charms to-night.



III



She has gathered with her lily fingers

    A lily fiar and rare to see.

Oh! sweeter still the fragrance lingers

    From the warm hand that gave it me.

Confucius

  The Soldier

[translation by C.E.R. Allen, 1891]

I CLIMBED the barren mountain,

     And my gaze swept far and wide

For the red-lit eaves of my father's home,

     And I fancied that he sighed:

         My son has gone for a soldier,

             For a soldier night and day;

         But my son is wise, and may yet return,

             When the drums have died away.


I climbed the grass-clad mountain,

     And my gaze swept far and wide

For the rosy lights of a little room,

     Where I thought my mother sighed:

         My boy has gone for a soldier

             He sleeps not day and night;

         But my boy is wise, and may yet return,

             Though the dead lie far from sight.



I climbed the topmost summit,

     And my gaze swept far and wide

For the garden roof where my brother stood,

     And I fancied that he sighed:

         My brother serves as a soldier

              With his comrades night and day;

         But my brother is wise, and may yet return,

             Though the dead lie far away.

Confucius

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