THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY
THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY
212 THE BOOK OF POETET. [PART II. BK: III. ¥.] THE BOOK OF POETET. 213 people were bringing the land into cultivation. If the 3000 chariots in the first stanza be not a poetical exaggeration, the whole force must, have amounted to 300,000 men. Each war-chariot carried three mafled warriors, and had attached to it seventy-two footmen, with twenty-five men to look after the baggage-waggons, cooking, &c.;—altogether a hundred men. The wild tribes of the south went under the general name of Man. Eing is the name by which the great and barbarous state of Ts'oo firit appears in Chinese history. See on IV. iii. V. 1 In those new fields, till the last year untilled, And acres which this year the grain first filled, White millet there they reaped with eager hand, When Fang Shuh came, the army to command. Three thousand chariots for his orders wait, Surrounded by a host, well trained, elate. He led them on. His car four piebalds drew, That moved like one great steed to human view. A royal gift, it shone in glittering red, With bamboo chequered screen, and quiver made Of seal-skin strong. The gilt hooks we could tell On each steed's breast; the rein-ends graceful fell. 2 Where toil last year had opened harvests new, And where about the villages it grew, White millet there they reaped with eager hand, When Fang Shuh came, the army to command. His cars three thousand ; on his banners shone Snake, tortoise, dragon, as he led them on. Gay was his yoke ; his naves were lacquered red; Two tinkling bells hung from each horse's head. He wore the robes the king's gift had bestowed; Beneath, the red knee-covers brightly glowed. Rare gems upon his girdle-pendant hung, Flashed as they moved, and sounded as they swung. 3 Swift as the soaring falcon cleaves the sky, And wheels about in airy circles high, Descending then, and lighting where it rose; So Fang Shuh led his troops against their foes. Round the war chariots, full three thousand strong, Close marched the men, a well-trained warrior throng. The bells and drums his orders clear expressed, And then the marshalled forces lie addressed, And wise arrangements made. The battle raged, While the drums rolled, inspiring all engaged. Victory once gained, a lighter sound they gave, The while he Ordered back the victors brave. 4 The savage hordes of King, made blind by fate, Had madly dared to oppose our larger state. Although Fang Shuh was ripe with growing years, Yet in his plans a vigorous force appears. Leading his troops, the hostile chiefs he bound For question, with a captive crowd around. How numerous were his chariots in the fray, Numerous, and all arrayed in grand array, Like rattling thunder in assaulting speed ! Oh ! grand in wisdom was he as in deed! The Heen-yun he had smitten to the ground; The awe-struck tribes of King his prowess owned. V. The Een knng; narrative. CELEBRATING A GREAT HOTTING, FEE- SIDED OVEE BY KINO SEUEN, ON OCCASION OP HIS GIVING AUDIENCE TO THE FEUDAL PEINCES AT THE EASTERN CAPITAL OP LOH. One of the great undertakings of the famous duke of Chow was the building of Lob, a few miles from the present city of Loh-yang. King Woo had intended to fix there the capital of his kingdom, but his imme diate successors did not carry out his idea. So long as the dynasty was vigorous, however, the kings made progresses to Loh. and there gave audiences to the lords of the States. This practice, which was fallen into disuse, was revived by Seuen, the more emboldened to do so through the renown and strength acquired by the victories over the Heen-yun and the Man. He met the lords at Loh, and took the opportunity to have with them a great hunting in that part of the country. Foo, in st. 2, was one of the eleven meres of the kingdom,—in the pre sent district of Chung-mow ; and Gaou, in st 3, was a hill in the district of Yung-yang:-—both in the department of K'ae-fung. 1 Our chariots were well built and firm, Well matched our steeds, and fleet and strong. Four, sleek and large, each chariot drew, And eastward thus we drove along. 2 Our hunting cars were light and good, Each with its team of noble steeds.
214 THE BOOK OP POETEY. [PAET II. Still further east we took the way To Foo-mere's grassy plains that leads. 3 Loud-voiced, the masters of the chase Arranged the huntsmen, high and low. While banners streamed, and ox-tails flew, We sought the prey on distant Gaou. 4 Each with fall team, the princes came, A lengthened train in bright array.. In gold-wrought slippers, knee-caps red, They looked as on an audience day. 5 Each right thumb wore the metal guard ; On the left arm its shield was bound. In unison the arrows flew; The game lay piled upon the ground. 6 The leaders of the tawny teams Sped on their course, direct and true. The drivers perfect skill displayed; Like blow well aimed each arrow flew. 7 Neighing and pleased, the steeds returned; The bannered lines back slowly came. No jostling rude disgraced the crowd; The king declined large share of game. 8 So did this famous hunt proceed ! So free it was from clamorous sound ! Well does our king become his place, And high the deeds his reign have crowned ! VI. The Ecili jih; narrative. CELEBRATING A HUNTING EXPEDITION Bf KING SEUEN ON A SMALLER SCALE, ATTENDED BY THE OFFICERS OF THE COU11T, AND WITHIN THE KOYAL DOMAIN. The mention of the Ts'eih and the Ts'eu shows that the hunting was conducted not far from the western capital. The former stream rises in the district of T'ung-ngan, department Se-gan, and is joined by the Ts'eu, which has come from Luh-chow. The united stream flows into the Wei, in the district of Lin-t'ung. < BE III. VII.] THE BOOK OP POETET. 215 1 The day Mow-shin was lucky found ; Then to the Sire of steeds we prayed. Our cars and teams and gear were good;— We scour the heights where wild game strayed. 2 And Kang-woo also lucky proved; We picked our steeds, and chose our ground,— Where stags and does by Ts'eih and Ts'eu Made sport for him whom Heaven had crowned. 3 We viewed the plain where teeming game Now shivering stand, now frantic run; Here two, there three. We charged along, Pleasure to yield to Heaven's great Son. 4 We bend our bows; our shafts we grasp; There lies the huge behemoth low, And boars are pierced :—spoil for the guests, At court, when wine-cups overflow. VII. The Hung-yen; allusive. THE PEOPLE, EEOATHEEED INTO COM MUNITIES UNDEK KING SEUEN, PEAISE THE OFFICERS BY WHOM THIS HAD BEEM ACCOMPLISHED. 1 With rustling wings the wild geese fly, Round fields long strange to hand of toil. Called by the officers in charge, We labour on the desert soil. Sad is our state, but sadder still The hearts no wedded love can fill. *2 The wild geese fly about, and light Amid the marsh, where grain once shone. We rear the walls as we are told;— Five thousand feet are quickly done. Great is the toil, and sore the pain, But peaceful homes will rise again. 3 The wild geese fly with plaintive note, That sadly suits our weary sighs. But those whose orders we obey,— They see our pain ; and they are wise. If they had not been men of sense, They had rebuked our insolence. II
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212 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>BOOK</strong> <strong>OF</strong> POETET. [PART II. BK: III. ¥.] <strong>THE</strong> <strong>BOOK</strong> <strong>OF</strong> POETET. 213<br />
people were bringing the land into cultivation. If the 3000 chariots in<br />
the first stanza be not a poetical exaggeration, the whole force must, have<br />
amounted to 300,000 men. Each war-chariot carried three mafled<br />
warriors, and had attached to it seventy-two footmen, with twenty-five<br />
men to look after the baggage-waggons, cooking, &c.;—altogether a<br />
hundred men.<br />
The wild tribes of the south went under the general name of Man.<br />
Eing is the name by which the great and barbarous state of Ts'oo firit<br />
appears in Chinese history. See on IV. iii. V.<br />
1 In those new fields, till the last year untilled,<br />
And acres which this year the grain first filled,<br />
White millet there they reaped with eager hand,<br />
When Fang Shuh came, the army to command.<br />
Three thousand chariots for his orders wait,<br />
Surrounded by a host, well trained, elate.<br />
He led them on. His car four piebalds drew,<br />
That moved like one great steed to human view.<br />
A royal gift, it shone in glittering red,<br />
With bamboo chequered screen, and quiver made<br />
Of seal-skin strong. The gilt hooks we could tell<br />
On each steed's breast; the rein-ends graceful fell.<br />
2 Where toil last year had opened harvests new,<br />
And where about the villages it grew,<br />
White millet there they reaped with eager hand,<br />
When Fang Shuh came, the army to command.<br />
His cars three thousand ; on his banners shone<br />
Snake, tortoise, dragon, as he led them on.<br />
Gay was his yoke ; his naves were lacquered red;<br />
Two tinkling bells hung from each horse's head.<br />
He wore the robes the king's gift had bestowed;<br />
Beneath, the red knee-covers brightly glowed.<br />
Rare gems upon his girdle-pendant hung,<br />
Flashed as they moved, and sounded as they swung.<br />
3 Swift as the soaring falcon cleaves the sky,<br />
And wheels about in airy circles high,<br />
Descending then, and lighting where it rose;<br />
So Fang Shuh led his troops against their foes.<br />
Round the war chariots, full three thousand strong,<br />
Close marched the men, a well-trained warrior throng.<br />
The bells and drums his orders clear expressed,<br />
And then the marshalled forces lie addressed,<br />
And wise arrangements made. The battle raged,<br />
While the drums rolled, inspiring all engaged.<br />
Victory once gained, a lighter sound they gave,<br />
The while he Ordered back the victors brave.<br />
4 The savage hordes of King, made blind by fate,<br />
Had madly dared to oppose our larger state.<br />
Although Fang Shuh was ripe with growing years,<br />
Yet in his plans a vigorous force appears.<br />
Leading his troops, the hostile chiefs he bound<br />
For question, with a captive crowd around.<br />
How numerous were his chariots in the fray,<br />
Numerous, and all arrayed in grand array,<br />
Like rattling thunder in assaulting speed !<br />
Oh ! grand in wisdom was he as in deed!<br />
The Heen-yun he had smitten to the ground;<br />
The awe-struck tribes of King his prowess owned.<br />
V.<br />
The Een knng; narrative. CELEBRATING A GREAT HOTTING, FEE-<br />
SIDED OVEE BY KINO SEUEN, ON OCCASION OP HIS GIVING AUDIENCE<br />
TO <strong>THE</strong> FEUDAL PEINCES AT <strong>THE</strong> EASTERN CAPITAL OP LOH.<br />
One of the great undertakings of the famous duke of Chow was the<br />
building of Lob, a few miles from the present city of Loh-yang. King<br />
Woo had intended to fix there the capital of his kingdom, but his imme<br />
diate successors did not carry out his idea. So long as the dynasty was<br />
vigorous, however, the kings made progresses to Loh. and there gave<br />
audiences to the lords of the States. This practice, which was fallen into<br />
disuse, was revived by Seuen, the more emboldened to do so through the<br />
renown and strength acquired by the victories over the Heen-yun and the<br />
Man. He met the lords at Loh, and took the opportunity to have with<br />
them a great hunting in that part of the country.<br />
Foo, in st. 2, was one of the eleven meres of the kingdom,—in the pre<br />
sent district of Chung-mow ; and Gaou, in st 3, was a hill in the district<br />
of Yung-yang:-—both in the department of K'ae-fung.<br />
1 Our chariots were well built and firm,<br />
Well matched our steeds, and fleet and strong.<br />
Four, sleek and large, each chariot drew,<br />
And eastward thus we drove along.<br />
2 Our hunting cars were light and good,<br />
Each with its team of noble steeds.