THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

72 THE BOOK OF POETRY. [?AET I.
Why must he go, nor dare to stay
Brief space at rest and still ?
Absent my noble lord I mourn,
May he return ! may he return !
2 Grand in the south the thunder rolls
Along that mountain's side.
Why must he go from this, nor dare
Brief time at rest to bide ?
Absent my noble lord I mourn,
May he return! may he return !
3 Grand in the south the thunder rolls,
Around that mountain's base.
Why must he go from this, nor dare
Indulge himself a space ?
Absent my noble lord I mourn,
May he return ! may he return !
IX.
The PSami yen mei; narrative. ANXIETY OF A YOUNG LADY TO
GET MABBIED.
1 Ripe, the plums fall from the bough;
Only seven tenths left there now !
Ye whose hearts on me are set,
Now the time is fortunate !
2 Eipe, the plums fall from the bough;
Only three tenths left there now !
Ye who wish my love to gain,
Will not now apply in vain !
3 No more plums upon the bough !
All are in my basket now !
Ye who me with ardour seek,
Need the word but freely speak!
The Seaou sing; allusive. THE THANKFUL SUBMISSION TO THEI?
LOT OF THE INFEB10B MEMBEBS OP A HABEM.
We have here the description by .one of the concubines of the lot of
BK II. XL] THE BOOK OF POETET.
herself and her companions. It is the early dawn, and she is returning
from her visit to the prince's chamber, which had been allowed her by
his wife, who alone could pass the whole night with her husband. T.he
others were admitted only for a short time, and had to go and return in
the dark. But so had the influence of king Wan and T*ae-sze wrought,
that throughout Shaou and tlie South the wives of the princes dealt kindly
with their inferiors. They were not jealous, and the others were not en
vious. Such is the interpretation given to this piece.
1 Behold those starlets small,
How three or five the east illume!
Swiftly we came when fell the gloom,
And now at dawn the hall
Of the harem we leave, nor dare gainsay
Our lot which grants us here no longer stay.
2 Behold those starlets small,
Orion and the Pleiads bright!
Swiftly we came as failed the light,
And here brought to the hall
Our coverlets and sheets. Now we return,
Nor our inferior lot presume to mourn.
XI.
The Eeang yew sze ; allusive. JEALOUSY CUBED ; THE BESTOEATION
OP GOOD FEELING IN A HABEM.
The bride of some prince in the south, we are told, had refused to allow
her cousins, who by rule should have accompanied her, to go with her to
the harem; but afterwards, coming under the influence of King Wan
and Tae-sze, she repented of her jealousy, sent for them, and was happy
with them. The lines agree tolerably well with this traditional inter
pretation.
1 See how the Keang's great branches flow,
Here leave its stream, and there back go !
When first our lady came as bride,
She would not have us by her side.
She would not have us by her side ;
But soon a better course she tried.
2 The islets part the Keang's broad course,
Which soon resumes its wonted force.
When first as bride our lady came,
To be with us she thought it shame.