I. The Koh heu; narrative. THE EXTREME PARSIMONIOUSNESS EVEN OF WEALTHY MEN IN WEI.

1 Thin cloth of dolichos supplies the shoes, In which some have to brave the frost and cold. A bride, when poor, her tender hands must use, Her dress to make, and the sharp needle hold. This man is wealthy, yet he makes his bride Collars and waistbands for his robes provide.

2 Conscious of wealth, he moves with easy mien; Politely on the left he takes his place; The ivory pin is at his girdle seen; His dress and gait show gentlemanly grace. Why do we brand him in our satire here? 'Tis this,—his niggard soul provokes the sneer.

II. The Hwun tseu-joo; allusive. AGAINST THE PARSIMONIOUSNESS OF THE OFFICERS OF WEI.

1 Where near the Hwun damp is the ground, The sorrel-gatherers are found, To eke their scanty food. Such arts that officer displays, (Whose elegance exceeds all praise;) In him they are not good. Charged with the cares of State, we look to find His conduct show a higher style of mind.

2 On the Hwun's banks the poor are found, Who pluck the mulberry leaves around, A little gain to make. In grace and beauty like a flower, That officer himself doth lower, Such small mean ways to take. The cars of State to marshal is his charge;— Strange such high post his mind should not enlarge!

3 Where the Hwun bends to join the Ho, For ox-lip leaves the people go, Some nourishment to find. That officer we gem-like call, Yet shrinks he not from ways as small, To greed too much inclined. The ruler's kindred he has for his care;— Should he not show a loftier character?

III. The Yuen yew t'aou; allusive. AN OFFICER TELLS HIS GRIEF BECAUSE OF THE MISGOVERNMENT OF THE STATE, AND HOW HE WAS MISUNDERSTOOD.

1 A fruit, small as the garden peach, May still be used for food. A State, though poor as ours, might thrive, If but its rule were good. Our rule is bad, our state is sad, With mournful heart I grieve. All can from instrument and voice My mood of mind perceive. Who know me not, with scornful thought, Deem me a scholar proud. "Those men are right," they fiercely say, "What mean your words so loud?" Deep in my heart my sorrows lie, And none the cause may know. How should they know, who never try To learn whence comes our woe?

2 The garden jujube, although small, May still be used for food. A State, though poor as ours, might thrive, If but its rule were good. Our rule is bad, our state is sad, With mournful heart I grieve. Methinks I'll wander through the land, My misery to relieve. Who know me not, with scornful thought, Deem that wild views I hold. "Those men are right," they fiercely say, "What mean your words so bold?" Deep in my heart my sorrows lie, And none the cause may know. How can they know, who never try To learn whence comes our woe?

IV. The Chih hoo; narrative. A YOUNG SOLDIER ON SERVICE SOLACES HIMSELF WITH THE THOUGHT OF HOME.

1 To the top of that tree-clad hill I go, And towards my father I gaze, Till with my mind's eye his form I espy, And my mind's ear hears how he says:— "Alas for my son on service abroad! He rests not from morning till eve. May he careful be, and come back to me! While he is away, how I grieve!"

2 To the top of that barren hill I climb, And towards my mother I gaze, Till with my mind's eye her form I espy, And my mind's ear hears how she says:— "Alas for my child on service abroad! He never in sleep shuts an eye. May he careful be, and come back to me! In the wild may his body not lie!"

3 Up the lofty ridge I, toiling, ascend, And towards my brother I gaze, Till with my mind's eye his form I espy, And my mind's ear hears how he says: "Alas! my young brother, serving abroad, All day with his comrades must roam. May he careful be, and come back to me, And die not away from his home!"

V. The Shih mow che heen; narrative. THE STRAITS OF THE PEASANTRY OF WEI.

1 Among their ten acres of mulberry trees, The planters move idly about at their ease. "Ho! back," says a courtier, "and let us join these!"

2 Beyond their ten acres of mulberry trees, The planters move idly about at their ease. "Away," says a courtier, "and join us with these!"

VI. The Fah tan; allusive. AGAINST THE IDLE AND GREEDY MINISTERS OF THE STATE. CONTRAST BETWEEN THEM AND A STALWART WOODMAN.

1 K'an-k'an upon the sandal trees The woodman's strokes resound. Then on the bank he lays the trunks His axe brings to the ground; The while the stream goes rippling by, Its waters cool and clear. You work not so, O Wei's great men, From me the truth now hear. You sow no seed; no harvest tasks Your soft hands take in charge; And yet each boasts three hundred farms, And stores the produce large. You never join the hunt's halloo, Nor dare to share its toils; Yet lo! your wide courtyards are seen Hung round with badgers' spoils. I must conclude that woodman rude A man of higher style. To eat the bread of idleness He feels would stamp him vile.

2 K'an-k'an upon the sandal wood The woodman's strokes resound, Then by the river's side he lays What fit for spokes is found; The while the river onward flows, Its waters clear and smooth. You work not so, O Wei's great men, From me now hear the truth.— You sow no seed; no harvest tasks Your dainty fingers stain; And yet each boasts three million sheaves;— Whence gets he all that grain? You never join the hunt's halloo, Nor brave its ventures bold; Yet lo! your wide courtyards display Those boars of three years old. I must conclude that woodman rude A man of higher style. To eat the bread of idleness He feels would stamp him vile.

3 K'an-k'an resound the woodman's strokes Upon the sandal wood; Then on the river's lip he lays What for his wheels is good; The while the river onward flows, Soft rippled by the wind. That you don't work, O Wei's great men, Is thus brought to my mind. You sow no seed; no harvest tasks Your soft hands undertake; Yet grain each boasts, three hundred binns;— Who his that grain did make? You never join the hunt's halloo; Your feeble courage fails; Yet lo! your wide courtyards display Large strings of slaughtered quails. I must conclude that woodman rude A man of higher style. To eat the bread of idleness He feels would stamp him vile.

VII. The Shih shoo; metaphorical. AGAINST THE OPPRESSION AND EXTORTION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF WEI.

1 Large rats, large rats, let us entreat That you our millet will not eat. But the large rats we mean are you, With whom three years we've had to do, And all that time have never known One look of kindness on us thrown. We take our leave of Wei and you; That happier land we long to view. O happy land! O happy land! There in our proper place we'll stand.

2 Large rats, large rats, let us entreat You'll not devour our crops of wheat. But the large rats we mean are you, With whom three years we've had to do; And all that time you never wrought One kindly act to cheer our lot. To you and Wei we bid farewell, Soon in that happier State to dwell. O happy State! O happy State! There shall we learn to bless our fate.

3 Large rats, large rats, let us entreat Our springing grain you will not eat. But the large rats we mean are you, With whom three years we've had to do. From you there came not all that while One word of comfort 'mid our toil. We take our leave of you and Wei; And to those happier coasts we flee. O happy coasts, to you we wend! There shall our groans and sorrows end.