古今越歌英译与评注
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Ballad of the Yues

Anonymous

 

On sincere friendship we may henceforth count,

Thus to th’ bamboo hat th’ carriage is to greet.The bamboo hat and the carriage in this line are cases of metonymy, with the bamboo hat denoting a laborer of low social status and the carriage, a wealthy man. The connotation is that friends should respect each other regardless of the disparity in status.

He who travels on horseback must dismount

And bow to th’ one on foot henceforth we meet.