The four seasons have their different

Elemental characters, but they are not

The partial gifts of Heaven, and so

The year timely completes its course.

The Ministries in many

Have their different duties,

But the prime-minister doesn't

Partially employ any one of them,

And so the country is duly governed.

The gifts of peace and war are different,

But the clever governor does not employ

The one to the prejudice of the other, and so

The character of his administration is harmonic.

All things have their different constitutions

And modes of action, but what is known

As the Course (Dao) which directs them all

Is free from particularity, and thus is nameless.

Having no name, it does nothing; doing nothing,

There is nothing which it does not accomplish.

The case may be compared to that of a great marsh,

In which all its various plants find a place, or we may

Look at it as a broad and wide terrace where trees,

Creepers and rocks are found on the same height.

Such may be a description of what is intended

By talks of the proper correlation between