Walk In Dew

Walk In Dew
Book of Ode (Compiled by Confucius)
Translated by Laijon Liu

Wet dew on the morning road.
Who doesn't want to sneak out by night?
But I’m afraid of the dewy road.

Who says sparrow doesn’t have beak?
Then how he pecked thru my room?
Who says you don’t have a wife?
And why you sue me and put me in jail?
Even though you put me in jail,
But don’t you think I’ll marry you!

Who says rat doesn’t have teeth?
Then how he drilled thru my wall?
Who says you don’t have a wife?
And why you sue me and persecute me?
Even though you persecute me,
Still, I will never marry you!

Note:
This is like tv drama, that a young girl refused to marry some filthy rich man who had connection in the court yard, and she was put into jail in a force of marriage. But she decided even she sat in jail still wouldn’t change her mind. Jeez, that man must be so ugly. And it seems the poor girl was fighting for her human right and marriage right, freedom of spouse selection at same time. I praise her strength. Nowadays, many people in the world should learn from her, especially those who live in Asia. And it seems Confucius selected this poem to talk about human rights and freedom marriage. Usually in every ancient Chinese literature that marriage is symbol of political pursuit or officials and authority. But this ode is great that Confucius put topics of politics, individual rights, and marriage into one body. Freedom of choice is individual thing, it's like marriage.

Chinese:
行露

厌浥行露，
岂不夙夜？
谓行多露。

谁谓雀无角？
何以穿我屋？
谁谓女无家？
何以速我狱？
虽速我狱，
室家不足！

谁谓鼠无牙？
何以穿我墉？
谁谓女无家？
何以速我讼？
虽速我讼，
亦不女从！