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• Introduction to the Shi King. *
• Part I.: Characteristics of the States.
• Book I.: The Odes of Chow and the South. *
• Book II.: The Odes of ShÂu and the South. *
• Book III.: The Odes of P‘ei.
• Book IV.: The Odes of Yung. *
• Book V.: The Odes of Wei.
• Book VI.: The Odes of the Royal Domain. *
• Book VII.: The Odes of Ch‘ing. *
• Book VIII.: The Odes of Ts‘i. *
• Book IX.: The Odes of Wei. *
• Book X.: The Odes of T‘ang. *
• Book XI.: The Odes of Ts‘in. *
• Book XII.: The Odes of Ch‘in. *
• Book XIII.: The Odes of Kwai. *
• Book XIV.: The Odes of Ts‘Âu. *
• Book XV.: The Odes of Pin. *
• Part II.: The Minor Festal Odes.
• Book I.
• Book II.
• Book III.
• Book IV.
• Book V.
• Book VI.
• Book VII.
• Book VIII.
• Part III.: The Greater Festal Odes.
• Book I.: The “wĂn Wong” Decade. *
• Book II.: The “shang Min” Decade.
• Book III.: The “tang” Decade.
• Part IV.: Festal Hymns and Songs.
• Book I.: The Hymns of Chow. * First Section.
• Book II.: The Hymns of Chow. Second Section.
• Book III.: The Hymns of Chow. Third Section.
• Book IV.: The Festal Songs of Lu. *
• Book V.: The Festal Odes of Shang.

BOOK XII.

THE ODES OF CH‘IN.*

I. xii. 1.

A PLEASURE-LOVING OFFICIAL.

• • O the master’s truauting!
  • There on Yun-hill’s shoulder.
  • Jovial is he, true, but wins
  • Praise from no beholder.†
• • Down below at Yun-hill’s foot
  • We may hear his drummers;
  • Still he waves the egret-plumes,‡
  • Winter’s day or summer’s.
• • On the roads around Yün-hill
  • Porcelain drums they beat him;§
  • Winter, summer, ne’er without
  • Egret-fan we meet him.

I. xii. 2.

THE YOUNG FOLKS’ HOLIDAY.

• • Now under the East-gate elms,
  • Now under Yün-hill’s oak-trees,
  • The maid of the clan Tse-chung
  • Romps idly about at ease.
• • The day that was fixed is fine,
  • To the South Moor all repair;
  • “No plaiting of hemp to-day,
  • But frolicking at the fair.”
• • The day for the trip is fine,
  • And there with the crowd goes she.
  • “I see thee—my blushing rose,
  • With a pepper-spray for me!”

I. xii. 3.

CONTENTEDNESS.

• • Below my rude and crazy door,
  • ’Tis mine to lounge at leisure,
  • And while my purling fountain flows
  • To bear my wants with pleasure.
• • And needs one, for a meal of fish,
  • A bream from out the Ho, then?
  • And needs one, if a wife he wish,
  • For a Kiang of Ts‘i to go, then?
• • Or needs he, for a meal of fish,*
  • A carp from those same waters?
  • Or, for a wife, to take a Tse,—*
  • One of the Sung’s proud daughters?

I. xii. 4.

A TRYSTING-PLACE.

• • She well might use the East-gate moat
  • To steep her hemp along.
  • And there my fair and graceful queen*
  • Might join with me in song.
• • The East-gate moat to steep her flax†
  • Convenient place would be.
  • And there my fair and graceful queen
  • Could meet and talk with me.
• • So might she use the East-gate moat
  • To steep her couch-grass too.
  • And there my graceful queen and I
  • Our converse might renew.‡

I. xii. 5.

THE BROKEN TRYST.

• • The willows by the Eastern gate
  • Their wealth of leaves are showing.
  • The gloaming was the trysted time,
  • The daystar now is glowing.
• • The willows by the Eastern gate
  • With glossy leaves are teeming.
  • The gloaming was the trysted time,
  • The daystar now is gleaming!

I. xii. 6.

A WARNING.

• • There are thorn-trees by the lych-gate,*
  • O, an axe to lay them low!
  • Here is one of graceless habits,
  • As the country well doth know;†
  • Well doth know, yet ne’er he pauseth;
  • From of old it hath been so.
• • There are plum-trees by the lych-gate,
  • Screech-owls haunting every tree.
  • Here is one of graceless habits,
  • Let this song his warning be.
  • Should my warning be unheeded,
  • Ruin may bring thoughts of me.

I. xii. 7.

WHO LURED MY LOVE AWAY?

• • The dyke retains the magpie’s nest,
  • The brae the bright wild-pea.
  • But oh! what anguish fills my breast!
  • Who lured my Love from me?
• • Fair tiles adorn the temple-path,
  • Bright ribbon-plants the brae.
  • But oh! my heart! what pain it hath!
  • Who lured my Love away?

I. xii. 8.

LOVE’S CHAIN.

• • O moon that climb’st effulgent!
  • O ladylove most sweet!
  • Would that my ardour found thee more indulgent!
  • Poor heart, how dost thou vainly beat!
• • O moon that climb’st in splendour!
  • O ladylove most fair!
  • Couldst thou relief to my fond yearning render!
  • Poor heart, what chafing must thou bear!
• • O moon that climb’st serenely!
  • O ladylove most bright!
  • Couldst thou relax the chain I feel so keenly!
  • Poor heart, how sorry is thy plight!

I. xii. 9.

DUKE LING’S VISITS TO THE LADY OF CHU-LIN.*

• • “What takes me” (say you) “to Chu-lin?”
  • I seek Hià-nan.†
  • ’Tis not a visit to Chu-lin:
  • I seek Hià-nan.
• • Come put my team of four abreast;
  • Out on the wilds of Chu we’ll rest.
  • There put my team of young ones to—
  • My breakfast I will eat at Chu.

I. xii. 10.

LOVE’S GRIEFS.*

• • By the margin of the mere
  • Rush with lotus-flower may dwell.
  • Handsomest of men is here,—
  • How shall I my trouble tell!
  • Waking, sleeping,—no repose—
  • Stream the tears from eyes and nose.
• • There they stand beside the mere,
  • Rush and king-cup, side by side.
  • Handsomest of men is here,
  • Tall, robust, in manhood’s pride.
  • Waking, sleeping—both are vain,
  • For my heart’s core feels the pain.
• • By the margin of the mere
  • Rush with mallow may combine.
  • Handsomest of men is here,
  • Tall, robust, of presence fine.
  • Waking, sleeping—all unrest—
  • Tossing on my back and breast.

[* ]Ch‘in was a marquisate in the present province of Ho-nan, given originally by King Wu (1121-1114 bc) to Mwan, his chief potter, who claimed descent from the Emperor Shun. Mwan is known as Duke Hu. His capital was built around, or near, the Yun-hill mentioned in the two first pieces.

[† ]Lit., is without regard.

[‡ ]Egret-plumes, or fans, were used in dancing (see I. vi. 3).

[§ ]The body of these drums was of porcelain or earthenware.

[* ]Kiang was the clan name of the ruling House of Ts‘i, and Tse that of the ducal House of Sung.

[* ]Ki, strictly one of the House of Chow, but often used as a euphemism.

[† ]This is in the original another species of hemp. The three varieties of plants mentioned—out of which clothing-material was made—were probably cut and prepared at different seasons.

[‡ ]“Renew” is not in the text, but the argument I have adopted would suggest it as understood.

[* ]Lych-gate, lit., “tomb-gate,” whether a gate of the city leading to a cemetery, or the cemetery-gate, is doubtful. The opening lines in each stanza are ominous of evil.

[† ]Evidently the person held some important position in the State.

[* ]This Ode brings us down to the time nearest of all to that of Confucius. Duke Ling ruled in Ch‘in bc 612-598. Chu-lin, or Chu, was a city of Ch‘in, where resided Hià-ki, a daughter of Duke Muh of Ch‘ing, now married to an officer of Ch‘in. Duke Ling’s intrigues with this lady were notorious.

[† ]Hià-nan was the lady’s son. The duke excuses himself, saying he seeks only the son’s companionship. The son afterwards murdered him. The whole story connected with this intrigue is to be found in the Tso-chün, and the Ode is only interesting to those who are acquainted with that history.

[* ]The writer, according to Chu-Hi, is a woman.