THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

THE BOOK OF POETEY. [PART I.
Till death to shun the evil thing I swear !
O mother dear, O Heaven supreme, why should
You not allow my vow, and aid my purpose good ?
II.
The Ts'eang yem ts'ze ; allusive. THE THINGS DONE IN THE HAEEM
OF THE PALACE OF WE! WEEE TOO SHAMEFUL TO BE TOLD.
The " things done in the harem " are supposed to refer to the connexion
between Ch'aou-peh and Seuen K ang, which has been mentioned on the
9th ode of last Book.
1 As grows on wall the tribulus,
And 'gainst the brush retains its hold ;
So let vvhat's in the harem done
By us without remain untold.
What must be told would tongue defile
With things unfit for speech, and vile.
2 As grows on wall the tribulus,
Which vainly to remove we try;
So let what's in the harem done
By us without unspoken lie.
If on details we condescend,
The narrative would have no end.
3 As grows on wall the tribnlus,
And cannot in the sheaf be tied;
So let what's in the harem done
By us without untouched abide.
If truth were in the tale laid bare,
How foul a scene were painted there!
HI.
The Kemi-tszc Mae laou; narrative. CoKTEAST BETWEEN THE
BEAUTY AND SPLENDOUR OF SEUEN KEANG AND HEB. VICIOUSNESS.
See again the note on the 9th ode of the last Book. The intention and
spirit of this piece only come out in the last two lines of the first stanza.
1 Pledged to her husband, his alone to be;
With head-dress high, cross pins, and jewels rare;
Her movements graceful, elegant, and free;
As mountain stately, with imposing air;
BK IV. IV.] THE BOOK OP POETEY. 9»
Majestic as a river, large and fair;
Her robes the various figured forms display.
Fit seems it she such pictured robes should wear !
But, lady, vain is all your grand array; •
No claim to it can you, in virtue wanting, lay.
2 Her pheasant-figured robe resplendent shines,
Her hair, jet-black, cloud-like surmounts her head ;
Her own, no false locks with it she entwines.
Then see her ear-plugs, of the precious jade ;
Her comb-pin, of the finest ivory made;
And her high forehead, shining pure and white.
Like visitant come down from heaven, arrayed
In fashion thus, for sacrificial rite,—
Well may we goddess call her, and no earthly wight.
3 At court now see her, on occasions great,
To meet the ruler, or guests entertain !
As rich and splendid is her robe of state,
With muslin 'neath it of the finest grain.
Which takes the place of warmer garment plain.
Her eyes are clear, with forehead broad and high,
Which the full temples on each side sustain.
With woman such as this how few can vie !
The beauty of the land, she charms the gazing eye !
IV.
The Sanff-chunff; narrative. A GENTLEMAN BOASTS OF HIS INTIMACY
AND INTEIGUES WITH VABIOCS NOBLE LADIES.
The old school holds that this piece was intended as a satire on " the
lewd customs of Wei." Choo sees in it only a love song. As a new lady
comes up in every stanza, I think it may have been constructed to expose
the licentiousness which prevailed.
1 The gold-thread to gather I'm going,
Where in Wei it spreads over the tree ;
But my thoughts for ever are flowing
To the Beauty who captive holds me,—
To the eldest Keang. Yes, it is she !
Freely did she agree in Sang-chung,
She would come to me here in Shang-kung,
And then company keep with me on to the K/e.