THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

114 THE BOOK OP POETKY. [PAKT I.
1 Fretted the waters seem,
Yet gently flows the stream;—
Unable a faggot to bear.
Guarding Shin here we roam,
Wives and children at home,
All absent our toils who should share.
We think of them ever;
Thought parts from them never;—
What month shall we homeward repair ?
2 Fretted the waters seem,
Yet gently flows the stream;—
A bundle of thorns 'twill not bear.
Guarding Pfoo here we roam,
Wives and children at home,
All absent our toils who should share.
We think of them ever ;
Thought parts from them never;—
What month shall we homeward repair ?
3 Fretted the waters seem,
Yet gently flows the stream;—
The reed-bun die powerless to bear,
Guardiog Heu here we roam,
Wives and children at home,
All absent our toils who should share.
We think of them ever;
Thought parts from them never;—
What month shall we homeward repair ?
v.
The Chiiny Jtuh; allusive. THE BAD CASE OF A WOMAN FORCED
TO SEPARATE FROM HER HUSBAND BY THE PRESSURE OF FAMINE.
1 The valleys show the mother-wort,
Now scorched in each dry spot.
Behold a wife driven forth from home,
Beneath hard famine's lot!
She sadly sighs, she sadly sighs,
'From husband torn and dearest ties.
2 The valleys show the mother-wort,
Now scorched where tall it rose.
VI. VI.] THE BOOK OP POETRY.
Behold a wife driven forth from home,
By stern misfortune's blows !
We hear her groans, we hear her groans,
As she her hapless fate bemoans.
3 The valleys show the mother-wort,
Scorched in each dampest place.
Behold a wife driven forth from home—
Bewail in vain her case !
Her tears aye flow, her tears aye flow ;
However she grieve, ne'er ends her woe !
VI.
The T'oo yiien; metaphorical. AN OFFICER OF CHOW DECLARES
HIS WEARINESS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF THE GROWING MISERIES OF THE
STATE, AOT> OF THE WAY IN WHICH MEN OF PRINCIPLE SUFFERED,
WHILE WORTHLESS MEN ESCAPED.
1 Caught is the pheasant in the net,
That vainly for the hare is set.
So those who duty promptly do
Find cause their loyal zeal to rue,
While one whose ends are base and mean
Contrives from harm himself to screen.
When I was in my youthful prime,
Without commotion passed the time ;
Bnt since those happy days were o'er,
Numerous the ills that press us sore :—
1 would that I might sleep, and rise no more !
2 Caught is the pheasant in the snare,
Avoided by the cautious hare.
So those who duty promptly do
Find cause their loyal zeal to rne,
While one whose ends are base and mean
Contrives from harm himself to screen.
When I was in my youthfnl prime,
No strange events e'er marked the time ;
But now those days have passed away,
And sorrows meet us day by day :—
I would that I might sleep, and sleep for aye !
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