The Hwan-lan; allusive. OF RANK. VI. PICTURE OF A CONCEITED YOUNG MAN It is of no use trying, as many Chinese critics do, to find a historical application for the subject of this piece. The spike at the girdle was of ivory, worn for the purpose of loosening knots. It belonged to the equipment of grown-up men, and was supposed to indicate their competency for the management of business, however intricate. The archer's thimble was also made of ivory; it was placed on the thumb of the right hand, to assist in drawing the bow. A ring of jade is now often employed for the same purpose. 1 Feeble as branch of sparrow-gourd, this youth, Were quite a man; but though the spike he wears, 2 Like leaf of sparrow-gourd, that coxcomb young, How easy and conceited is his mien ! How drop his girdle-ends, full jaunty seen! VII. The Ho kwang: narrative. OTHER THINGS MORE DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME THAN DISTANCE MAY KEEP ONE FROM A PLACE. This little piece is referred to a daughter of Seuen Këang (iii. IX.) who was married to duke Hwan of Sung. After bearing a son, she was divorced, and returned to Wei. By and by that son became duke of Sung, and she wished to return to that State, but submitted to the rules of propriety, which forbade her doing so ;-intimating, however, her maternal longing in these two verses, which are supposed to be greatly to her honour. 1 They tell me that the Ho is wide; With a few reeds I could cross through. 2 They tell me that the Ho is wide ;- They tell me Sung is distant far; Ere morning fades I might be there. VIII. The Pih he; narrative, and metaphorical. 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, I might anoint and wash my head, 3 For rain, for rain, the people cry, 4 Where shall I lethe's lily find, I think of him with aching mind, IX. The Yew hoo; metaphorical. A wOMAN EXPRESSES HER DESIRE FOR A HUSBAND. The woman certainly does so in a singular way; but in this interpretation of the piece all the critics agree; while the older ones find in it a condemnation of the government of Wei, which certainly does not appear in it. 1 Lonely, suspicious, is that fox, At that dam cross the K'e. Like him that man, for whom I'm sad! 2 Lonely, suspicious, is that fox, At that deep ford of K'e. Like him that man, for whom I'm sad! 3 Lonely, suspicious, is that fox, Like him that man, for whom I'm sad! No clothes at all has he! X. The Muh kwa; metaphorical. SMALL GIFTS OF KINDNESS SHOULD BE RESPONDED TO WITH GREATER; WHILE FRIENDSHIP IS MORE THAN ANY GIFT. When Wei was nearly extinguished by the Teih, duke Hwan of Ts'e, as the leading prince among the States, came grandly and munificently to its help; and Maou finds in this piece the grateful sentiments of the people of Wei towards him. If this be the correct interpretation, Hwan's all but royal munificence and favour is strongly represented by the insignificant present of a fruit. Choo compares the piece with iii. XVII., and thinks it may refer to an interchange of courtesies between a lover and his mistress. But we need not seek any particular interpretation of it. What is metaphorically set forth may have a general application. 1 A tree-gourd they gave me in 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. BOOK VI. THE ODES OF THE ROYAL DOMAIN. By the 66 Royal Domain we are to understand the territory attached to Loh, or the eastern capital of Chow. At the beginning of that dynasty king Wǎn occupied the city of Fung, in the present district of Hoo of the department Se-gan, Shen-se, from which his son Woo moved the seat of government a little further east to Haou, 30 le south of the present district city of Ch'ang-gan, in the same department. In the time of king Ch'ing, a city was built near the present Loh-yang, Ho nan, and called "the eastern capital." Meetings of the princes of the States assembled there, but the court continued to be held at Haou, till the accession of king Ping, who removed it to Loh in B.C. 769. From this time the Chow kings sank nearly to the level of the princes of the States, and the poems collected in their domain were classed with "the Lessons of Manners," though still distinguished by the epithet of Royal, prefixed to them. I. The Shoo le; narrative. AN OFFICER DESCRIBES HIS MELANCHOLY AND REFLECTIONS ON SEEING THE DESOLATION OF THE OLD CAPITAL OF CHOW. 1 Where the palaces rose grand, When Chow nobly ruled the land, 2 Where the palaces rose grand, All around abundant grew. Slow the fields I wandered through, 3 Where the palaces rose grand, The Keun-tsze yu yih; narrative. THE FEELINGS OF A WIFE ON THE PROLONGED ABSENCE OF HER HUSBAND ON SERVICE, AND HER LONGING FOR HIS RETURN. 1 The gudeman's awa, for to fecht wi' the stranger, Help thinking o' my man that's gane? 2 The gudeman's awa, for to fecht wi' the stranger, The hens gae to reist, an' the beests to their manger, |