The book of odes and hymns – part 52

XIANG SHU

Look at a rat,it has its skin;

But a man should be without dignity of demeanour.

If a man have no dignity of demeanour,

What should he but die?

Look at a rat, it has its teeth;

But a man shall be without any right deportment.

If a man have not right deportment,

What should he wait for but death?

Look at a rat, it has its limbs;

But a man shall be without any rules of propriety.

If a man observe no rules of propriety,

Why does he not quickly die?

xiàng shǔ   

相鼠  

xiàng shǔ yǒu pí 、rén ér wú yí 。

相鼠有皮、人而無儀。

rén ér wú yí 、bù sǐ hé wéi 。

人而無儀、不死何為。

xiàng shǔ yǒu chǐ 、rén ér wú zhǐ。

相鼠有齒、人而無止。

rén ér wú zhǐ 、bù sǐ hé sì 。

人而無止、不死何俟。

xiàng shǔ yǒu tǐ 、rén ér wú lǐ 。

相鼠有體、人而無禮。

rén ér wú lǐ 、hú bù chuán sǐ 。

人而無禮、胡不遄死。