THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

222 THE BOOK OF POETET. [PAET II.
Through our relationship, to you
For lodging for a time I looked.
But me you show no wish to entertain ;—
Back to my kindred now I go again !
3 All through the fields I went and tried
Hunger with pokeweed to appease.
I came to you ; your love is cold ;
And your new mate you seek to please.
Grant that your heart her riches have not won,—
Her charms are new; my relative's are gone !
V.
The S:c Jian ; narrative. ON TJIE COMPLETION OF A ROYAL PALACE ;
DESCRIPTION OF IT, AND GOOD WISHES TOE THE BUILDEB, AND HIS
POSTERITY.
The old interpreters all say that the builder of the palace here was
king Seuen. The view is not unlikely, and we must refer the time of
the composition to the early part of his reign. The piece was probably
made for a festival on the completion of the palace.
The-two last stanzas set forth graphically the different estimates taken
in China of the value of sons and daughters in a family. As it was in
the days of king Seuen 2600 years ago, so it is now.
1 On yonder banks a palace, lo ! upshoots,
The tender blue of southern hill behind;
Firm-founded, like the bamboo's clamping roots;
Its roof made pine-like, to a point defined.
Fraternal love here bear its precious fruits,
And unfraternal schemes be ne'er designed !
2 Ancestral sway is his. The walls they rear,
Five thousand cubits long j and south and west
The doors are placed. Here will the king appear,
Here laugh, here talk, here sit him down and rest.
8 To mould the walls, the frames they firmly tie;
The toiling builders beat the earth and lime.
The walls shall vermin, storm, and bird defy ;—
Fit dwelling is it for his lordly prime.
4 Grand is the hall the noble lord ascends ;—
In height, like human form most reverent, grand;
And straight, as flies the shaft when bow unbends;
Its tints, like hues when pheasant's wings expand.
BE IV. VI.] THE BOOK OF POETET. 223-
5 High pillars rise the level court around;
The pleasant light the open chamber steeps ;
And deep recesses, wide alcoves, are found,
Where our good king in perfect quiet sleeps.
6 Laid is the bamboo mat on rush mat square;—
Here shall he sleep, and, waking, say, " Divine
" What dreams are good ? For bear and grisly bear,
And snakes and cobras, haunt this couch of mine."
7 Then shall the chief diviner glad reply,
" The bears foreshow that Heaven will send you sons.
The snakes and cobras daughters prophesy.
These auguries are all auspicious ones."
8 Sons shall be his,—on couches lulled to rest.
The little ones, enrobed, with sceptres play;
Their infant cries are loud as stern behest; i
Their knees the vermeil covers shall display.
As king hereafter one shall be addressed;
The rest, our princes, all the States shall sway.
9 And daughters also to him shall be born.
They shall be placed upon the ground to sleep;
Their playthings tiles, their dress the simplest worn ;
Their part alike from good and ill to keep,
And ne'er their parents' hearts to cause to mourn;
To cook the food, and spirit-malt to steep.
VI.
The Woo yang ; narrative. SUPPOSED TO CELEBRATE THE LAKGE-
KESS AND CONDITION OF KING SETJEN'S FLOCKS AND HEBDS ; WITH
AN AUSPICE OF THE PROSPERITY OF THE KINGDOM.
1 Who dares to say your sheep are few ?
The flocks are all three hundred strong.
Who dares despise your cattle too ?
TJwre ninety, black-lipped, press along.
Though horned the sheep, yet peaceful each appears;
The cattle come, with moist and flapping ears.
2 These climb the heights, those drink the pool;
Some lie at rest, while others roam.