Of the magpie's nest

Is the dove possest.

This bride goes to her new home to live;
And escort a hundred chariots give.

The nest magpie wove

Now filled by the dove.

This bride now takes to her home her way;
And these numerous cars her state display.

II.

The Ts'ae fan; narrative. THE INDUSTRY AND REVERENCE OF A PRINCE'S WIFE, ASSISTING HIM IN SACRIFICING.

We must suppose the ladies of a harem, in one of the States of the South, admiring and praising the way in which their mistress discharged her duties.

1 Around the pools, the islets o'er,

Fast she plucks white southernwood,
To help the sacrificial store;

And for our prince does service good.

2 Where streams among the valleys shine,
Of southernwoods she plucks the white;
And brings it to the sacred shrine,
To aid our prince in solemn rite.

3 In head-dress high, most reverent, she
The temple seeks at early dawn.
The service o'er, the head-dress see

To her own chamber slow withdrawn.

III

The Ts'aou-ch'ung; narrative. THE WIFE OF SOME GREAT OFFICER BEWAILS HIS ABSENCE ON DUTY, AND LONGS FOR THE JOY OF HIS RETURN.

1 Shrill chirp the insects in the grass;
All about the hoppers spring.
While I my husband do not see,
Sorrow must my bosom wring.

O to meet him!

O to greet him!

Then my heart would rest and sing.

2 Ascending high that southern hill,
Turtle ferns I strove to get.
While I my husband do not see,
Sorrow must my heart beset.
O to meet him!

O to greet him!

Then my heart would cease to fret.

3 Ascending high that southern hill,
Spinous ferns I sought to find.
While I my husband do not see,
Rankles sorrow in my mind.
O to meet him!
O to greet him!

In my heart would peace be shrined.

IV.

The Ts'ae pin; narrative. THE DILIGENCE AND REVERENCE OF THE YOUNG WIFE OF AN OFFICER, DOING HER PART IN SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS.

1 She gathers fast the large duckweed,

From valley stream that southward flows;

And for the pondweed to the pools

Left on the plains by floods she goes.

2 The plants, when closed her toil, she puts
In baskets round and baskets square.
Then home she hies to cook her spoil,
In pans and tripods ready there.

3 In sacred chamber this she sets,

Where the light falls down through the wall.
"Tis she, our lord's young reverent wife,
Who manages this service all.

The Kan t'ang; narrative. THE LOVE OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE MEMORY OF THE DUKE OF SHAOU MAKES THEM LOVE THE TREES BENEATH WHICH HE HAD RESTED.

The duke of Shaou is mentioned in the preliminary note to this Book. He is here called "the Chief of Shaou" as having been invested with jurisdiction over all the States of the west. In the exercise of that, he had won the hearts of the people, and his memory was somehow connected with the pear-tree which the poet had in his mind's eye, who would therefore make them, as the Chinese often express it, "think of the man and love the tree."

1 O fell not that sweet pear tree!
See how its branches spread.
Spoil not its shade,

For Shaou's chief laid
Beneath it his weary head.

2 O clip not that sweet pear tree!
Each twig and leaflet spare.
'Tis sacred now,

Since the lord of Shaou,
When weary, rested him there.

3 O touch not that sweet pear tree!
Bend not a twig of it now.

There long ago,

As the stories show,

Oft halted the chief of Shaou.

VI.

The Hing loo; narrative and allusive. A LADY RESISTS AN ATTEMPT TO FORCE HER TO MARRY, AND ARGUES HER CAUSE.

It is thought that we have here a specimen of the cases that came before the duke of Shaou.-A lady of Shin was promised in marriage to a man of Fung. The ceremonial offerings from his family, however, were not so complete as the rules required; and when he wished to meet her and convey her to his house, she and her friends refused to carry out the engagement. The case was brought to trial, and the lady made this ode, asserting that, while a single rule of ceremony was not complied with, she would not leave her parents' house.

1 The dew thick on the wet paths lay;

Thither at early dawn my way

I might have ta'en; but I said, "Nay.
"The dew is thick, at home I'll stay."

2 You say the sparrow has a horn.—

How could it else bore through your house?
You say this trial is a proof

That I exchanged betrothal vows.

But though you've made me here appear in court,
Yet at betrothal what you did fell short.

3 You say the rat's teeth are complete.-
How could it else bore through your wall?
You say this trial proves my vows

Of plighted troth were perfect all.

But though to court you've forced me here to come, My will is firm;-I'll not with you go home.

VII.

The Kaou yang; narrative. THE EASY DIGNITY OF THE OFFICERS

AT SOME COURT.

1 Arrayed in skins of lamb or sheep,

With five silk braidings all of white,
From court they go, to take their meal,
All self-possessed, with spirits light.

2 How on their skins of lamb or sheep

The five seams wrought with white silk show!
With easy steps, and self-possessed,

From court, to take their meal, they go.

3 Upon their skins of lamb or sheep

Shines the white silk the seams to link.

With easy steps and self-possessed,
They go from court to eat and drink.

VIII.

The Yin k'e luy; allusive. A LADY'S ADMIRATION OF HER HUSBAND ABSENT ON PUBLIC SERVICE, AND HER LONGING FOR HIS RETURN.

1 Grand in the south the thunder rolls,
Beyond that lofty hill.

Why must he go, nor dare to stay
Brief space at rest and still?
Absent my noble lord I mourn,
May he return! may he return!

2 Grand in the south the thunder rolls
Along that mountain's side.
Why must he go from this, nor dare
Brief time at rest to bide ?
Absent my noble lord I mourn,
May he return! may he return!

3 Grand in the south the thunder rolls,
Around that mountain's base.

Why must he go from this, nor dare
Indulge himself a space?
Absent my noble lord I mourn,
May he return! may he return!

IX.

The Peaou yëw mei; narrative. ANXIETY OF A YOUNG LADY TO

GET MARRIED.

1 Ripe, the plums fall from the bough;
Only seven tenths left there now!
Ye whose hearts on me are set,
Now the time is fortunate!

2 Ripe, the plums fall from the bough;
Only three tenths left there now!
Ye who wish my love to gain,
Will not now apply in vain!

3 No more plums upon the bough!
are in my basket now!

All

Ye who me with ardour seek,
Need the word but freely speak!

The Seaou sing; allusive. THE THANKFUL SUBMISSION TO THEIR

LOT OF THE INFERIOR MEMBERS OF A HAREM.

We have here the description by one of the concubines of the lot of