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James Legge, 1899 (public domain)
Pî indicates that there should be free course (in what it denotes). There will be little advantage (however) if it be allowed to advance (and take the lead).
Pî — fire at the foot of the mountain — is the hexagram of adornment. The oracle's ruling is precise: adornment should have free course, but it gains little advantage if allowed to advance and take the lead. Ornament is a guest; substance is the host. The lines draw it in pictures: feet adorned enough to discard the carriage; a beard that merely follows the chin; favours to be held in check by firm correctness; a rider in white, seeking union, not robbery; a roll of silk so slight it looks stingy — yet good fortune comes in the end. At the top, plain white proves the finest ornament of all. Let what is essential rule; let beauty follow it.
Line 1
The first line, undivided, shows one adorning (the way of) his feet. He can discard a carriage and walk on foot.
Line 2
The second line, divided, shows one adorning his beard.
Line 3
The third line, undivided, shows its subject with the appearance of being adorned and bedewed (with rich favours). But let him ever maintain his firm correctness, and there will be good fortune.
Line 4
The fourth line, divided, shows one looking as if adorned, but only in white. As if (mounted on) a white horse, and furnished with wings, (he seeks union with the subject of the first line), while (the intervening third pursues), not as a robber, but intent on a matrimonial alliance.
Line 5
The fifth line, divided, shows its subject adorned by (the occupants of) the heights and gardens. He bears his roll of silk, small and slight. He may appear stingy; but there will be good fortune in the end.
Line 6
The sixth line, undivided, shows one with white as his (only) ornament. There will be no error.