The Broken Fish Basket

"The Broken Net"

Preface: "The Broken Net" satirizes Wen Jiang. The people of Qi despised Duke Huan of Lu's weakness and incompetence, because he could not restrain or control Wen Jiang, allowing her to be licentious and unrestrained, becoming a calamity for the states of Qi and Lu.

A broken net is set on the weir,

The fish caught are bream and huge carp.

The daughter of the Marquis of Qi (Wen Jiang) returns to Qi,

Her attendants are as numerous as the clouds in the sky.

A broken net is set on the weir,

The fish caught are bream and silver carp.

The daughter of the Marquis of Qi (Wen Jiang) returns to Qi,

Her attendants are as numerous as the falling rain.

A broken net is set on the weir,

The fish swim freely and at ease.

The daughter of the Marquis of Qi (Wen Jiang) returns to Qi,

Her attendants are as numerous as flowing water.

"The Broken Net" has three stanzas, each with four lines.