This is another of the pieces of king Seuen's time, and the expedition celebrated in it is assigned to the second year of his reign, B.C. 825 or 826. The earl of Shaou who commanded in it is the same whose services at the formation of the State of Shin are commemorated in ode 5.

The mention of the Keang and Han together indicates to us their point of junction at the present Han-k'ow. The first earl of Shaou, duke K'ang, received the principality of Yen, but a branch of the family had remained in the royal domain, holding the appanage of Shaou; and it is some increase of this, which is promised to earl Hoo.

1 On grandly flowed the Keang and Han;
As grandly moved our mighty force.
We rested not, nor idly strayed;

Straight to the Hwae we held our course.
Forth all our cars of war had come;
Unfurled, our falcon banners flew.
We rested not, nor were remiss,—
Marshalled the Hwae tribes to subdue.

2 Again come to the mighty stream,

The troops in martial splendour shone.
Of the whole land to order brought

Announcement to the king had gone,
Peace through the hostile region reigned;-
The king's State breathed, and was at rest.
The battle-strife no longer raged,

And quiet filled the royal breast.

3 The king had charged our Hoo of Shaou, Where the two streams their waters join :"Go, open all the country up;

As law requires, its lands define.

I would not have those tribes distressed,
But this State must their model be.
Their lands, in small and larger squares,
Must stand, far as the southern sea."

4 And now thus says at court the king :-
"Great lord, your work is nobly done.
Your ancestor was their support,

When Wan and Woo received the throne..

Compared with them, a child am I ;

You are the great duke's worthy heir.

Grand has your merit now appeared;

Your happiness shall be my care.

5 "This jade libation-cup, and jar

Of flavoured spirits, now receive.
For further grant of hills and streams,
I've asked our cultured founder's leave.
More than your sire received in Shaou,
These in K'e-chow to you I give."
Hoo, grateful, bowed his head, and said,
"Great son of Heaven, for ever live!"

6 He bowed, then rose, and loud proclaimed
The gracious goodness of the king,
And vowed he still would do his best,

That through the land Shaou's praise should ring. "Yes, live for ever, son of Heaven,

Display thy wisdom, spread thy fame!

Thy civil virtues still go forth,.

Till all the realm shall bless thy name!"

The Chang woo; narrative.

IX.

CELEBRATING AN EXPEDITION OF KING SEUEN AGAINST THE MORE NORTHERN TRIBES OF THE HWAE,-ITS IMPOSING PROGRESS AND COMPLETE SUCCESS.

The king accompanied this expedition in person, but entrusted the actual command of the army to an officer of experience,-a descendant of Nan Chung, who is celebrated, in II. i. VIII., as doing good service against the Hëen-yun in the time of king Wăn. He was styled Hwangfoo, and a minister, with the same style, is mentioned, in II. iv. IX., as a bad and dangerous man in the time of Yew, Seuen's son and successor. He may have been a son of the commander in this expedition.

"The chief of Yin" was Yin Keih-foo, with whom we are now familiar. He appears here as "Recorder of the Interior," or secretary to the king, and transmits his orders to Hew-foo, earl of Ch'ing, a district in the royal domain, who was Seuen's minister of War, and would act in the expedition under Hwang-foo as second in command.

Seu was one of the nine provinces into which Yu is said to have divided the China of his time, covering nearly all the present Këang-soo, and portions of Shan-tung and Ngan-hwuy. The land of Seu, where the tribes against which this expedition was directed were found, would only occupy a small part of the province,-probably what is still called Seu Chow in Keang-soo.

1 Nan Chung's descendant, Hwang the Great,
Grand-master, now draws near
Before the king, and to him straight
The king's charge, loud and clear,

Comes thus:" My armies six forth call;
What war requires make ready all;-

South we our course direct.
Your duties reverently fulfil,
And wary be lest our good will
Those southern States reject."

2 Next to the chief of Yin 'twas said :-
"Charge Hew-foo, earl of Ch'ing,
The ranks to range, and warning dread
Make through the host to ring.
Our march along the Hwae's bank lies;
Against Seu must our enterprise
Rapid and sure be made.

Delay we brook not, nor to hold
The land we take, lest the threefold
Work in the fields be stayed."

3 The son of Heaven calm, trustful was,
Majestic in his strength.

His troops advanced, no crowded mass,
Nor lines of broken length.

From stage to stage, as on they went,
The land of Seu with terror rent,
Its people all unmanned.

As when men hear the thunder's roll,
Or sudden crash, and quake in soul,
So now shook all the land.

4 The king aroused his martial might,
As he were moved with rage.

His tiger-chiefs he sent to fight;
And eager to engage

Well named were they! Along Hwae's banks
Soon grandly moved the royal ranks.

A captive crowd was held. Securely kept the country round, No rebel hosts a passage found, Succour to Seu to yield.

5 Numerous the legions, moving fleet,
As if on wings they flew;

Grand as the Keang and Han, when meet
Their mingled streams the view.

Solid as mountain mass they seemed,
And brightly as the river gleamed,
Whose waters ceaseless rush.
Continuous, in order sure,
Inscrutable, success secure,

They marched revolt to crush.

6 The king's plans truthful and sincere,
Seu's tribes at once sought peace.
Its chiefs assembled all; their prayer
Was for the royal grace.

And quickly by the son of Heaven
Was order to the country given;

In solemn court he shone.

Before him came the chiefs, and swore

That they would break their faith no more.
"The war," he said, "is done."

X.

The Chen jang; narrative, and allusive in the last stanza. THE

WRITER DEPLORES THE MISERY AND OPPRESSION THAT PREVAILED, AND INTIMATES THAT THEY WERE CAUSED BY THE INTERFERENCE OF WOMEN AND EUNUCHS IN THE GOVERNMENT.

This piece will not suit the reign of any other king but Yew, and stt. 3 and 4 were, no doubt, directed specially against Paou Sze and her creatures in the palace. The form in which the writer expresses his sentiment, however, is too general, and not sufficiently guarded,

1 To Heaven I look with longing eye,
But only meet its angry frown.
In restless trouble long we lie,

And great afflictions still come down.
Throughout the realm is nothing firm;
Both high and low are in distress.
In palace and in court they swarm,
Whose ravages the land oppress.
Wrapt in the net of crime we groan;
Nor peace nor cure comes to our moan.

2 You now, O king, possess the lands,

Which as their own men once could claim;
And chiefs, who led their faithful bands,

Are stript of wealth, and brought to shame.

Men blameless, free from slightest taint,
Within that fearful net are snared;
While others walk without restraint,
Whose guilt is openly declared.

3 A wise man builds the city wall;

But a wise woman throws it down.
Wise is she? Good you may her call ;-
She is an owl we should disown!
To woman's tongue let length be given,
And step by step to harm it leads.
Disorder does not come from Heaven;

'Tis woman's tongue disorder breeds. Women and eunuchs! Never came Lesson or warning word from them!

4 Hurtful and false, their spite they wreak;
And when exposed their falsehood lies,
The wrong they do not own, but sneak,
And say, "No harm did we devise."
Thrice cent. per cent. ! Why that is trade,
And would the wise man but disgrace.
Public affairs to wife and maid

Must not silk-worms and looms displace.

5 Why is it Heaven thus sends reproof?
Why have the Spirits ceased to bless?
From the wild Teih you keep aloof,
And me would in
your wrath
oppress.
Omens of ill you slight, though rife;
Nor for your outward bearing care.
The good fly from the scene of strife;
Ruin impends, and blank despair.

6 Heaven's awful net o'erhangs the land, Full of more woes than tongue can tell. The good retire on every hand.

What sorrows in my bosom swell! Near and more near the net of Heaven! Soon will its meshes all enfold.

Good men are from their duties driven,

And how can grief of mine be told?