<Header>
<Author: 白居易>
<Title: 讀老子>
<Format: 七言絕句>
<Year: 1919>
<BookName: Translation from the Chinese>
<Translator: Arthur Waley>
<TranslatedTitle: The Philosophers Lao-tzŭ>
<BookPage: 269>
<UsedPage: 1>
<Feature: 1>
<End Header>
<Poem>
言者不如知者默，
此語吾聞於老君。
若道老君是知者，
緣何自著五千文。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
"Those who speak know nothing;
Those who know are silent."
These words, as I am told,
Were spoken by Lao-tzŭ.
If we are to believe that Lao-tzŭ
Was himself one who knew,
How comes it that he wrote a book
Of five thousand words?
<End Translation>
<Formatted Translation>
"Those who speak know nothing; Those who know are silent."
These words, as I am told, Were spoken by Lao-tzŭ.
If we are to believe that Lao-tzŭ Was himself one who knew,
How comes it that he wrote a book Of five thousand words?
<End Formatted Translation>