古今越歌英译与评注
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Song of the God of the Taihu Lake

Anonymous

 

Th’ morning dew shimmering and the west wind howling,

We rolling waves in th’ limpidity howl and roar.

Though the softest in th’ world, by supporting

Or turning o’er boats we oft strike people with awe!Xunzi (荀子, 313-238 BC) likens the ruler to the boat and the people to waters, to which Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty (唐太宗, 598-649) agrees, saying that “Waters are capable of supporting or turning over boats. The people are waters, and the monarchs, boats.”