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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 II.

II. ii. 1.

MISSING.

II. ii. 2.

MISSING.

II. ii. 3.

SONG OF THE GUESTS AT COUNTRY FEASTS.

• • Finest fish the baskets line,*
  • Roach and parr.†
  • And our host hath right good wine,
  • And great store.
• • Finest fish the baskets line,
  • Bream and rudd.
  • And our host hath store of wine,
  • And right good.
• • Finest fish the baskets line,
  • Carp and ray.
  • And our host hath right good wine,
  • Fine display.
• • And of (other) things great store!
  • See how grandly in they pour!
• • And these (other) things, right good!
  • Blending, aye, as blend they should.
• • So, too, have they fine display,
  • And in season all are they.

II. ii. 4.

MISSING.

II. ii. 5.

THE WELCOME OF GUESTS.

• • Good fish* men find in the South,
  • And shoals are caught by the net.—
  • The worthy master hath wine;
  • Good guests, then feast with him, all well met!†
• • Good fish men find in the South,
  • And shoals are caught in the creel.—
  • The worthy master hath wine;
  • Good guests, enjoy then the cheering meal!
• • The trees bend low in the South;
  • Sweet gourds all over them wind.—
  • The worthy master hath wine;
  • Good guests, then feast, with a gladsome mind.
• • The doves were scattered in flight,
  • Then all together they drew.—
  • The worthy master hath wine;
  • Good guests, then feast, and the feast renew!

II. ii. 6.

MISSING.

II. ii. 7.

THE PRINCE TO HIS MINISTERS.

• • On the hills in the south the sedges* grow,
  • And the orach on those of the north.
  • The delight of my life are ye, good sirs,
  • For the State is built up on your worth.
  • The delight of my life are ye good sirs;
  • May ye live through myriad—yea, countless years!
• • On the hills in the south are the mulberry-trees,
  • And the willow on those of the north.
  • The delight of my life, good sirs, are ye,
  • Whence the light of the land shines forth.
  • The delight of my life, good sirs, are ye;
  • May your years through unnumbered æons be!
• • On the hills in the south the medlars grow,
  • On the hills in the north the plum.
  • The delight of my life are ye, worthy men,
  • And to you as to parents men come.
  • The delight of my life are ye, worthy men;
  • May your virtuous fame ne’er fail men’s ken!
• • On the hills in the south is the varnish-tree,
  • On the north ones wood for the bow.
  • The delight of my life, good sirs, are ye,
  • And the honours of age ye show.
  • The delight of my life, good sirs, are ye;
  • May the fame of your worth spread gloriously!
• • On the hills in the south is the honey-tree,
  • On the northern the sycamore.
  • The delight of my life, worthy sirs, are ye,
  • And are ye not wrinkled and hoar?
  • The delight of my life, worthy sirs, are ye;
  • (Heaven) defend and maintain your posterity!

II. ii. 8.

MISSING.

II. ii. 9.

THE KING TO THE FEUDAL PRINCES.

• • Strong grows the southernwood, and fast,
  • Bespangled with the dew.*
  • My noble guests I see at last;
  • Light beats my heart anew.
  • Now to the feast and to the merry jest!
  • And so shall glad content fill every breast.
• • How grows the southernwood apace
  • Moist with its dewy load!
  • My noble guests are come, to grace
  • And brighten my abode.
  • Upright and good, with ne’er a taint of blame,
  • Long life be yours, and unforgotten fame!
• • Strong grows the southernwood, and fast,
  • With heavy dewdrops wet.
  • My noble guests I see at last;
  • Eat, drink your fill, be all well met!
  • And let all brothers live as brothers should!
  • Long life and joy await the nobly good!
• • Yea, well the southernwood must thrive
  • That dew so rich sustains.
  • My noble guests I’ve seen arrive
  • With the long dangling reins!
  • Their bells before and aft* made music fine!
  • May thousand blessings on them all combine!

II. ii. 10.

THE SAME.—AT THE FEAST.

• • Heavy, heavy lies the dew;
  • Till the sun shines must it stay.
  • Drink ye all your fill to-night:
  • Till well drunk† must none away!
• • Heavy, heavy lies the dew
  • On the meadows richly grassed.
  • Drink ye all your fill to-night:
  • In my chamber‡ drink your last.
• • Heavy, heavy lies the dew
  • On the willows, on the thorns.
  • Noble men are here, and true:
  • None but Virtue’s path adorns.
• • Like those monarchs of the wood,§
  • That with grace their fruit display,
  • Are my lords, at happy ease:
  • None but acts in courtliest way.

[* ]I take liu rather as an adjective than a verb—“fine,” “elegant,” &c.

[† ]Some of the fish here named are not quite the same as in the original, but as everything there seems sacrificed for the sake of rhyme so here. It will also be observed that the adjectives, &c., describing the wine are all again applied in the same order to the other portions of the feast.

[* ]The two words signifying good fish are also a name given to the barbel. I retain the former meaning because of the apposition intended with “good guests.”

[† ]The piece, being complimentary to both host and guests, was probably sung by the musicians and taken as coming from them.

[* ]The trees in this piece are not all identified; nor is it at all clear what their mention is intended to suggest.

[* ]Probably the dew is to represent the princes, and the plant the king.

[* ]“Wo,” bells in front of the carriage; “lwan,” bells at the horses’ bits.

[† ]In the sense of “when they have well drunk.”

[‡ ]There seems to have been a custom of drinking the last cup in the king’s private apartment.

[§ ]Two trees are mentioned in the text, thought to be the Paulownia Imperialis, and a hardwood tree like the Brazilian kingwood.