THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

It
242 THE BOOK OF POETKY. [PART II.
Grief has robbed my eyes of sight,
Almost plunging me in night.
Others' hands laid in the grave,
Those whose pain my being gave !
2 Long and large the ngo plants grow.
Wei plants surely I should know !
How can I confound them so ?
Grief has robbed my eyes of sight,
Almost plunging me in night.
Others' hands laid in the earth,
Those whose suffering gave me birth.
3 Pitcher should be filled from vase;
Where this fails, 'tis reckoned base.
Than to live as orphan left,
Better be of life bereft!
Father dead, on whom depend ?
Mother dead, where find a friend ?
I, abroad, this sad case know,
And, at home, can nowhere go.
4 Father, from whose loins I sprung,
Mother, on whose breast I hung,
Tender were ye, and ye fed,
Now upheld, now gently led.
Eyes untiring watched my way;
Often in your arms I lay.
How could I repay your love,
Vast as arch of heaven above ?
5 Cold and bleak that southern hill!
Tempests fierce with terror thrill.
All around is dark, but more
Dark the lot which I deplore !
Others all can happy be;—
Why from grief am I not free ?
6 Hill so steep what foot can brave ?
Blustering winds around it rave.
Fierce the winds! As fierce the fate,
Which pursues me desolate !
Happy all save me alone,
Thinking aye of dues undone !
BK V. ix.] THE BOOK OF POETET. . 243
IX.
The Ta tuny; allusive. AN OFFICER, OP ONE 'OF THE STATES OE
THE EAST, DEPLOBES TIIE EXACTIONS MADE EKOM THEM BY THE
GOVERNMENT ; COMPLAINS OF THE EAVOUB SHOWN TO THE WEST ;
CONTRASTS THE MISEKY OF THE PRESENT WITH THE HAPPINESS OF
THE PAST ; AND APPEALS TO THE STARS OF HEAVEN IDLY BEHOLDING
THEIE CONDITION.
" The Weaving Sisters " are three stars in Lyra, in the form of a tri
angle. The stars seem to go round the circumference Of the heavens in a
day and night. They would accomplish six of those in a whole day, but as
their motion is in advance of that of the sun, they have entered the
seventh space by the time he is up with them again. " The Draught
Oxen " is the name of some stars in the neck of Aquila. The writer
evidently took Lucifer and Hesperus to be two different stars. " The
Rabbit Net " is a name for the Hyades. The " fcjieve " has occurred before
in VI. 2. It is the name of one of the 28 constellations of the Zodiac,—
part of the sign Sagittarius. It consists of four stars, two of which
are called " the Heels," close together, and two more widely apart, called
" the Mouth." " The Ladle " is also in Sagittarius, supposed to resemble
a ladle taking spirits from a jar.
1 With millet filled, the dishes stood displayed;
The spoons lay long and curved, of thornwood made.
Smooth as a whetstone was the road to Chow,
And straight as shaft well fitted for the bow.
This road the common people gladly viewed;
The officers on it their way pursued.
Thus back to former times my thoughts will go,
And down my cheeks the tears in streamlets flow.
Now in the east, in States both large and small,
Shuttles unplied, the looms are empty all.
Thin cloth of dolichos supplies the shoes,
Which shivering travellers on the hoar frost use.
Young nobles, cultured, but too thin and spare,
Hurry along the road, all full of care.
They go, they come; weary they are and worn.
My heart aches for them, and I feel forlorn.
3 This firewood, cut and hewn with earnest toil,
I fear the waters from that spring will spoil.
Fit then as emblems they would be of those
Whose stern exactions grant us no repose.
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