THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

THE BOOK OF POETEY. [_tfj
I laboured to increase
Our means, or great or small;
When 'mODg friends near death did appear,
On knees to help I'd crawl.
5 No cherishing you give,
Fm hostile in your eyes.
As pedlar's,wares for which none cares,
My virtues you despise.
When poverty was nigh,
I strove our means to spare;
You, now rich grown, me scorn to own;
To poison me compare.
6 The stores for winter piled
Are all unprized in spring.
So now, elate with your new mate,
Myself away you fling.
Your cool disdain for me
A bitter anguish hath.
The early time, our love's sweet prime,
In you wakes only wrath.
XI.
The Shih ivei; narrative. THE OFFICERS OF SOME STATE, WHO
WEEE REFUGEES AND IN DISTRESS IN WEI, EXHORT THEIE BULEB TO
BETURN 'WITH THEM.
It is supposed that the speakers in these two verses were from Le, a
State adjoining Wei, in which they had taken refuge in the time of duke
Seuen.
1 At this low ebb ! At this low ebb !
Why not, 0 prince, return to Le ?
But for your sake, why bide we here,
Houseless beneath the dew to be ?
2 At this low ebb ! At this low ebb !
Why not to Le go back again ?
But for your person, how should we
Here in the mire so long have lain ?
BE III. XIII.] THE BOOK OF POETEY. 87
XII.
The Maoit Ttfem; allusive and narrative. THE EEFUGEE MINISTERS
OF LE COMPLAIN OF THOSE OF WEI FOR NOT ASSISTING THEM.
1 On that high sloping mound,
With joints now parted wide,
The plants of dolichos
Show here we long abide.
Wei's nobles, whom we uncles style,
Why thus delay on us to smile ?
2 They rest and do not stir;—
Do they allies expect ?
Wherefore protract the time ?
AVhy us so much neglect ?
Some reason they could surely plead
For conduct, strange in this our need.
3 ID chariots of the west,
Hither from danger borne,
In Wei we live depressed,
Our fox-furs frayed and worn.
Ye nobles, uncles, sooth to say,
For us no sympathy display.
4 A remnant small of Le,
Driven from our proper home ;
Children dispersed, we hoped
That help from Wei would come.
Alas ! though grand the robes you wear,
You stop your ears against our prayer.
XIII.
The Keen he; narrative and allusive. HALF IN SCOKN, HALF IN
SOBBOW, AN OFFICER OF WEI TELLS OF THE MEAN SEBVICES IN
WHICH HE WAS EMPLOYED.
1 With mind indifferent, things I easy take.
In every dance I prompt appearance make :—
Then, when the sun is at his topmost height;
There, in the place that courts the public sight.