THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

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