Читать книгу Children of the Master - Andrew Marr, Andrew Marr - Страница 5

Kung walked

by the dynastic temple

and into the cedar grove,

and then out by the lower river,

And with him Khieu, Tchi,

And Tian the low speaking

And, ‘we are unknown,’ said Kung,

‘You will take up charioteering?

‘Then you will become known,

‘Or perhaps I should take up charioteering, or archery?

‘Or the practice of public speaking?’

And Tseu-lou said, ‘I would put the defences in order,’

And Khieu said, ‘if I were lord of a province

I would put it in better order than this is.’

And Kung said, and wrote on the bo leaves:

If a man have not order within him

He can not spread order about him;

And if a man have not order within him

His family will not act with due order;

And if the prince have not order within him

he cannot put order in his dominions.

And he said

‘Anyone can run to excesses,

It is easy to shoot past the mark,

‘It is hard to stand firm in the middle.’

And they said: If a man commit murder

Should his father protect him, and hide him?

And Kung said:

He should hide him.

From Ezra Pound, ‘Canto XIII’