I. THE PRAISE OF DUKE WOO,—HIS ASSIDUOUS CULTIVATION OF HIMSELF; HIS DIGNITY; HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

1 How rich the clumps of green bamboo, Around each cove of K'e! They lead my thoughts to our duke Woo;— Of winning grace is he! As knife and file make smooth the bone, As jade by chisel wrought and stone, Is stamp upon him set. Grave and of dignity serene; With force of will as plainly seen; Accomplished, elegant in mien; Him we can ne'er forget.

2 Strong grow the clumps of green bamboo, Around each cove of K'e. They lead my thoughts to our duke Woo;— Of winning grace is he! His ear-plugs are of pebbles fine; And gems like stars bright glittering shine, All o'er his cap of state. Grave and of dignity serene; With force of will as plainly seen; Accomplished, elegant in mien; Him we can ne'er forget.

3 How thick the clumps of green bamboo, Around each cove of K'e! They lead my thoughts to our duke Woo;— Of winning grace is he! Pure as the finest tin or gold, And as the sceptre princes hold So strong, while mild in mood! See him in car with lofty side, Magnanimous and free from pride. His words to jest are oft allied, But never are they rude.

II. A HAPPY RECLUSE.

1 By the stream in the vale his hut he has reared, That man tall and stout, looking free from all cares, He lives all alone; he sleeps, wakes, and then talks;— And ne'er to forget what he prizes, he swears.

2 In the bend of the mound his hut he has reared, That man tall and stout, gay and lightsome of heart. He lives all alone; he sleeps, wakes, and then sings;— He swears from this spot he will never depart.

3 There on that level height his hut he has reared, That man tall and stout, who himself so contains. He lives all alone; he sleeps, wakes, sleeps again;— He swears he'll ne'er tell what in his mind reigns.

III. CHWANG KEANG AS SHE APPEARED ON HER ARRIVAL IN WEI. HER GREAT CONNEXIONS; HER BEAUTY; HER EQUIPAGE; THE RICHES OF TS'E.

1 The lady was of figure large and tall. In broidered robe, hid 'neath a garment plain, A bride, she came from Ts'e's high palace hall, In Wei, as wife of our great lord to reign. 'Gainst her of no inferior birth the stain Could be alleged, sister of Ts'e's great heir. Of other grand alliances a train She could display, for her two sisters fair The highest dignity in Hing and T'an did wear.

2 Like blades of white grass were her fingers fine; Her skin like purest ointment hard congealed; Her neck like larvae on the tree which shine So long and white. Her opening lips revealed Her even teeth, behind their screen concealed, Like melon seeds. Her front cicada-square, Displayed her eyebrows curved upon its field, Like horns of silkworm moth; and dimples rare, With dark and lucid eyes, showed face beyond compare.

3 When, on her coming, near the city wall, She halted in the cultured fields, each eye Viewed with delight her figure large and tall. Her team of mettled steeds their bits tossed high, Round which was twined red cloth in rich supply. Then in her carriage she went on in state, Its pheasant-screens oft followed by the cry, "Early retire from court, ye nobles great; The marquis leave untired, to cherish this fit mate."

4 Where out of Ts'e into our State she passed, Its banks all green with rush and sedges rank, Northwards the Ho rolled on the waters vast Of its majestic stream, while in it sank With plashing sound the nets, which dripping, dank, The toiling fishers dropt into the wave, 'Mong shoals of sturgeon, both the large and lank. Her sister ladies shene in dresses brave, And martial looked the officers, who escort gave.

IV. A WOMAN, WHO HAD FORMED AN IMPROPER CONNEXION, NOW CAST OFF, RELATES AND BEMOANS HER SAD CASE.

1 A simple-looking lad you seemed, When first you met my eye, By most a travelling merchant deemed, Raw silk for cloth to buy. But your true aim was to propose That I should go with you; And through the K'e I went quite free, Until we reached Tun-k'ew. 'Twas then I said, "It is not I, Who would the time delay; Your go-between I have not seen, I must not run away. I pray, Sir, do not angry be; In autumn be the day."

2 When autumn came, then climbed I oft That ruined wall, and gazed Towards Fuh-kwan, my heart all soft, With expectation raised. When you came not, my hapless lot With streams of tears I mourned. At last your longed-for form I saw, And tears to smiles were turned. With words I strove to tell my love, While you averment made That [prayer for guidance] good answer gave. "No more delay," I said. "Your carriage bring; I'll go at once, My goods all in it laid."

3 When on the mulberry tree the leaves All hang in glossy state, The sight is fair. O dove, beware; Its fruits intoxicate. Ah! thou, young maiden, too wilt find Cause for repentance deep, If, by a lover's arts seduced, Thyself thou fail to keep. A gentleman who hastes to prove The joys of lawless love, For what is done may still atone; To thee they'll fatal prove. Thou'lt try in vain excuse to feign, Lost like the foolish dove.

4 When sheds its leaves the mulberry tree, All yellow on the ground, And sear they lie. Such fate have I Through my rash conduct found. Three years with you in poverty And struggles hard I've passed; And now with carriage-curtains wet, Through flooded K'e I haste. I always was the same, but you A double mind have shown. 'Tis you, Sir, base, the right transgress; Your conduct I have known. Aye changing with your moods of mind, And reckless of my mean.

5 Three years of life I was your wife, And laboured in your house; I early rose, late sought repose, And so fulfilled my vows. I never did, one morning's space, My willing work suspend, But me thus cruelly you treat, And from your dwelling send. All this my brothers will not own, At me they'll only jeer, And say I reap as I have sown; Reply they will not hear. In heart I groan, and sad bemoan My fate with many a tear.

6 Together were we to grow old;— Old now, you make me pine. The K'e aye flows within its banks, Its shores the lake confine. But you know neither bank nor shore, Your passions ne'er denied, Back to my happy girlhood's time, With hair in knot still tied, I wildly go; I'll never know Its smiles and chat again. To me you clearly swore the faith, Which now to break you're fain. Could I foresee so false you'd be? And now regret is vain.

V. A DAUGHTER OF THE HOUSE OF WEI, MARRIED IN ANOTHER STATE, EXPRESSES HER LONGING TO REVISIT WEI.

1 With long and tapering rods, You angle in the K'e. I think of you, dear friends, Here far removed from Wei.

2 Ts'euen-yuen upon the left, K'e on the right I view. But married far away, To home I bade adieu.

3 Those streams, this on the right, That on the left, appear. The laugh that shows your teeth, Your tinkling gems, I hear.

4 I watch the cedar oars On K'e, and boats of pine. O might I travel there, And soothe this heart of mine!

VI. PICTURE OF A CONCEITED YOUNG MAN OF RANK.

1 Feeble as branch of sparrow-gourd, this youth, Wears spike at girdle, as if he, forsooth, Were quite a man; but though the spike he wears, He knows not us at whom he proudly stares. How easy and conceited is his mien! How drop his girdle-ends, full jaunty seen!

2 Like leaf of sparrow-gourd, that coxcomb young, With archer's thimble at his girdle hung! He wears the thimble, but he's not the Swell To lord it over us who know him well. How easy and conceited is his mien! How drop his girdle-ends, full jaunty seen!

VII. OTHER THINGS MORE DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME THAN DISTANCE MAY KEEP ONE FROM A PLACE.

1 They tell me that the Ho is wide;— With a few reeds I could cross through. They tell me Sung is distant far;— Rising on tiptoe Sung I view.

2 They tell me that the Ho is wide;— A little boat it will not bear. They tell me Sung is distant far;— Ere morning fades I might be there.

VIII. A WIFE MOURNS OVER THE PROTRACTED ABSENCE OF HER HUSBAND ON THE KING'S SERVICE.

1 How martial looks my noble man, The hero of the land! See him in chariot lead the van, His halberd in his hand!

2 Since eastward on his course he sped, My hair neglected flies. I might anoint and wash my head, But not to meet his eyes.

3 For rain, for rain, the people cry, But brightly shines the sun; So for my absent lord long I, Head pained, and heart undone.

4 Where shall I Lethe's lily find, Behind my house to set? I think of him with aching mind, For how can I forget?

IX. A WOMAN EXPRESSES HER DESIRE FOR A HUSBAND.

1 Lonely, suspicious, is that fox, At that dam cross the K'e. Like him that man, for whom I'm sad! No lower dress has he.

2 Lonely, suspicious, is that fox, At that deep ford of K'e. Like him that man, for whom I'm sad! No girdle-sash has he!

3 Lonely, suspicious, is that fox, There, on the bank of K'e. Like him that man, for whom I'm sad! No clothes at all has he!

X. SMALL GIFTS OF KINDNESS SHOULD BE RESPONDED TO WITH GREATER; WHILE FRIENDSHIP IS MORE THAN ANY GIFT.

1 A tree-gourd they gave me in compliment, And I in return gave a lovely keu-gem. 'Twas not in return for the compliment;— I wished to make lasting my friendship with them.

2 A peach they presented in compliment, And I in return gave a lovely yaou-gem. 'Twas not in return for the compliment;— I wished to make lasting my friendship with them.

3 A plum they presented in compliment, And I in return gave a lovely kew-stone. 'Twas not in return for the compliment;— Our friendship to knit was my motive alone.