Chinese Literature Part 23

Careful he sets his rabbit-nets all round; _Chang-chang_ his blows upon the pegs resound.

Stalwart the man and bold! his bearing all Shows he might be his prince's s.h.i.+eld and wall.

Careful he is his rabbit-nets to place Where many paths of rabbits' feet bear trace.

Stalwart the man and bold! 'tis plain to see He to his prince companion good would be.

Careful he is his rabbit-nets to spread, Where in the forest's depth the trees give shade.

Stalwart the man and bold! fit his the part Guide to his prince to be, and faithful heart.

~The Song of the Plantain-Gatherers~

We gather and gather the plantains; Come gather them anyhow.

Yes, gather and gather the plantains, And here we have got them now.

We gather and gather the plantains; Now off the ears we must tear.

Yes, gather and gather the plantains, And now the seeds are laid bare.

We gather and gather the plantains, The seeds in our skirts are placed.

Yes, gather and gather the plantains.

Ho! safe in the girdled waist!

~The Affection of the Wives on the Joo~

Along the raised banks of the Joo, To hew slim stem and branch I wrought, My lord away, my husband true, Like hunger-pang my troubled thought!

Along the raised banks of the Joo, Branch and fresh shoot confessed my art.

I've seen my lord, my husband true, And still he folds me in his heart.

As the toiled bream makes red its tail, Toil you, Sir, for the Royal House; Amidst its blazing fires, nor quail:-- Your parents see you pay your vows.

BOOK II

THE ODES OF SHAOU AND THE SOUTH

~The Marriage of a Princess~

In the magpie's nest Dwells the dove at rest.

This young bride goes to her future home; To meet her a hundred chariots come.

Of the magpie's nest Is the dove possessed.

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.

~The Industry and Reverence of a Prince's Wife~

Around the pools, the islets o'er, Fast she plucks white Southern-wood, To help the sacrificial store; And for our prince does service good.

Where streams among the valleys s.h.i.+ne, Of Southern-woods she plucks the white; And brings it to the sacred shrine, To aid our prince in solemn rite.

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The service o'er, the head-dress see To her own chamber slow withdrawn.

~The Wife of Some Great Officer Bewails His Absence~

Shrill chirp the insects in the gra.s.s; 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.

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.

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.

~The Diligence of the Young Wife of an Officer~

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.

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.

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.