THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

\" 'I
104 THE BOOK OF POETRY. [PART I.
and some other odes of Book iii. The only difficulty in translating or
versifying it is to determine whether the verbs are to be taken in the past
tense or in the present. I have deferred to the general opinion of the
Chinese critics, who take the piece to have been written after the lady
became an object of commiseration through the behaviour of her husband.
1 The lady was of figure large and tall.
In broidered robe, hid 'neatli a garment plain,
A bride, she carne from Ts'e's high palace hall,
In Wei, as wife of our great lord to reign.
'Gainst her of no inferior birth the stain
Could be alleged, sister of Ts'e's great heir.
Of other grand alliances a train
She could display, for her two sisters fair
The highest dignity in Hing and T'an did wear.
2 Like blades of white grass were her fingers fine;
Her skin like purest ointment hard congealed;
Her neck like larvae on the tree which shine
So long and white. Her opening lips revealed
Her even teeth, behind their screen concealed,
Like melon seeds. Her front cicada-square,
Displayed her eyebrows curved upon its field,
Like horns of silkworm moth ; and dimples rare,
With dark and lucid eyes, showed face beyond compare.
3 When, on her coming, near the city wall,
She halted in the cultured fields, each eye .
Viewed with delight her figure large and tall.
Her team of mettled steeds their bits tossed high,
Bound which was twined red cloth in rich supply.
Then in her carriage she went on in state,
Its pheasant-screens oft followed by the cry,
" Early retire from court, ye nobles great;
The marquis leave untired, to cherish this fit mate."
4 Where out of Ts'e into our State she passed,
Its banks all green with rush and sedges rank,
Northwards the Ho rolled on the waters vast
Of its majestic stream, while in it sank
With plashing sound the nets, which dripping, dank,
The toiling fishers dropt into the wave,
'Mong shoals of sturgeon, both the large and lank.
Her sister ladies shone in dresses brave,
And martial looked the officers, who escort gave.
BE V. iv.]
THE BOOK OF POETET.
IV.
105
The Jlfanff : narrative, with the other elements interspersed. A WO
MAN, WHO HAD FORMED AN I1IPBUPBB CONNEXION, NOW CAST OFF,
RELATES AND BEMOANS HEE SAD CASE.
In the 9th line of the 1st stanza the speaker refers to the practice in
China from the most ancient times of employing go-betweens or inter-
nuncii to form the contract of marriage. The " shell and reeds " in line
1 1th of stanza 2nd are the tortoise-shell and the stalks of the achillew,
used for purposes of divination.
1 A simple-looking lad you seemed,
When first you met my eye,
By most a travelling merchant deemed,
Raw silk for cloth to buy.
But your true aim "was to propose
That I should go with you ;
And through the K'e I went quite free,
Until we reached Tnn-k'ew.
'Twas then I said, " It is not I,
Who would the time delay ;
Your go-between I have not seen,
I must not run away.
I pray, Sir, do not angry be ;
In autumn be the day."
2 When autumn came, then climbed I oft
That ruined wall, and gazed
Towards Fuh-kwan, my heart all soft,
With expectation raised.
When you came not, my hapless lot
With streams of tears I mourned.
At last your longed-for form I saw,
And tears to smiles were turned.
With words I strove to tell my love,
While you averment made
That shell and seeds good answer gave.
" No more delay," I said.
" Your carriage bring ; I'll go at once,
My goods all in it laid."
3 When on the mulberry tree the leaves
All hang in glossy state,