THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

Ill
248 THE BOOK OP POETKY. [PAET II.
5 Some never hear a clamorous sound;
Others toil on 'midst rude alarms.
Some idle on their backs are found;
And some bear loads with head and arms.
6 Some feast, and fearless seek new joys;
Some live in constant dread of blame.
Some the harsh critic's work employs;
Others their numerous duties claim.
IL
The Woo tseang ta Itcii; narrative. SOME OFFICER. OVER-LOADED
IN THE KING'S SEEVICE. THINKS IT BETTER TO TKY AND DISMISS HIS
TROUBLES FROM HIS MIND.
The Preface says that the writer here expresses his regret for having
recommended unworthy persons—"littlemen"—to public employments;—
regret which is in vain. This view is found in Seun K'ing and in Han
Ying. Such a fact may have given its origin to the piece ; but it is
better to take the homely lines in their most general reference.
1 Push not the cart you stand behind;—
You'll only raise the dust. Nor dwell
On your anxieties of mind;—
You'll Only make yourself unwell. .
2 Push not the cart you stand behind;—
The dust will only blind your view.
Dwell not on things that vex your mind;—
You never thus can see them true.
3 Push not the cart you stand behind;—
The dust will but becloud your eyes.
Heed not the troubles of youf mind ;—
'Twill weight you as you seek to rise.
III.
The Seaott ming ; narrative. As OFFICER, KEPT LONG ABROAD ON
DISTANT SERVICE, DEPLORES THE HARDSHIPS OF HIS LOT, AND TEN
DERS GOOD ADVICE TO HIS MORE FORTUNATE FRIENDS AT COURT.
We must suppose that the speaker here was an officer of high rank in
command of the expedition to which he refers, and that the expedition
A\ as towards the north. This latter point we infer from the mentiou
BE VI. III.] THE BOOK OF POETRY. 249
made of winter, for we do not know where the wild country of K'ew,
that appears in st. 1, was. The last line of the same stanza speaks of
the " net of crime,"—an expression for justice strictly administered. The
same conception occurs in the Vedic hymns, e. g., that to Varuna, in the
Atharnaveda (IV. 16), ends :—" May all thy fatal nooses, which stand
spread out seven by seven and threefold, catch the man who tells a lie;
may they pass by him who tells the truth." See Max Miifler's Lecture
on the Vedas.
1 0 Heaven above, before whose light
Revealed is every deed and thought,
To thee I cry.
Hither on toilsome service brought,
In this wild K'ew I watch time's flight,
And sadly sigh.
The second month had just begun,
When from the east we took our way.
Through summer hot
We passed, and many a wintry day.
Summer again its course has run.
0 bitter lot!
There are my compeers, gay at court,
While here the tears my face begrime.
I'd fain return.
But there is that dread net for crime !
The fear of it the wish cuts short.
In vain I burn !
2 Ere we the royal city left,
The sun and moon renewed the year.
We marched in hope.
Now to its close this year is near.
Return deferred, of hope bereft,
All mourn and mope.
My lonesome state haunts aye my breast,
While duties grow, and cares increase,
Too hard to bear.
Toils that oppress me never cease ;
Not for a moment dare I rest,
Nigh to despair.
I think with fond regard of those,
Who in their posts at court remain,
My friends of old.
P