THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

.
THE BOOK OP POETBY. [PAET II.
But holding on, themselves they harm.
The drinking feast is good
Only when guests their wills can arm
Against misconduct rude.
5 Whene'er a drinking feast is set,
Some sober keep, some drunk will get.
One is appointed to preside,
With an assistant by his side,
Record to make, as they decide,
Who praise deserve, who blame.
But sots there are, in vice quite sunk,
Who, seeing some will not get drunk,
Say, " We for you feel shame."
These, if they could get in a word,
Might counsel to the rest afford.
To fright them from their wild excess,
Sternly they might them thus address :•—
" From such improper speech refrain ;
Not called to speak, your tongues restrain.
You're drunk; if but a word you say,
We'll send you out this very day,
To find a thing which nature scorns,—
A ram full grown, yet wanting horns.
Drink but three cups, your memory's gone;
How can you drinking still go on ? "
VII.
The Yu ti'aait; allusive. PRAISE OF THE KING BY THE PRINCES AT
SOME FEAST:—HIS QUIET HAPPINESS IN HAOU.
Haou was the capital of king Woo ;—30 It: south of the present dis
trict of Ch'ang-gan, department Se-gan, Shen-se.
1 Fishes there among the pondweed lie;
From the bank their large heads we espy ;—
Fishes could not happier be.
Here in Haou resides our lord, the king ;
To him joy his festive pleasures bring.
Happy and at ease is he.
2 Fishes there among the pondweed glide;
From the bank their long tails are descried; —
Fishes could not happier be.
BE VII. VIII.] THE BOOK OP POETET. 269
Here in Haou resides the king, our lord ;
Festive pleasures joy to him afford.
Happy and at ease is he.
Fishes there among the pondweed live,
Shelter to them where the rushes give ; —
Fishes could not happier be.
Here in Haou the king, our lord, resides ;
Safe and tranquil ever here he bides.
Happy and at ease is he.
vm.
The Ts'ae slaili; allusive and narrative. RESPONSIVE TO THE FORMER;
——CELEBRATING THE APPEARANCE OF THE FEUDAL PEINCEB AT THE
COURT, THE BPLENDOUR OF THEIR ARRAY, THE PROPRIETY OF THEIR
DEMEANOUR, AND THE FAVOUR CONFERRED ON THEM BY THE KING.
1 They pull the beans all o'er the ground,
To place in baskets square, and round.
So reap they what the fields produce,
For present and for future use.
When now themselves the princes show,
No stores have I gifts to bestow,
Befitting their great worth.
Yet a state-carriage and its team
Will well a feudal prince beseem ;—
Let such be all brought forth.
And from the chambers let them bring
The robes that princes wear.
From duke to baron, I, the king,
On them will these confer.
2 The water bubbles from the spring,
And round it grows the cress.
So when the princes see the king,
Their coming they express
In various ways. Now here 1 see
Their flags, with dragon blazonry,
All waving in the wind.
The gentle tinkling of their bells
Comes to my ear, and surely tells