THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

346 THE BOOK OP POETET. [PAET III.
Solid as mountain mass they seemed,
And brightly as the river gleamed,
Whose waters ceaseless rush.
Continuous, in order sure,
Inscrutable, success secure,
They marched revolt to crush.
6 The king's plans truthful and sincere,
Seu's tribes at once sought peace.
Its chiefs assembled all; their prayer
Was for the royal grace.
And quickly by the son of Heaven
Was order to the country given;
In solemn court he shone.
Before him came the chiefs, and swore
That they would break their faith no more.
"The war," he said, "is done."
X.
The Chen jang; narrative, and allusive in the last stanza. THE
WRITER DEPLOKES THE MISERY AND OPPRESSION THAT PREVAILED, AKD
INTIMATES THAT THEY WERE CAUSED BY THE INTEKFERENCE OP
WOMEN AND EUNUCHS IN THE GOVERNMENT.
This piece will not suit the reign Of any other king but Yew, and Btt.
3 and 4 were, no doubt, directed specially against Paou Sze and her
creatures in the palace. The form in which the writer expresses Ms sen
timent, however, is too general, and not sufficiently guarded.
' 1 To Heaven I look with longing eye,
But only meet its angry frown.
In restless trouble long we lie,
And great afflictions still come down.
Throughout the realm is nothing firm;
Both high and low are in distress.
In palace and in court they swarm,
Whose ravages the land oppress.
Wrapt in the net of crime we groan;
Nor peace nor cure comes to our moan.
2 You now, 0 king, possess the lands.
Which as their own men once could claim;
And chiefs, who led their faithful bands,
Are stript of wealth, and brought to shame.
BK III. x.] THE BOOK OP POETET. 347
Men blameless, free from slightest taint,
Within that fearful net are snared;
While others walk without restraint,
Whose guilt is openly declared.
3 A wise man builds the city wall;
But a wise woman throws it down.
Wise is she ? Good you may her call;—
She is an owl we should disown!
To woman's tongue let length be given,
And step by step to harm it leads.
Disorder does not come from Heaven;
'Tis woman's tongue disorder breeds.
Women and eunuchs ! Never came
Lesson or warning word from them !
4 Hurtful and false, their spite they wreak ;
And when exposed their falsehood lies,
The wrpng they do not own, but sneak,
And say, " No harm did we devise."
Thrice cent, per cent. ! Why that is trade,
And would the wise man but disgrace.
Public affairs to wife and maid
Must not silk-worms and looms displace.
5 Why is it Heaven thus sends reproof?
Why have the Spirits ceased to bless ?
From the wild Teih you keep aloof,
And me would in your wrath oppress.
Omens of ill you slight, though rife ;
Nor for your outward bearing care.
The good fly from the scene of strife;
Ruin impends, and blank despair.
6 Heaven's awful net o'erhangs the land,
Full of more woes than tongue can tell.
The good retire on every hand.
What sorrows in my bosom swell!
Near and more near the net of Heaven !
Soon will its meshes all enfold.
Good men are from their duties driven,
And how can grief of mine be told ?
I