THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

THE BOOK OF POETEY. [PAET I.
2 With figure large I in the court-yard dance,
And the duke smiles, when he beholds me prance.
A tiger's strength I have; the steeds swift bound;
The reins as ribbons in my hands are found.
3 See how I hold the flute in my left hand;
In right the pheasant's plume, waved like a wand;
With visage red, where rouge you think to trace,
While the duke pleased, sends down the cup of grace !
4 Hazels on hills; the ling in meadow damp;—
Each has its place, while I'm a slighted scamp.
My thoughts go back to th' early days of Chow,
And muse upon its chiefs, not equalled now.
0 noble chiefs, who then the west adorned,
Would ye have thus neglected me and scorned ?
XIV.
The Ts'euen sJtmi y; allusive and narrative. A DAUGHTER OF THE
HOUSE OF WEI, MARRIED IN ANOTHER STATE, EXPRESSES HER LONGING
TO REVISIT WEI.
It is not said who this princess was ; but her parents must have been
dead. It would have been allowable for her to visit them at stated times
if they were still alive.
1 As the streamlet from its spring-
Flows into the river K/e,
So my daily thoughts on wing
Fly, my native Wei, to thee ;
For I long with cousins there
Counsel sweet and love to share.
2 For a night, at Tse I stayed ;
Drank the cup to Ne when come;
Parents, brothers, farewell bade :—
Such the fate on leaving home.
Parents are not now alive;
Aunts and sister still survive.
3 Lo ! I hasten home again.
Let the rushing chariot-wheel
Pause at Kan, and part at Yen,
Pebbles flashing to its steel.
ft
BK III. XVI.] THE BOOK OF POETRY. 8(J
Does my heart go far astray,
Panting for its native Wei ?
4 By the Fei-tsfeuen's winding stream
Daily sighing thought will stray.
Seu and Ts'aou in'memory gleam,
Broken glints of childhood's day.
Spring, my horses ! Speed, my wheels !
Gone the grief my bosom feels !
XV.
The Pih iimn ; metaphorical and narrative. AN OFFICER OF WEI SETS
FORTH, BATHER JESTINGLY, HIS HARD LOT, AND HIS SILENCE UNDER IT
IN SUBMISSION TO HEAVEN.
1 My way leads forth by the gate on the north;
My heart is full of woe.
I haven't a cent, begged, stolen, or lent,
And friends forget me so.
So let it be! 'tis Heaven's decree.
What can I say,—a poor fellow like me ?
2 The king has his throne, sans sorrow or moau;
On me fall all his cares,
And when I come home, resolved not to roam,
Each one indignant stares.
So let it be ! 'tis Heaven's decree,
What can I say,—a poor fellow like me ?
3 Each thing of the king, and the fate of the State, .
On me come more and more.
And when, sad and worn, I come back forlorn,
They thrust me from the door.
So let it be! 'tis Heaven's decree.
What can I say,—a poor fellow like me ?
XVI.
The Pih fling; metaphorical-narrative. SOME ONE OF WEI
PRESSES HIS FRIENDS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY WITH HIM AT ONCE,
IN CONSEQUENCE OP THE PREVAILING OPPRESSION AND MISERY.
1 As when the north winds keenly blow,
And all around fast falls the snow,