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
i 15G THE BOOS OF POETET. [PART I. BK XI. i.] THE BOOK OP POETEY. 157 2 When told to search round Show-yang's base, Sow-thistles there to find, The search you'd think a hopeless case, Nor would the counsel mind. And so, when men their stories feign, Do not approve in haste. Put them aside, put them aside; Assent should be repressed. 'Tis thus the.stories told by men Soon unregarded rest. 3 When told Ou th' east of Show-yang hill For mustard-plants to try, You'd know the quest would speed but ill, And let the words pass by. And so, when meu their stories feign, No hearing to them lend. Put them aside, put them aside, Your faith loth to extend. JTis thus the stories told by men Come shortly to an end. BOOK XI. THE ODES OF TSfIN. THE State of Ts'in took its name from its earliest principal city,—in the present district of Ts'ing-shwuy, department of Ts'in-chow, Kan- suh. Its chiefs claimed to be descended from Yih, or Pih-yih, Shun's forester, and the assistant, in his labours on the deluge, of the great Yu, from whom he received the clan name of Ying. Among his descendants, we are told, there was a Chung-keueh, who resided among the wild tribes of the west for the protection of the western borders of the king dom of Shaiig. The sixth in descent from him, called Ta-loh, had a son, Fei-tsze, who had charge of the herds of horses belonging to king Heaou (B.C. 908—894), and in consequence of his good services was invested with the small territory of Ts'in as an attached State. His great-grandson, called Ts'in Chung, or Cliung of Ts'in, was made a great officer of the court by king Seuen, in B.C. 826 ; and his grandson again, known in history as duke Seang, in consequence of his loyal services in 7C9, when the capital of Chow was moved to the east, was i a'sed to the dignity of an earl, and took his place amoug the great feudal princes of the kingdom, receiving a large portion of territory, which included the ancient capital of the House of Chow. Ts'in in course of time, as is well known, superseded the dynasty of Chow, having gradually moved its capital more and more to the east, after the example of Chow itself in earlier times. The people of Ts'in were, no doubt, composed of the wild tribes of the west, though the ruling chiefs may have come originally from the more civilized China on the east. I. The Ken Tin; narrative and allusive. CELEBRATING THE GKOWIXG OPULENCE AND STYLE OF BOMB LORD OF TS'IN, AND THE PLEASURES AND FREEDOM OF HIB COURT. The Preface says the lord of Ts'in here intended was Ts'in-chung, mentioned in the preceding note. The piece must have been made at an early time, when the State was emerging from its obscurity and weakness. 1 His many chariots rush along, Drawn by white-fronted steeds and strong. When audience now we wish to gain, His eunuchs' aid we must obtain.
158 THE BOOK OF POETRY. [PART I. 2 The varnish trees on hill-sides grow, And chestnuts on the lands below. When access to the prince we've found, We sit and hear the lutes' sweet sound. If we seize not this joy to-day, Old age will have us for its prey. 3 The mulberries on the hill-sides grow, And willows where the grounds are low. When to the prince our way we've made, We sit and hear the organs played. If we pass by this joy to-day, Old age will bear us all away. II. The Sze t'eeh; narrative. CELEBRATING THE GROWING OPULENCE OF THE LORDS OF TS'IN, AS BEEN IN THEIR HUNTING. 1 Our ruler to the hunt proceeds; And black as iron are his steeds That heed the charioteer's command, Who holds the six reins in his hand. His favourites follow to the chase, Rejoicing in his special grace. 2 The season's males, alarmed, arise,— The season's males, of wondrous size. Driven by the beaters, forth they spring, Soon caught within the hunters' ring. " Drive on their left," the ruler cries ; And to its mark his arrow flies. 3 The hunting done, northward he goes; And in the park the driver shows The horses' points, and his own skill That rules and guides them at his will. Light cars, whose teams small bells display, The long and short-mouthed dogs convey. HI. The Seamtjmifl; narrative. THE LADY op AN OFFICER ABSENT ON AN EXPEDITION AGAIXST THE TRIBES OP THE WEST GIVES A GLOW ING DESCRIPTION OF HIS CHARIOT, AND PRAISES HIMSELF, EXPRESSING, BUT WITHOUT MURMURING, HER REGRET AT HIS ABSENCE. XI. IV.] THE BOOK OF POETEY. 159 1 Before my mind's eye stands my lord's short car, In which he dares the risks of savage war:— Its pole, whose end turns upward, curving round, And in five places shines, with leather bound; The slip rings and the side straps; the masked place, Where gilt rings to the front unite the trace; The mat of tiger's skin • the naves so long; The steeds, with left legs white, and piebalds, strong. Such my lord's oar ! He rises in my mind, Lovely and bland, like jade of richest kind; Yet there he lives, in his log hut apart:— The veiy thought confuses all my heart. 2 The driver with the six reins guides along The horses, with their shining coats, and strong :— One inside dappled, one bay with black mane; Black-mouthed and bay, and black, the outer twain. Shields, dragon-figured, rise up side by side, Shelter in front 'gainst missiles to provide. Gilt buckles with the carriage front connect The inner reins by which the insides are checkt. I see my lord, thus in his carriage borne, With his mild form the frontier towns adorn. What time can be for his return assigned ? Ah me ! his figure ever fills my mind ! 3 With measured steps move the mail-covered team. The trident spears, with gilded shaft-ends gleam. The feather-figured shield, of beauty rare, He holds before him, all his foes to dare. The bow-case, made of tiger's skin, and bright With metal plates, lies ready for the fight. It holds two bows which bamboo frames secure, And keep unhurt, to send tho arrows sure. To him thus busy all my thoughts are borne, Both when I rest at night and rise at morn. He, my good lord, is tranquil and serene, His virtuous fame more prized, the more he's seen. IV. The Keen Jcea; narrative. SOME ONE TELLS HOW HE SOUGHT AN OTHER, WHOM IT SEEMED EASY TO FIND, AND YET COULD NOT FIND HIM.
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i<br />
15G <strong>THE</strong> BOOS <strong>OF</strong> POETET. [PART I. BK XI. i.] <strong>THE</strong> <strong>BOOK</strong> OP POETEY. 157<br />
2 When told to search round Show-yang's base,<br />
Sow-thistles there to find,<br />
The search you'd think a hopeless case,<br />
Nor would the counsel mind.<br />
And so, when men their stories feign,<br />
Do not approve in haste.<br />
Put them aside, put them aside;<br />
Assent should be repressed.<br />
'Tis thus the.stories told by men<br />
Soon unregarded rest.<br />
3 When told Ou th' east of Show-yang hill<br />
For mustard-plants to try,<br />
You'd know the quest would speed but ill,<br />
And let the words pass by.<br />
And so, when meu their stories feign,<br />
No hearing to them lend.<br />
Put them aside, put them aside,<br />
Your faith loth to extend.<br />
JTis thus the stories told by men<br />
Come shortly to an end.<br />
<strong>BOOK</strong> XI.<br />
<strong>THE</strong> ODES <strong>OF</strong> TSfIN.<br />
<strong>THE</strong> State of Ts'in took its name from its earliest principal city,—in<br />
the present district of Ts'ing-shwuy, department of Ts'in-chow, Kan-<br />
suh. Its chiefs claimed to be descended from Yih, or Pih-yih, Shun's<br />
forester, and the assistant, in his labours on the deluge, of the great Yu,<br />
from whom he received the clan name of Ying. Among his descendants,<br />
we are told, there was a Chung-keueh, who resided among the wild<br />
tribes of the west for the protection of the western borders of the king<br />
dom of Shaiig. The sixth in descent from him, called Ta-loh, had a son,<br />
Fei-tsze, who had charge of the herds of horses belonging to king Heaou<br />
(B.C. 908—894), and in consequence of his good services was invested<br />
with the small territory of Ts'in as an attached State. His great-grandson,<br />
called Ts'in Chung, or Cliung of Ts'in, was made a great officer of the<br />
court by king Seuen, in B.C. 826 ; and his grandson again, known in<br />
history as duke Seang, in consequence of his loyal services in 7C9, when<br />
the capital of Chow was moved to the east, was i a'sed to the dignity of an<br />
earl, and took his place amoug the great feudal princes of the kingdom,<br />
receiving a large portion of territory, which included the ancient capital<br />
of the House of Chow.<br />
Ts'in in course of time, as is well known, superseded the dynasty of<br />
Chow, having gradually moved its capital more and more to the east, after<br />
the example of Chow itself in earlier times. The people of Ts'in were, no<br />
doubt, composed of the wild tribes of the west, though the ruling chiefs<br />
may have come originally from the more civilized China on the east.<br />
I.<br />
The Ken Tin; narrative and allusive. CELEBRATING <strong>THE</strong> GKOWIXG<br />
OPULENCE AND STYLE <strong>OF</strong> BOMB L<strong>OR</strong>D <strong>OF</strong> TS'IN, AND <strong>THE</strong> PLEASURES<br />
AND FREEDOM <strong>OF</strong> HIB COURT.<br />
The Preface says the lord of Ts'in here intended was Ts'in-chung,<br />
mentioned in the preceding note. The piece must have been made at an<br />
early time, when the State was emerging from its obscurity and weakness.<br />
1 His many chariots rush along,<br />
Drawn by white-fronted steeds and strong.<br />
When audience now we wish to gain,<br />
His eunuchs' aid we must obtain.