THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

130 THE BOOK OP POETET. [PART I.
People's words don't believe ;
They are meant to deceive :—
Their purpose is but to ensnare.
2 Fretted its waters seem,
Yet gently flows the stream :—
A bundle of wood 'twill not bear.
Our brethren are so few ;
There are only we two :—
Let nothing our friendship impair.
Trust not the people's breath ;
They don't deserve your faith :—
Their purpose is but to ensnare.
XIX.
The Ch'iih k'e tting miin ; narrative. A MAN'S PRAISE OP HIS OWN
POOR WIFE, CONTRASTED WITH FLAUNTING BEAUTIES.
1 My path forth from the east gate lay,
Where cloud-like moved the girls at play.
Numerous are they, as clouds so bright,
But not on them my heart's thoughts light.
Dressed in a thin white silk, with coiffure gray,
Is she, my wife, my joy in life's low way.
2 Forth by the covering wall's high tower,
I went, and saw, like rush in flower,
Each flaunting girl. Brilliant are they,
But not with them my heart's thoughts stay.
In thin white silk, with head-dress madder-dyed,
Is she, my sole delight, 'foretime my bride.
XX.
The Yay yeir •man ts'aoii; narrative and allusive. A LADY REJOICES
IN AN UNLAWFUL CONNEXION WHICH SHE HAD FORMED.
1 On the moor, where thickly grew
Creeping grass, bent down with dew,
There a handsome man drew nigh,
'Neath whose forehead, broad and high,
Gleamed his clear and piercing eye.
'Twas by accident we met;
Glad was I my wish to get.
I
BK VII. XXI.] THE BOOK OF POETEY. 131
2 Where the grass creeps o'er the moor,
With the dew all covered o'er,
There the finest man found I,
'Bove whose clear and piercing eye,
Rose his forehead, broad and high.
Chance gave us a meeting rare,
And we both were happy there.
XXI.
The Tsin Wei; narrative. A FESTIVITY "OF CH'ING, AND ADVAN
TAGE TAKEN OF IT FOR LICENTIOUS ASSIGNATIONS.
Tsln and Wei were two rivers in Ch'ing, which joined at a certain point,
and flowed afterwards in a common stream.
1 Of the Tsin and the Wei
Onward the broad stream pours.
Women and men go by,
With valerian flowers.
To gentleman a lady says,
" Have you been there to see the plays ? "
" I've been," he says, and she replies,
" Let's go again, and feast our eyes.
The ground beyond the Wei you'll find
Large, and for pleasure well designed."
So gentlemen and ladies wend
Their way, in sport the day to spend,
And to each other oft small peonies extend.
2 Of Tsin and Wei along
The lucid waters flow,
And on their banks a throng
Of men and women go.
To gentleman a lady says,
" Have you been there to see the plays ? "
" I've been," says he, and she replies,
" Let's go again and feast our eyes.
The ground beyond the Wei you'll find
Large, and for pleasure well designed."
So gentlemen and ladies wend
Their way, in sport the day to spend,
And to each other oft small peonies extend.