THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

148 THE BOOK OP POETEY. [PAET I.
3 The cricket appears in the hall;
The need for oar carts is all o'er.
Then let us to-day to pleasure give way,
Ere the days and months be no more.
But first think of griefs that may come;
Between the extremes keep the mean.
Take heed lest the joy our reason destroy :—
The good man is calm and serene.
II.
The Shan yen cli'oo; allusive. THE FOLLY OP NOT ENJOriNG THE
GOOD THINGS WHICH WB HAVE, AND LETTING DEATH TUT THEM INTO
THE HANDS OF OTHEKS.
1 The thorny elms on the mountains grow,
And the white elms rise where the grounds are low.
You have suits of robes which you never wear;
You have steeds and cars you are fain to spare.
All these another will have by and by,
For the time will come when you shall die.
2 The k'aou trees thrive on the mountain's brow,
And the new trees rise where the grounds are low.
Unwatered your courts, your rooms are unswept;
Your drums and your bells all silent are kept.
All these another shall have by and by,
For the time will come when you shall die.
3 The varnish trees on the mountains grow,
And the chestnuts rise where the grounds are low.
Why not, at the feast, your lute gaily play,
To add to your joy, and lengthen the day.
Another's your house will be by and by,
For the time will come when you shall die.
III.
The Yang che slavvy; allusive. REBELLION PLOTTED AGAINST THE
-MAKQUIS OF TSIN BY THE CHIEF OF K'EUH-YUH AND HIS PARTISANS.
At the beginning of his rule, the marquis Ch'aou (B.C. 714—738) in
vested his uncle, called Ching-sze and Hwan-shuh, with the great city of
K'euh-yuh, thus weakening his own power ; and from this proceeding there
resulted long disorder in the State of Tsin. A party was soon formed
to displace the marquis, and raise Hwan-shuh in his room.
BE X. IV.] THE BOOK OP POETEY. 149
This piece is to be talcen as describing the plottings of conspirators in
the capital of Tsin, and the person whom they address as an emissary
from Hwan-shuh. Kaou was a city in the territory of K'euh-yuh.
1 'Midst the fretted waters
The white rocks grandly stand.
To Yuh we'll follow you.
With white silk robe in hand,
And collar of red hue,
Your master to invest,
And hail him lord of Tsin,
Of the whole State possest.
The sight of him, our princely lord,
Will joy to all our hearts afford.
2 'Midst the fretted waters
The white rocks glist'ning stand.
To Kaou we'll follow you,
With white silk robe in hand,
And collar of red hue.
And broidered axes fine,
Your master to invest
As chief of T'ang's great line.
When him, our princely lord, we see,
From every pain we shall be free.
3 'Midst the fretted waters
The white rocks grandly show.
Your orders we have heard,
But not a single word
Shall any from us know.
IV.
The Tseaou leaou; allusive and metaphorical. SUPPOSED TO CELE-
BEATE THE POWER AND PROSPERITY OP JEhVAN-SHUH, AND TO PREDICT
THE GROWTH OF HIS FAMILY.
See the note to the last piece.
1 What clusters so rare
The pepper plants bear!
A measure, luxuriant and large, they would fill.
As much without peer
Is this hero here !
Sing hey for the shoots of the pepper plant still!