THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

162 THE BOOK OF POETEY. [PAET I.
duke Muh, after playing an important part in the north-west of China for
39 years. The Tso"-chuen, under the sixth year of duke Wan of Loo,
makes mention of Muh's requiring the three officers here celebrated to be
buried with him, and of the composition of the piece in consequence.
The " Historical Records " say that the barbarous practice began with
duke Ching, Muh's predecessor, and that in all 170 individuals were
buried with Muh. The death of the last distinguished man of the Ts'in
dynasty, the Emperor I., was subsequently celebrated by the entombment
with him of all the inmates of his harem.
1 They flit about, the yellow birds,
And rest upon the jujubes find.
Who buried were in duke Muh's grave,
Alive to awful death consigned ?
'Mong brothers three, who met that fate,
'Twas sad the first, Yen-seih, to see.
He stood alone; a hundred men
Could show no other such as he.
When to the yawning grave he came,
Terror unnerved and shook his frame.
Why thus destroy our noblest men,
To thee we cry, O azure Heaven !
To save Yen-seih from death, we would
A hundred lives have freely given.
2 They flit about, the yellow birds,
And on the mulberry trees rest find.
Who buried were in duke Muh's grave,
Alive to awful death consigned ?
'Mong brothers three, who met that fate,
'Twas sad the next, Chung-hang, to see.
When on him pressed a hundred men,
A match for all of them was he.
When to the yawning grave lie came,
Terror unnerved and shook his frame.
Why thus destroy our noblest men,
To thee we ciy, O azure Heaven !
To save Chung-hang from death, we would
A hundred lives have freely given.
BE XI. VI.] THE BOOK OP POETEY.
3 They flit about, the yellow birds,
And rest upon the thorn trees find.
Who buried were in duke Muh's grave,
Alive to awful death consigned ?
'Mong brothers three, who met that fate,
JTwas sad the third, K'een-foo, to see.
A hundred men in desperate fight
Successfully withstand could he.
When to the yawning grave he came,
Terror unnerved and shook his frame.
Why thus destroy our noblest men,
To thee we cry, O azure Heaven !
To save K'een-foo from death, we would
A hundred lives have freely given.
Another version. By W. T. Mercer.
1 The birds, the yellow birds, are rife,
And flit about the jujube bloom ;
Not so who doomed to death in life,
Must lie within the ducal tomb.
Yen was a man above all men,
He was more than a hundred brave;
But scared was his look,
And he trembled and shook,
When he came to the great man's grave.
Why thus destroy our noblest men ?
To thee we cry, O azure Heaven !
For to redeem the life of Yen
A hundred lives we would have given.
2 The birds, the yellow birds, are rife,
And all the mulberry blossom stir;
Not so, who, doomed to death in life,
Must lie in duke Muh's sepulchre.
Chung was a man above all men,
Ay—more than a hundred brave;
But scared was his look,
And he trembled and shook,
As he stood by the great man's grave.
Why send our highest to the grave ?
To thee we cry, thou azure Heaven !
11*
163