THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

THE BOOK OF POETEY.
[PART I.
2 For the -wheat about Wei I'm going
To the north where it grows in each part.
But my thoughts for ever are flowing
To the Beauty who rules in my heart,—
To the eldest Yih. 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.
3 For the mustard-plant I am going
Where in Wei it grows over the east.
But my thoughts for ever are flowing
To the Beauty on whose love I feast,—
To the eldest Yung. 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 Kfe.
V.
The Shun cTie pun-pirn ; allusive.
CH'AOU PER, as worse than beasts.
AGAINST SEUEN KEANG AND
1 How bold the quails together rush,
Each fighting for his mate !
How strong the magpies, battling fierce
Upon the same debate !
This man, without a trait that's good,
Is stained by vicious crime;
Yet him as brother I regard:—
Alas ! woe worth the time !
2 How strong the magpies, battling fierce,
Each one to keep his mate !
How fierce the quails together rush,
Upon the same debate !
This woman, with no trait that's good,
Is stained by vicious crime,
Yet her I hail as marchioness :—
Alas ! woe worth the time !
VI.
The Ting die fang chung; narrative. THE PRAISE or DUKE WAN :
——HIS DILIGENCE, FORESIGHT, SYMPATHY WITH THE PEOPLE, AND
PROSPERITY.
BE IV. VI.] THE BOOK OF FOETEY. 97
The Duke Hwuy of Wei died in B.C. 668, and was succeeded by his son
Oh'ih, known as duke E, who perished in fighting with the Teih in B.C.
659. Wei was then reduced to extremity, and had nearly disappeared from
among the States of China. The people destroyed all the family of Hwuy,
and, what we cannot but be surprised at, called to their head Shin, a son
of Seuen Ke'ang and Ch'aou-pih. He was duke Tae, and crossed the Ho
with the shattered remnant of the people, with whom he camped in the
neighbourhood of Ts'aou. He died that same year, and his brother Wei,
known as duke Woo, was called to his place, and became a sort of second
founder of the State. It is of him that this piece speaks.
Ting is a small space in the heavens, embracing two stars of Pegasus.
It culminated at this time in the 10th month of the year, counting from
the first month of spring, at night-fall, and this was a signal that now the
labours of husbandry were over for theyaar, and that building operations
should be taken in hand. The urgency for the rearing of the new capi
tal was great, but the marquis would not take it in hand till the proper
time for such a labour had arrived.
1 At dusk the Ting star passed on to the west,
And field-work for the year was laid to rest.
At Ts'oo the duke his palace took in hand,
And by the sun fixed how its walls should stand.
All round about he planted many a tree,—
Hazels and chestnuts, t'ung, and Isze, and e,
And varnish trees. The grove would yield ere long
Abundant wood for lutes, to aid the voice of song.
2 He climbed those ruined walls, thence to inspect
The site he wished for Ts'oo-k'ew to select.
His glance the land from Ts'oo to T'ang mapped out,
Noting the hills and smaller heights about.
He then came down, the mulberry trees to view,
And judged the soil, and learned its nature true.
These things once done, he asked the tortoise-shell,
Answer auspicious got,—and all succeeded well.
3 Thereafter, when there fell the copious showers.
He -often called his groom, and in the hours
Of early dawn a-field by starlight drove
Among the labourers, and to cheer them strove.
And many ways he had, not this alone,
In which his character distinguished shone,
To duty bound, assiduous in his cares ;—
And blessing came,—three thousand steeds and mares.
VOL. in. 7
I!