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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) BOOK IV. - The Shi King, the Old Poetry Classic of the Chinese
BOOK IV. - Misc (Confucian School), The Shi King, the Old “Poetry Classic” of the Chinese [1891]Edition used:The Shi King, the Old “Poetry Classic” of the Chinese. A Close Metrical Translation, with Annotations by William Jennings (London: George Routledge and Sons, 1891).
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BOOK IV.
II. iv. 1.
COMPLAINT OF THE ROYAL GUARDS ON BEING SENT TO THE FRONTIER.
-
- Grand Commander!
- Why be we,—the teeth and talons of the King,—
- Moved about, in miserable case,
- With no longer an abiding place?
-
- Grand Commander!
- Why be we,—the braves, the talons of the King,—
- Moved about, in miserable plight,
- With the end still hidden from our sight?
-
- Grand Commander!
- Surely here is lack of judgment shown.
- Why transport us to this misery,
- Who have mothers managing the meals alone?
II. iv. 2.
“FIGHT WITH THY WISH THE WORLD TO FLEE.”
-
- His spotless snow-white colts shall browse
- (E’en) on my plot of sprouting corn;
- Go tether them, go tie them there,
- For we must lengthen out this morn.
- So be their master made aware
- Here he may rest and banish care.
-
- His spotless snow-white colts shall feed
- Upon my plot of vetches young;
- Go tether them, go tie them them there,
- And so the morning hours prolong.
- So to their master manifest
- That here he is a welcome guest.
-
- Thy spotless snow-white colts and thou
- Came hither, aye, like sunny glint!
- Art thou a duke—art thou a prince?
- And must have freedom without stint?
- ’Ware thou of reckless errantry!
- Fight with thy wish the world to flee.
-
- —(Methinks I see) the snow-white colts
- Within some lone sequestered glen,
- With but one sheaf of new-cut grass,
- (Beside) their master—best of men!
- Yet do not, as one hoarding gems or gold,
- Hold back thy news,—nor let thy heart grow cold.
II. iv. 3.
DISAPPOINTED EMIGRANTS.
-
- Yellow birds, yellow birds!
- Do not crowd the tree-tops;
- Come not pecking our crops.—
- From the folk of this land
- We no welcoming win;
- Up, let us return
- To our country and kin.
-
- Yellow birds, yellow birds!
- —Not the mulberry-trees.
- Come not pecking our maize.—
- With the folk of this land
- Understanding is vain;
- Up, let us return
- To our brethren again.
-
- Yellow birds, yellow birds!
- —Nor the thicket of thorn.
- Come not pecking our corn.
- With the folk of this land
- We can never remain;
- Up, let us return
- To our fathers again.
II. iv. 4.
INHOSPITABLE KINSFOLK.
-
- I took my journey o’er the wilds,
- Where throve the foul Ailantus tree.
- As thou hadst married kin of mine
- I thought to go and stay with thee.
- But since thou thought’st the cost too great,
- Back came I to my clan and State.
-
- I took my journey o’er the wilds,
- And gathered sorrel by the way.
- As thou hadst married kin of mine,
- I thought some nights with thee to stay.
- But since the cost thou canst not bear,*
- Back homewards I again repair.
-
- I took my journey o’er the wilds,
- Plucking the pokeweed as I went.
- Ah, thou forgettest the old ties,
- Now on a new alliance bent.
- E’en if not wealth thy object be,
- ’Tis all the same—thou’rt changed to me.
II. iv. 5.
ON THE COMPLETION OF A NEW PALACE.
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- Where gentle slopes lead to the river’s rim,
- And with South Hill as background, distant, dim,
- (It stands)—firm based like cluster of bamboos,
- With rafters stretching like far-spreading yews.
- When brother comes to brother in this place,
- Let lovingkindness be the aim of each,
- Nor one strive other e’er to overreach!
-
- Lo, he who now the heritage acquires,
- Succeeding to the olden dames and sires,
- Hath here his palace reared, pile unto pile,
- With portals looking to the South and West,—
- His future Seat, his future domicile,
- For sober counsel, as for mirth and jest.
-
- Firmly they fixed the frames, rows straight on rows,
- Loud was the thumping of the pounders’ blows;
- Nor wind nor rain should find admittance there,
- Nor bird nor rat find crevice anywhere;—
- A noble dwelling for our Prince uprose.
-
- Here, grave as human form erect, attent,
- Here, straight as arrow e’er from bow was sent,
- Here, like as when a bird her wings extends,
- Here, like the (bright-plumed) pheasant in his flight;—
- Such is the (audience-hall) our Prince ascends.
-
- All smooth and even are the palace-courts,
- And tall and straight the pillars and supports;
- The (chambers) cheerful, flooded here with light,
- There darkened with recesses, deep and wide;—
- Here shall our Prince in calm content abide.
-
- With rush-mat ’neath him, bamboo-mat above,
- So shall his sleep serene and tranquil prove;
- So shall he sleep, and, when he quits the bed,
- Demand, “Now be my dreams interpreted;
- And whether of these twain good fortune brings:
- For I have dreamt of brown and grisly bears,
- Of vipers too, and other snake-like things.”
-
- When the great Augur then these dreams declares,
- Thus will he answer: “Brown and grisly bears
- Are tokens of the birth to thee of sons.
- And vipers and the other serpents tell
- Of daughters to be born to thee as well.”
-
- And it shall be, whenever sons are born,
- These shall be laid on beds to sleep and rest;
- In loose long robes they also shall be dressed,
- And sceptrelets be given them for their toys!
- And when they cry, what music in the noise!
- Once these shall don the scarlet aprons grand,
- And be the king and princes of the land.
-
- And it shall be, when daughters shall be born,
- These shall be laid to sleep upon the ground;
- In swaddling-bands their bodies shall be bound;
- And pots shall be their playthings. ’Twill belong
- To these to meddle not with right or wrong;
- To mind alone the household drinks and food,
- And cause their parents no solicitude.
II. iv. 6.
ON THE PROSPEROUS CONDITION OF THE KING’S FLOCKS AND HERDS.
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- And who shall say thou hast no sheep?
- Where hundreds three each flock compose.
- Or that no cattle thou dost keep?
- Where ninety show black mouth and nose.
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- Lo, there thy sheep are coming in,
- Horned, yet unused to fight or feud;
- And there thy kine are coming in,
- Their ears with (healthy) moisture dewed.
-
- And some are winding down the hill;
- Some drinking at the pools their fill;
- Some sleep, some wander at their will.
- And now, behold, thy herdsmen come,
- Rain-cloak and large round hat in hand,
- And some with provender behind.
- There, too, thy victims ready stand,
- Sorted by thirties of a kind.
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- Thy herdsmen come, each from his herd,
- With loads of wood and sticks to burn,
- With quarry both of beast and bird.
- Anon thy flocks of sheep return,
- All strong and vigorous and bold,
- All free of ailment, free of harm;
- And at a movement of the arm
- They all betake them to the fold.
-
- And now the herdsmen lie and dream:
- And people all like fishes seem!
- And every snake-and-tortoise-flag
- Is turned into a falcon-flag!
- And the great Augur gives the sense:—
- “The folk as fish” rich years foreshow;
- And “tortoise-flag as falcon-flag”
- Reveals how vast the clans shall grow.
II. iv. 7.
COMPLAINT AGAINST KING YIU AND HIS CHIEF MINISTER YIN.
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- There South Hill rears high its summit,
- Crag on crag, a frowning pile.
- So, dread Chancellor Yin, thou standest,
- All men’s eyes on thee the while.
- Like consuming fire their trouble;
- Fear they even converse light;
- Fast the land to ruin vergeth;
- Why dost thou avoid the sight?
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- There South Hill rears high its summit,
- Yet its slopes have verdure fair.
- So, dread Chancellor Yin, thou standest,
- Yet thy faults who shall declare?
- Heaven is sending trouble on trouble;
- Wreck and ruin far have ranged;
- People hint their disaffection:
- Thou, alas! remain’st unchanged.
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- Yin, the Chancellor of the Kingdom,
- Might be Chow’s chief corner-stone,
- Hold the balances of empire,
- Weld the various parts in one,
- Be the Son of Heaven’s supporter,
- Make men all wrong ways forego;—
- Ah, great Heaven hath no compassion!
- ’Tis not meet to plunge us all in woe.
-
- Thou thyself dost nought in person,
- So men trust not to thy word.
- None consult’st thou, nor employest:—
- Yet betray not thou thy lord;
- Be straightforward, make an end o’t,
- Risk not on mean men our fate,
- Nor give good-for-nought relations
- Best appointments in the State.
-
- Not in justice doth high Heaven
- Send disorders dire as these;
- Not in kindness doth high Heaven
- Send us these great miseries.
- If our rulers did their duty
- They would ease the nation’s heart;
- If our rulers were straightforward
- Hate and anger would depart.
-
- Ah, great Heaven hath no compassion!
- For the tumults never cease;
- Month by month they grow, depriving
- All the people of their peace.
- O, my heart is drunk with sorrow!
- Who will guide the land aright?
- He who rules it not in person
- Leaves the folk in weary plight.
-
- I had put my team in harness,
- Aye, my nobly-crested four;
- Everywhere I looked, but always
- Found distress. No place to flee to more!
-
- Now the evil in you rages,
- And we see you wield the spear;
- Now you are appeased, contented,
- And like pledging host and guest appear.
-
- But high Heaven is not made tranquil;
- And our King is not content.
- While a heart is uncorrected
- Its corrector it will still resent.
-
- Kia-fu wrote this song, exposing
- The disorders of the reign.
- O that change of heart thou showedst,
- And wouldst thus the thousand States sustain!
II. iv. 8.
THE KINGDOM VERGING TOWARDS RUIN.
-
- Hard frost ’neath a summer moon!
- With its sorrow my heart is sore.
- The scandal the people spread
- Is increasing more and more.
- Methinks how I stand alone,
- And the trouble grows hard to bear;
- Ah me for my anxious thought!
- Smothered grief will my health impair.
-
- Ye parents, who gave me life,
- Why thus was I born for pain?
- Not thus was it ere my time,
- Not thus will it be again.
- Words, now, both of praise and blame,
- From the lips (not the heart) proceed;
- And though deeper my sorrow grows,
- Contempt is my (only) meed.
-
- My soul is oppressed with grief
- As I muse on our hapless fate.
- The innocent people all
- Are reduced to the serf’s estate;
- And alas for our worthies here!
- They may seek for place—but where?
- Watch a crow when about to rest;
- To whose roof will the bird repair?
-
- Look there in the forest’s depths;
- Fine logs and poor twigs we find.
- The people, now jeopardized,
- See in Heaven no discerning mind.
- Yet, once be its purpose fixed,
- There is none can against it fight;
- For there is the Most High God!
- —Ah, on whom shall His hate alight?
-
- As if calling a mountain low,
- That has ridges and lofty crest,
- So false are the people’s tales;—
- Are they never to be repressed?
- Go summon those ancient men,
- Ask the tellers of dreams as well—
- —They claim to be sages all—
- “Who the male from the female crow can tell?”
-
- There’s a saying, “Though Heaven be high,
- Yet we dare not but bow the head”;
- And, “Though solid the earth may be,
- Yet we dare not but softly tread.”
- Be these sayings proclaimed aloud;
- Truth and reason are there discerned.
- Ah me! how the men of this time
- Into adders and efts are turned!
-
- Look there at the rough hill-fields,
- Giving promise of wealth of grain.
- Ah! Heaven is rough-handling me,
- As though battling with me in vain!
- These sought me once as their guide,
- As though I were hard to gain;
- Now they have me they hate me sore,
- And my service and help disdain.
-
- My heart in its trouble frets
- As if held in some tight embrace.
- How full is this present reign
- Of tyrannous deeds and base!
- O the fire that rages round!
- Will not some one quench the blaze?
- Our illustrious House of Chow
- Pau-sze to the ground will raze!
-
- This end is my constant fear.
- Thou, as harassed by gloom and rain,
- Art driving,—thy waggon full,—
- And dost brakes to thy wheels disdain.
- Let thy load be but once upset,
- ’Twill be, “Lend me your help, sirs,” then!
-
- Fling never thy brakes away;
- To thy wheels they be useful yet.
- Oft look to thy driver, too,
- And thy load thou wilt ne’er upset;
- And the worst will at length be passed.
- —But—this dost thou aye forget.
-
- When a fish is placed in a pond,
- Little there doth it find to please;
- Deep down it may dive and lie,
- Yet is seen with the greatest ease.
- Ah, deep in my heart lies grief,
- As I think of my country’s tyrannies.
-
- They, there, have the choicest wines,
- They, there, have the daintiest foods.
- And their neighbours sit down with them,
- And their kinsfolk, in multitudes.
- I think how I stand alone,
- And my soul in deep sorrow broods.
-
- There, the men of no mark are housed;
- There, the worthless great riches own;
- While the people lack daily bread,
- And ’neath Heaven’s dire judgments groan.
- With the wealthy ones all is well!
- Woe worth the deserted and lone!
II. iv. 9.
EVIL PORTENTS, EVIL DAYS.
-
- In the tenth month met sun and moon,
- When the calends were sin-mâu;
- Then the sun became eclipsed;—
- Worst of omens was it now!
- There the moon was, yet in shade;
- There the sun was, shaded too;
- Tenants of this lower earth,
- Worst of woes now threatened you!
-
- Sun and moon dire things portend
- When their proper paths they void.
- And no State is rightly ruled
- Where the good are unemployed.
- Yonder moon may be eclipsed,—
- That is no uncommon thing;
- For the sun to be so too,—
- What but evil could it bring?
-
- Thunders crash, and lightnings flash;
- Nought is restful, nought delights;
- Hundred torrents leap and foam;
- Mountain-crags fall from their heights;
- Where were lofty cliffs are chasms,
- Where were deep ravines are hills.
- Ah, these men (in power) to-day!
- Will they now not curb their wills?
-
- With her Counsellor Hwang-fu,
- Minister of Instruction Fan,
- The First Minister Kĭa-pih,
- The Court Caterer Chung-yun,
- Household Secretary Tsau,
- Kwai the Master of the Horse,
- Kiü the Captain of the Guards,—
- Was the handsome wife, the incendiary! in force.
-
- Doth not he, this same Hwang-fu,
- Speak of “times inopportune”?
- Why then so ignore our plans,
- Calling us away (so soon)?
- Gone are all our walls and roofs,
- Fields are very swamps and wastes;
- Yet quoth he, “I hurt you not:
- These are but the laws’ behests.”
-
- Ah, deep-witted is Hwang-fu:
- Builds in Hiang his residence,
- Chooses three as Ministers
- Who, i’ faith, have wealth immense,
- Must not leave one man of worth
- Who might save our king his crown,
- And selects the richest men
- There in Hiang to settle down.
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- I, hard struggling with my work,
- Must my hardships never name.
- Sland’rous tongues make clamour loud,
- Though in nought am I to blame.
- Of the people’s miseries
- Heaven is not indeed the source;
- Fawning words, with hate behind,
- Owe to men such power and force.
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- Long-enduring grief is mine,
- And acute, distressing pain.
- Men all round me are content,
- Downcast I alone remain.
- None but may retire (betimes);
- I alone to ease must not aspire.
- All-impenetrable Will of Heaven!
- Like my friends must I not venture to retire.
II. iv. 10.
FURTHER LAMENTATION, BY AN UNDERLING AT COURT.
-
- Great is Heaven, and far-extending,
- Yet its kindness is not great;
- Death and dearth and famine sending,
- ’Tis destroying every State,
- Bounteous Heaven! now clothed in terror!
- Hath it then no thought, no care?
- Not to speak of those in error—
- Who their punishment now bear—
- Here are others, free from error,
- All in ruin, everywhere.
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- Honoured Chow is extirpated!
- Nought avails to end its woes.
- Leaders have their posts vacated;
- Of my own toils no one knows.
- None of the three Chiefs evinces
- Willing service, soon or late;
- Here the feudal lords and princes
- Morn or eve reluctant wait.
- “Make reforms,” some one commences—
- All yet ends in deeds of hate.
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- How, Great Heaven, compare such doing,—
- Treating weightiest words as air?—
- ’Tis like travellers pursuing
- Ways that end they know not where.
- All ye magnates, one and other,
- Let your self-respect appear.
- Why reveres not each his brother?
- Ah! ye do not Heaven revere.
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- War is rife,—no retraction!
- Famine,—yet no movement made!
- Day by day grows my vexation,
- Though I be of humble grade;
- Ye, the men of high position,
- All are slow to mention facts:
- Each replies—on requisition—
- But when scandalized retracts.
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- Woe the speech that is unskilful!
- He whose words have deeper source
- Than his tongue, but fares the worse
- Well for him whose speech is skilful!
- Stream-like flow of smart address
- Brings a man all good success.
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- It is said, “To be in office
- Means sore trial and jeopardy.
- If one say, ‘This should not be,’
- ’Tis to offend the Son of Heaven;
- If one say, ‘This ought to be,’
- Then offence to friends is given.”
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- Yet return, say I, unto the royal city.
- Ah, but there, say you, we are unhoused.
- Tears of blood I weep in secret for the pity,
- Never speaking but hard thoughts are roused.
- Once, yet, when ye left to live elsewhere,
- Who, then, built the houses for you there?
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i shwuy yun tsăng) is a little obscure, but this is the received interpretation.