THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

306 THE BOOK OF POETRY. III.
The beans shot up luxuriant ;
His rice plots graceful sprung;
His hemp and wheat grew close and strong;
His gourds all heavy hung.
5 How-tseih, with art sagacious,
Aimed to give nature play.
He only sowed the golden grain,
When weeds were cleared away.
And as it throve, he tilled it,
Till, bursting from the ear,
He cast it in the ground aa seed,
To spring another year.
It sprang with heavy fruitage ;
It waxed both strong and good ;
And then it drooped, each grain complete.—
Soon lord of T'ae he stood.
6 He gave the people millets,-—
Single, and double-grained.
They sowed it all, red, white, and black,
Till not a seed remained.
The black and double-kernelled
Were stacked where they were grown.
The red and white they homeward bore,
For rites How-tseih made known.
7 " Now tell me of the offerings,
In honour to him made."
Some clean the grain ; some pound and sift;
And some upon it tread.
It rattles in the vessels ;
It trickles from the still.
The fragrant steam floats far around,
And all the air doth fill.
We ask the mystic oracle;
O'er night we fast and pray.
Fat burnt with herbs, a ram bleeds for
The Spirit of the way.
The victims' flesh then roasted,
Or broiled, we reverent dress;
And thus we hail the coming year,
And God and How-tseih bless.
BE II. ii.] THE BOOK OF POETRY. 307
8 We crown the stands with offerings,-
Stands made of earth or wood.
The fragrance rises, floats, ascends,
A savour sweet to God.
Fragrant it is, and timely ;—
'Twas How-tseih showed the way.
No pious soul has found it vain,
Down to this distant day.
II.
The Hang ivei ; allusive and narrative. A FESTAL ODE, CELEBRATING
SOME ENTEBTAINMENT GIVEN BY THE KING TO HIS BELATIVES, WITH
THE TBIAL OF ABCHEBY AFTEK THE FEAST ; CELEBBATING ESPECI
ALLY THE HONOUB DONE ON SUCH OCCASIONS TO THE AGED.
1 See how the rushes spring
Thickly along the way !
Ye browsing herds, no foot
Upon those rushes lay !
Grown to their height ere long,
They soft and rich shall shine.
Close as the rushes grow,
Should brethren all combine.
Let all at feast appear,
None absent, none thought mean.
Mats for the young be spread !
On stools let elders lean !
2 Lo ! double mats are spread,
And stools are featly set.
Servants in waiting stand;
See host and guests are met.
He pledges them ; they him;
He drinks ; again they fill.
Sauces and pickles come,
Roast meat and broiled; and still
Palates and tripe are brought.
Then lutes and drums appear.
Singers fine concord make;—
The joyous feasters hear.