THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

376 THE BOOK OF POETET.
III.
The Pman shmiy; allusive and narrative. IN PRAISE OP SOME MAK-
QTJIS Of LOO, CELEBRATING HIS INTEREST IN THE STATE COLLEGE,
WHICH PBOBABLY HE HAD REPAIRED OR REBUILT, TESTIFYING HIS
VIRTUES, AND AUSPICING FOR HIM A COMPLETE TRIUMPH OVER THE
TRIBES Of IHB HWAB, WHICH WOULD BE CELEBRATED IN THE
COLLEGE.
It is not unlikely that the marquis in this piece was Shin, or duke He,
for we know that he was engaged in operations against the tribes of the
Hwae. His part, indeed, was but a secondary one in them, and he was
only a follower of duke Hwan of Ts'e, who had the supremacy among
the feudal States ; but it was not for a poet of Loo to dwell on the in
ferior position to which his State and ruler were reduced. To Loo had
in the first place been assigned the regulation of the East; and in this
ode and the next the writer, or the writers, would fain auspice a return
of its former glories. The immediate occasion of its composition must
have been some opening or inauguration service in connexion with the
repair of the State college.
On HI. i. VIII. we have seen that the royal college of Chow was built
in the middle of a circle of water ; each State had its grand college, with
a semi-circular pool around it. There the officers of the State in autumn
learned ceremonies ; in winter, literary studies ; in spring and summer,
the use of arms; and in autumn and winter, dancing. There were cele
brated trials of archerj'; there the aged were feasted ; there the princes
held council with their ministers. The uses which it served were very
diverse, but all important.
1 Fair is the pool, half-circling round
The college of our land.
The plants of cress that there abound
We pluck with eager hand.
To it our prince of Loo draws nigh;
We see his dragon banner fly,
Free waving in the wind.
And as he moves, his horses' bells
Tinkle harmonious, and fast swells
The crowd that comes behind.
2 Fair is the pool, half-circling round
The college of our land.
The pond-weed plants that there abound
We pluck with eager hand.
Arrived is now our prince of Loo,
With team of steeds that grandly show,—
Steeds, each of highest worth.
[PAET IV. BK n. m.] THE BOOK Or POETET. 37;
His fame is great. With winning smile,
And blandest look, no haste the while,
His lessons he gives forth.
3 Fair is the pool, half-circling round
The college of Our land.
The mallow plants that there abound
We pluck with eager hand.
The college now our prince contains.
Joyous, the festive cup he drains,—
The cup of spirits good.
His be the strength that knows not age !
His be the noble course and sage,
By which men are subdued!
4 Our prince of Loo has virtue rare;
His reverence we see.
His every step he guards with care;.
The people's mould is he.
In peace and war his powers are proved,
His mighty sires are deeply moved;—
O'er him with love they bend.
Through filial duty ever paid,
And without farther effort made,
Blessings on him descend.
5 Our prince of Loo has wisdom great;
His virtue brighter grows.
This college, glory of the State,
To him its beauty owes.
The tribes of Hwae will own his sway ;
His tiger chiefs down here will lay
The ears cut from their foes.
His questioners, like Kaou Yaou wise,
Will here rehearse their enterprise,
And captive kerns expose.
6 His numerous officers, all true,
And of a virtuous mind,
Will haste with martial zeal to do
The part to them assigned;—
Those tribes from south and east expel,
Then back their triumphs come to tell,
And here themselves report.
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