THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY
THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY
140 THE BOOK OF POETEY. [PART I. BOOK IX. THE ODES OF WEI. THE Wei here is quite a different character from that in the title of Book v., and the State indicated by it was far distant from the other, though we are obliged to write the two names with the same English letters. This was within the present Keae-chow of Shan-Re, but did not extend over all the territory now forming that department. It was thus a small State, but the manners of the people were thrifty and industrious. In B.C. 660, duke Heen of Tsin extinguished the State of Wei, and in corporated it with his own dominions. At the division of the kingdom, after the subjugation of the Shang dynasty, Wei had been assigned to some chief of the Ke stock ; but no details of its history have been pre served. In consequence of this, many critics are of opinion that these odes of Wei are really odes of Tsin, and that they are prefixed to those of T'ang, just as those of P'ei and Yung are prefixed to the odes of that other Wei, all really belonging to it. I. The Koh Tt,eu ; narrative. THE EXTBEME PABSIJIONIOUSNESS EVEN OF -HEALTHY MEN IN WEI. 1 Thin cloth of dolichos supplies the shoes, In which some have to brave the frost and cold. A bride, when poor, her tender hands must use, • Her dress to make, and the sharp needle hold. This man is wealthy, yet he makes his bride Collars and waistbands for his robes provide. 2 Conscious of wealth, -he moves with easy mien; Politely on the left he takes his place; The ivory pin is at his girdle seen ; His dress and gait show gentlemanly grace. Why do we brand him in our satire here ? 'Tis this,—his niggard soul provokes the sneer. The Uicun tsew-joo ; allusive. THE OFFICERS OF WEI. II. AGAINST THE pAKSiMoNiotrsNESS OB BlC IX. III.] THE BOOK OF POETET. 141 1 Where near the Hwun damp is the ground, The sorrel-gatherers are found, To eke their scanty food. Such arts that officer displays, (Whose elegance exceeds all praise;) In him they are not good. Charged with the cars of State, we look to find His conduct show a higher style of mind. 2 On the Hwun's banks the poor are found, Who pluck the mulberry leaves around, A little gain to make. In grace and beauty like a flower, That officer himself doth lower, Such small mean ways to take. The cars of State to marshal is his charge;— Strange such high post his mind should not enlarge ! 3 Where the Hwun bends to join the Ho, For ox-lip leaves the people go, Some nourishment to find. That officer we gem-like call, Yet shrinks he not from ways as small, To greed too much inclined. The ruler's kindred he has for his care;— Should he not show a loftier character ? III. The Yiien yew t'aou; allusive. AN OFFICES TELLS HIS GEIEP BE CAUSE OF THE MISGOVEENMENT OF THE SlATE, AND HOW HE WAS MISUNDERSTOOD. 1 A fruit, small as the garden peach, May still be used for food. A State, though poor as ours, might thrive, If but its rule were good. Our rule is bad, our state is sad, With mournful heart I grieve. All can from instrument and voice My mood of mind perceive. Who know me not, with scornful thought, Deem me a scholar proud. •\
142 THE BOOK OP POETRY. [PART I. " Those men are right," they fiercely say, " What mean your words so loud ? " Deep in my heart my sorrows lie, And none the cause may know. How should they know, who never try To leam whence comes our woe ? 2 The garden jujube, although small, May still be used for food. A State, though poor as ours, might thrive, If but its rule were good. Our rule is bad, our state is sad, With mournful heart I grieve. Methinks I'll wander through the land, My misery to relieve. Who know me not, with scornful thought, Deem that wild views I hold. . " Those men are right," they fiercely say, " What mean your words so bold ? " Deep in my heart my sorrows lie, And none the cause may know. How can they know, who never try To leam whence comes our woe ? IV. The ClnJi 7ioo; narrative. A YOUNG SOLDIER ON SERVICE SOLACZS HIMSELF WITH THE THOUGHT OF HOME. 1 To the top of that tree-clad hill I go, And towards my father I gaze, Till with my mind's eye his form I espy, And my mind's ear hears how he says :— " Alas for my son on service abroad ! He rests not from morning till eve. May he careful be, and come back to me ! While he is away, how I grieve ! " 2 To the top of that barren hill I climb, And towards my mother I gaze, Till with my mind's eye her furm I espy, And my mind's ear hears how she says:— BE IX. VI.] THE BOOK OP POETRY. " Alas for my child on service abroad ! He never in sleep shuts an eye. May he careful be, and come back to me ! In the wild may his body not lie ! " 3 Up the lofty ridge I, toiling, ascend, And towards my brother I gaze, Till with my mind's eye his form I espy, And my mind's ear hears how he says :— " Alas ! my young brother, serving abroad, All day with his comrades must roam. May he careful be, and come back to me, And die not away from his home ! " The SJrihmow cJie ft&n ; narrative. or WEI. v. 143 THE STEAITS or THE PEASANTRY In versifying this short piece, I have followed the view of Choo, who thinks that in the 3rd line of each verse a worthy officer, disgusted with the irregularities of the court, proposes to a companion to withdraw to a quiet life among the mulberry trees in the country. 1 Among their ten acres of mulberry trees, The planters move idly about at their ease. " Ho ! back," says a courtier, " and let us join these ! " 2 Beyond their ten acres of mulberry trees, The planters move idly about at their ease. " Away," says a courtier, " and join us with these ! " VI. The Fall Van: allusive. AGAINST THE IDLE AND GREEDY MINIS TERS or THE STATE. CONTRAST BETWEEN THEM AND A STALWAKT WOODMAN. 1 K'an-Jc'an upon the sandal trees The woodman's strokes resound. Then on the bank he lays the trunks His axe brings to the ground; The while the stream goes rippling by, Its waters cool and clear. You work not so, O Wei's great men, From me the truth now hear.
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140 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>BOOK</strong> <strong>OF</strong> POETEY. [PART I.<br />
<strong>BOOK</strong> IX.<br />
<strong>THE</strong> ODES <strong>OF</strong> WEI.<br />
<strong>THE</strong> Wei here is quite a different character from that in the title of<br />
Book v., and the State indicated by it was far distant from the other,<br />
though we are obliged to write the two names with the same English<br />
letters. This was within the present Keae-chow of Shan-Re, but did not<br />
extend over all the territory now forming that department. It was thus a<br />
small State, but the manners of the people were thrifty and industrious.<br />
In B.C. 660, duke Heen of Tsin extinguished the State of Wei, and in<br />
corporated it with his own dominions. At the division of the kingdom,<br />
after the subjugation of the Shang dynasty, Wei had been assigned to<br />
some chief of the Ke stock ; but no details of its history have been pre<br />
served. In consequence of this, many critics are of opinion that these<br />
odes of Wei are really odes of Tsin, and that they are prefixed to those<br />
of T'ang, just as those of P'ei and Yung are prefixed to the odes of that<br />
other Wei, all really belonging to it.<br />
I.<br />
The Koh Tt,eu ; narrative. <strong>THE</strong> EXTBEME PABSIJIONIOUSNESS EVEN<br />
<strong>OF</strong> -HEALTHY MEN IN WEI.<br />
1 Thin cloth of dolichos supplies the shoes,<br />
In which some have to brave the frost and cold.<br />
A bride, when poor, her tender hands must use,<br />
• Her dress to make, and the sharp needle hold.<br />
This man is wealthy, yet he makes his bride<br />
Collars and waistbands for his robes provide.<br />
2 Conscious of wealth, -he moves with easy mien;<br />
Politely on the left he takes his place;<br />
The ivory pin is at his girdle seen ;<br />
His dress and gait show gentlemanly grace.<br />
Why do we brand him in our satire here ?<br />
'Tis this,—his niggard soul provokes the sneer.<br />
The Uicun tsew-joo ; allusive.<br />
<strong>THE</strong> <strong>OF</strong>FICERS <strong>OF</strong> WEI.<br />
II.<br />
AGAINST <strong>THE</strong> pAKSiMoNiotrsNESS OB<br />
BlC IX. III.] <strong>THE</strong> <strong>BOOK</strong> <strong>OF</strong> POETET. 141<br />
1 Where near the Hwun damp is the ground,<br />
The sorrel-gatherers are found,<br />
To eke their scanty food.<br />
Such arts that officer displays,<br />
(Whose elegance exceeds all praise;)<br />
In him they are not good.<br />
Charged with the cars of State, we look to find<br />
His conduct show a higher style of mind.<br />
2 On the Hwun's banks the poor are found,<br />
Who pluck the mulberry leaves around,<br />
A little gain to make.<br />
In grace and beauty like a flower,<br />
That officer himself doth lower,<br />
Such small mean ways to take.<br />
The cars of State to marshal is his charge;—<br />
Strange such high post his mind should not enlarge !<br />
3 Where the Hwun bends to join the Ho,<br />
For ox-lip leaves the people go,<br />
Some nourishment to find.<br />
That officer we gem-like call,<br />
Yet shrinks he not from ways as small,<br />
To greed too much inclined.<br />
The ruler's kindred he has for his care;—<br />
Should he not show a loftier character ?<br />
III.<br />
The Yiien yew t'aou; allusive. AN <strong>OF</strong>FICES TELLS HIS GEIEP BE<br />
CAUSE <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> MISGOVEENMENT <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> SlATE, AND HOW HE WAS<br />
MISUNDERSTOOD.<br />
1 A fruit, small as the garden peach,<br />
May still be used for food.<br />
A State, though poor as ours, might thrive,<br />
If but its rule were good.<br />
Our rule is bad, our state is sad,<br />
With mournful heart I grieve.<br />
All can from instrument and voice<br />
My mood of mind perceive.<br />
Who know me not, with scornful thought,<br />
Deem me a scholar proud.<br />
•\