THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

244 THE BOOK OF POETEY. [PAET II.
The firewood cut must homeward be conveyed ;—
Toil after toil is on the people laid.
O that we could the needful rest but take !
Tired out we sleep, and sigh when we awake.
4 The east its noblest sons to service hard
Sees promptly called; but they get no reward.
There in the west sons of each noble line
Live idle, and in splendid dresses shine.
There also boatmen's sons now proudly wear
The glossy furs of which men spoil the bear.
Sons of the poorest families, elate,
In public offices display their state.
5 Our choicest spirits humbly we present.
" How can such stuff," they say, " our taste content ?"
Long girdle-pendants, well supplied with gems,
We give, and each the gift as short contemns.
Up to the Milky Way I turn my gaze;—
Looks it not down to mark their evil ways ?
There too the Weaving Sisters' triple beam,
While they move on, might shed an angry gleam.
6 Nightly those Sisters through seven stages go,
But no bright work do they to ease our woe.
The stars we call Draught Oxen also shine,
But they no cart for us to draw combine.
The Morning star appears in the dim east,
The Evening star oft twinkles in the west,
And long and curved the Rabbit Net is there :—
Each fills its place, but heeds not our despair.
7 Four stars to be the Southern Sieve have claim,
But nothing do they to make good the name.
Northwards the Ladle sparkles in the sky,'
But ladles nothing that may drink supply.
O Southern Sieve, thy mouth is idly shown,
For good come from it we have never known.
And thou, O Ladle, shining in the north,
Thy handle eastward vainly stretchest forth !
X.
The Sze yueh ; allusive and narrative. AN OFFICER BITTEBLY DE-
PLOEES THE OPPRESSION AND MISERY OP THE TIME.
BK V. x.] THE BOOK OF POETEY. 245
1 In the fourth month summer shines ;
In the sixth the heat declines.
Nature thus grants men relief;
Tyranny gives only grief.
Were not my forefathers men ?
Can my suffering 'scape their ken ?
2 In the cold of autumn days,
Each plant shrivels and decays.
Nature then is hard and stern ;
Living things sad lessons learn.
Friends dispersed, all order gone,
Place of refuge have I none.
3 Winter days are wild and fierce j
Rapid gusts each crevice pierce.
Such is my unhappy lot,
Unbefriended and forgot!
Others all can happy be ;
I from misery ne'er am free.
4 On the mountains are fine trees ;
Chestnuts, plum trees, there one sees.
All the year their forms they show;
Stately more and more they grow.
Noble turned to ravening thief !
What the cause ? This stirs my grief.
5 Waters from that spring appear
Sometimes foul, and sometimes clear,
Changing oft, as falls the rain,
Or the sky grows bright again.
New misfortunes every day
Still befall me, misery's prey.
6 Aid from mighty streams obtained,
Southern States are shaped and drained.
Thus the Keang and Han are thanked,
And as benefactors ranked.
Weary toil my vigour drains;
All unnoticed it remains !
7 Hawks and eagles mount the sky j
Sturgeons in deep waters lie.
-I