1 On yonder banks a palace, lo! upshoots, The tender blue of southern hill behind; Firm-founded, like the bamboo's clamping roots; Its roof made pine-like, to a point defined. Fraternal love here bear its precious fruits, And unfraternal schemes be ne'er designed!

2 Ancestral sway is his. The walls they rear, Five thousand cubits long; and south and west The doors are placed. Here will the king appear, Here laugh, here talk, here sit him down and rest.

3 To mould the walls, the frames they firmly tie; The toiling builders beat the earth and lime. The walls shall vermin, storm, and bird defy;— Fit dwelling is it for his lordly prime.

4 Grand is the hall the noble lord ascends;— In height, like human form most reverent, grand; And straight, as flies the shaft when bow unbends; Its tints, like hues when pheasant's wings expand.

5 High pillars rise that level court around; The pleasant light the open chamber steeps; And deep recesses, wide alcoves, are found, Where our good king in perfect quiet sleeps.

6 Laid is the bamboo mat on rush mat square;— Here shall he sleep, and, waking, say, "[Tell me] "What dreams are good? For bear and grisly bear, And snakes and cobras, haunt this couch of mine."

7 Then shall the chief [interpreter] glad reply, "The bears foreshow that Heaven [GOD] will send you sons. The snakes and cobras daughters prophesy. These [signs] are all auspicious ones."

8 Sons shall be his,—on couches lulled to rest. The little ones, enrobed, with sceptres play; Their infant cries are loud as stern behest; Their knees the vermeil covers shall display. As king hereafter one shall be addressed; The rest, our princes, all the States shall sway.

9 And daughters also to him shall be born. They shall be placed upon the ground to sleep; Their playthings tiles, their dress the simplest worn; Their part alike from good and ill to keep, And ne'er their parents' hearts to cause to mourn; To cook the food, and spirit-malt [lawful drink] to steep.

VI. The Woo yang

1 Who dares to say your sheep are few? The flocks are all three hundred strong. Who dares despise your cattle too? There ninety, black-lipped, press along. Though horned the sheep, yet peaceful each appears; The cattle come, with moist and flapping ears.

2 These climb the heights, those drink the pool; Some lie at rest, while others roam. With rain-coats, and thin splint hats cool, And bearing food, your herdsmen come. In thirties, ranged by hues, the creatures stand; Fit victims they will yield at your command.

3 Your herdsmen twigs and faggots bring, With prey of birds and beasts for food. Your sheep, untouched by evil thing, Approach, their health and vigour good. The herdsman's waving hand they all behold, And docile come, and pass into the fold.

4 Your herdsmen dream;—fish take the place Of men; on banners falcons fly, Displacing snakes and tortoises. The [interpreter] tells his prophecy:— "The first betoken plenteous years; the change Of banners shows of homes a widening range."

VII. The Tsieh nan shan

1 That southern hill, sublime, uprears its craggy height; Such thou, Grand-master Yin before the nation's sight! Burning with inward grief, none name thee even in jest; Ruin impends, but thou delay'st the needed quest.

2 Sublime that southern hill, with vegetation grand! More awful thou, great Yin, whom as unjust we brand. With pestilence and death, [the wicked] aid disorder's sway; A silent nation frowns thou changest not thy way!

3 On Yin our Chow depends. By justice he should bind Our many States in one, with no disloyal mind, And guide the people right, thus helpful to the king. O [just] Heaven [GOD], that he such woes on all should bring!

4 In him, himself inert, the people put no trust. He, treacherous, from place and council keeps the just. Mean men, unfairly screened, the common weal destroy, And his vile relatives the highest posts enjoy.

5 Oh! were the good in power men's hearts would be at ease, And beneath impartial rule our wranglings soon would cease.

6 O great [merciful] Heaven, our troubles have no close! With every month they grow; men's minds know no repose. My heart with grief is drunk. What weak hand holds the reins? 'Tis Yin's supineness that augments the people's pains.

7 I yoke my steeds long-necked, and through the land I hie. I see the distress on every side; vain the attempt to fly!

8 Here evil rampant bares the spear;—they fight with rage, Then pacified and friends, in revel they engage.

9 This is from [men] unjust. Our king has no repose. Infatuate Yin rejects all counsellors as foes.

10 This song by me, Kea-foo, the king's sad case relates. Would he but change his heart, and nurse the myriad States!

VIII. The Ching yueh

1 On the brow of the summer the hoar-frost abounds; Sorrow's wound rankles deep in my heart, And calumnies base, that the people perplex, Daily waxing, inflict sharper smart. All alone I am placed, none by me to stand; Griefs intense more and more fill my breast. Cares increase and disturb my sorrowful mind; Both in body and soul I'm distressed.

2 O father and mother who bore me, your son, Was it only to suffer such woe? Why was I not born ere these evils arrived? Or why came they ere I am laid low? I hear their good words, which are but from the lip, And their bad words have no deeper seat. So shallow those men! And the more that I grieve, With their fiercer contempt do I meet.

3 With the pang of great misery wringing my heart, Dwell I thus on this comfortless time; For the multitudes all will with me be brought To base servitude, guiltless of crime. And alas for us all in positions more high! From what lord shall I now get support? No more can I tell than,—see yonder a crow Can I tell to whose house 'twill resort.

4 Where the forest once grew, we look, and behold! Faggots only and twiglets are left. To Heaven [GOD] 'midst their perils, the people all look, And lo! Heaven seems of reason bereft. But is Heaven so dark? When its purpose is fixed, To its will opposition is vain. And good is the Ruler supreme, the great GOD! He hates none of the children of men.

5 'Tis only fools say that the mountains are low;— 'Gainst such words each high ridge would protest. And as baseless the talk that is uttered by men, But the king lets it fly unrepressed. To ministers old and [interpreters] of dreams For advice he repairs, but they say, "We are wise; but of crows which is female, which male, To pronounce who can tell you the way?"

6 That the heavens are lofty who is there but knows? Yet beneath them I bow my head low, And that thick is the earth who is there but feels? Yet with dainty steps on it I go. For thus speaking and acting good reason I have, In the conduct of many around, Who originate all those calumnies base, Like the cobra or eft fatal found.

7 Where the fields are rugged and stony, the grain Yet luxuriantly rises and grows. [Affliction] fights against me as if I were its match, Moves and shakes me, and then overthrows. As if I were hidden, they sought me at first, At the court for a pattern to shine. 'Tis with hatred intense they scowl now on me, And my services curtly decline.

8 With its sorrow my heart is deeply oppressed; 'Tis as if with tight string it were bound. Now-a-days those who rule no kindness display; Fierce oppression prevails all around. Blazing flames that spread wide, and terror inspire, May perhaps still be quenched at their height. But our city august, where Chow holds its state, Through this vile Sze of Paou sinks to night.

9 That such issue will come is ever my thought; And moreover, O king, let me say, Like a waggoner you, and fast falls the rain! Heavy load suits but ill miry clay. Wheel-aids you may have, but if these you neglect, And the hands that would help you are spurned, You soon will be crying, "O sir, give me aid," When the car of the State is o'erturned.

10 If your wheel-aids you keep, and get them well plied, That their help they shall give to each spoke, And keep on the driver a vigilant eye, Then your carriage will travel unbroke. Your load will be safe, and your journey will come, Though most rugged and hard, to its end; But these things seem trifles, as looked upon now; To the peril you will not attend.

11 Shallow ponds on the fish small pleasure bestow; To the bottom they dive, and there lie. But the fisherman sharp them clearly perceives, And a prey to his cunning they die. And so, men of worth, in this kingdom oppressed, Little pleasure can ever possess; For hatred pursues them, where'er they may hide. How such things fill my heart with distress!

12 Clear sparkle the [drinks], set forth at their feasts, And the mats with fine viands are crowned. Neighbours there and their kindred in numbers appear, And the halls with their praises resound. So is it with those, the unworthy and base; Such reward by their flattery they gain; While here I am left, and in solitude pine, Struggling hard with my grief and my pain.

13 Though mean, they are gifted with houses and lands; Abjects vile, they their salaries draw; But the people endure a hard, famished lot, And are dealt with by Heaven's sternest law. Rich men may succeed in a time so severe; With their wealth and their stores they can live. But alas for the poor, alone, without help! Should the king not deliverance give?

IX. The Shih yueh che keaou

1 The sun and moon met in the upper sphere, The day Sin-maouw, the tenth month of the year. The moon was new, as she should re-appear, And then the sun, eclipsed, showed evils near. The moon eclipsed before, and now the sun! Alas! we men below shall be undone.

2 These bodies, erring, what is bad make known;— Good men neglected; order all o'erthrown. The moon eclipsed was what full oft takes place; The sun's eclipse portends a sadder case.

3 And flashing levin shows the want of rest, With troubled streams, and tumbling mountain's crest. Large heights subside to vales; deep vales grow hills. Alas! how does the king not stop these ills?

4 Among the ministers great Hwang presides; In all their duties Fan the people guides; Kea-pih administers; Chung-yun is cook; The king's decrees Tsow enters in his book; K'wei regulates the stud; the guards Yu's sphere; The wife, in beauty blazing, has no fear.

5 Great Hwang, determined, his own course pursues, Demands our service, nor enquires our views; Unroofs our homes; our fields makes moor or marsh; And "'Tis the law," he says, "I am not harsh."

6 Far-seeing Hwang has built himself a town. Three ministers are there of wealth o'ergrown. No single chief he left to guard our king, While all its streets with hoof and chariot ring.

7 I dare not my own services report; But slanderous tongues my blameless life distort. Our ills come not from Heaven [GOD], but fawning words And hidden hate, which schemers wield like swords.

8 Far off my village, great my lack of peace, And elsewhere I might go to seek for ease. Others retire, but I shall not be driven From this my post, though dark the way of Heaven.

X. The Yu woo ching

1 O vast and mighty Heaven [GOD], why shrinks Thy love? Thy kindness, erst so great, no more we prove, Sent from above by Thine afflicting hand, Famine and death now stalk throughout the land. O pitying Heaven, in terrors now arrayed, [Great] care, [great] forethought in Thy course displayed, Of criminals I do not think;—they bear The suffering which their deeds of guilt prepare. But there are many, innocent of crime, O'erwhelmed by ruin in this evil time!

2 The honoured name of Chow fades in the past, And, still augmenting, these sore troubles last. Their posts the Heads of offices all leave, While I toil on, none knowing how I grieve! The three great chiefs, and those whom they direct, At dawn and dusk, their businesses neglect. Nor morn beholds at court, nor evening late, The absent lord of each neglected State. If thou would'st turn to good, and banish ill,— But, hapless king, thou sink'st lower still.

3 O glorious Heaven, Thy gift the listening ear, Why justest words will not our monarch hear? Like traveller, from the right path gone astray, He knows not whither leads his devious way. Ye officers, this should your zeal inspire, And fan of duty the expiring fire. Of one another you should stand in awe.— Alas! you heed not Heaven's o'er-ruling law!

4 Deaf to war's lessons, bad he still remains; To famine blind, from good he still refrains. Groom of the Chambers I, and nothing more, Our sad estate I cease not to deplore. Ye officers, coward-like, your duty shun, And to the king the truth will not make known. Whene'er he questions, you give brief reply; When touched by slander, from the court you fly.

5 Bad is the time! Right words awaken hate, Who with his tongue what's in his heart will state Is sure to suffer, while pernicious lies Are gladly heard, and fulsome flatteries. The artful speech flows freely like a stream; At ease the speakers bask 'neath fortune's beam.

6 And difficult the time! Risks manifold Surround the man who office dares to hold. Speak what the king impossible shall deem, And straight his countenance shows angry gleam. Speak what he likes and fain would carry out, And straight your friends look on with scorn and doubt.

7 I say, "Ye officers, come back to court," "We have no houses there," is your retort. My heart is pierced; ensanguined are my tears; My words but rouse the wrath of him who hears. But let me ask, "When homes elsewhere you reared, Who then gave help against the ills you feared?"