THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

f I
122 THE BOOK OF POETET. [PART I.
IV.
The Ta Shuh yu t'eeti; narrative. CELEBRATING THE CHARIOTEER
ING, BAKING, AND AECHEEY OF SHtJH-TWAN.
1 Our Shuh a-hunting forth has gone;
In four-horsed chariot grand lie shone.
As ribbon in his grasp each rein;
With measured steps, like dancers twain,
The outside horses flew.
They now have reached the marshy ground;
At once the flames break out around.
With naked arm and chest Shuh stands ;
A tiger fierce his nervous hands
Grapple and soon subdue.
He then presents it to the duke,
While all with wonder on him look.
But, Shuh, try not such sport again.
What grief were ours if you were slain !
Your daring we should rue.
2 Our Shuh a-hunting drove away,
His four steeds all of colour bay.
The outsides followed close behind
The insides, finest of their kind,
Like wild geese on the wing.
They now have gained the marshy ground;
At once the flames blaze all around.
Few archers can with Shuh compare ;
A charioteer of cunning rare,
The steeds before him spring.
Now they dash on in course direct;
Now they're brought up and quickly checkt.
Forth flies the arrow, fleet and stark,
Nor fails to hit its proper mark,
His left hand following.
3 Our Shuh a-hunting drove away,
His four steeds all of colour grey.
With heads in line the insides sped;
The outsides followed like the head
Succeeded by the arms.
VII. V.] THE BOOK OF POETEY.
They now have reached the marshy ground;
One blaze of flame wraps all around;
Soon cease the hunt's alarms.
Shuh's steeds before him slowly move;
His skill the arrows cease to prove.
Straightway the quiver's lid is closed,
And in its case the bow reposed.
How his fine bearing charms !
v.
123
The Ts'ingjin ; narrative. THE USELESS MANCEUVRING or AN AKMY
or CH'ING ON THE FKONTIEKS.
The Tso-chuen, on the sentences in the Ts'eun-Ch'ew, under the 2nd year
of duke Min, that " The Teih entered Wei," and " Ch'ing tlirew away its
army," says that " the carl of Ch'ing hated Kaou K'ih, and sent him with
an army to the Ho to resist the Teih. where he was stationed for a long
time without being recalled. The troops dispersed, and returned to their
homes. Kaou K'ih himself fled to Ch'in ; and the people of Ch'ing,
with reference to the affair, made the Tiflng jin." The attack of Wei by
the Teih, which has been often referred to in Books iv. and v., took place
in B.C. 659. P'ang, Se'aou, and Chow were all cities near the Ho,
which flowed through both the States of Ch'ing and Wei.
1 The men of Ts'ing in P'ang all idle lie.
The general's chariot with its mail-clad team
Moves restlessly, and, rising from it, gleam
The tasseled spears, one 'bove the other high.
So aimless roam the troops about the Ho !
2 The men of Ts cing all round in Seaou are spread,
Although the chariot, with its mail-clad team,
Looks martial-like, and, rising from it, gleam
The hooked spears, one high, one low displayed;
Yet aimless look they all about the Ho!
3 The men of Ts'ing have moved to Chow. Proud pace
The mail-clad team, whose driver on the left
Wheels round the chariot, and the spearman deft
Displays his spear ; 'tween them the general's face
Looks pleased;—'tis mimic war upon the Ho !