'Mong brothers three, who met that fate, 'Twas sad the third, K‘ëen-foo, to see. A hundred men in desperate fight Successfully withstand could he. When to the yawning grave he came, Terror unnerved and shook his frame. Why thus destroy our noblest men, To thee we cry, O azure Heaven! To save K‘ëen-foo from death, we would A hundred lives have freely given. [NOTE.--The incident related in this poem occurred in the year B.C. 620, when the duke of Muh died after playing an important part in the affairs of Northwest China. Muh required the three officers here celebrated, to be buried with him, and according to the "Historical Records" this barbarous practice began with duke Ching, Muh's predecessor. In all, 170 individuals were buried with Muh. The death of the last distinguished man of the Ts‘in dynasty, the Emperor I, was subsequently celebrated by the entombment with him of all the inmates of his harem.] IN PRAISE OF A RULER OF TS‘IN What trees grow on the Chung-nan hill? The white fir and the plum. In fur of fox, 'neath 'broidered robe, Thither our prince is come. His face glows with vermilion hue. O may he prove a ruler true! What find we on the Chung-nan hill? Deep nook and open glade. Our prince shows there the double _Ke_ On lower robe displayed. His pendant holds each tinkling gem, Long life be his, and deathless fame! THE GENEROUS NEPHEW I escorted my uncle to Tsin, Till the Wei we crossed on the way. Then I gave as I left For his carriage a gift Four steeds, and each steed was a bay. I escorted my uncle to Tsin, And I thought of him much in my heart. Pendant stones, and with them Of fine jasper a gem, I gave, and then saw him depart. BOOK XII _The Odes of Ch‘in_ THE CONTENTMENT OF A POOR RECLUSE My only door some pieces of crossed wood, Within it I can rest enjoy. I drink the water wimpling from the spring; Nor hunger can my peace destroy. Purged from ambition's aims I say, "For fish, We need not bream caught in the Ho; Nor, to possess the sweets of love, require To Ts‘e, to find a Keang, to go. "The man contented with his lot, a meal Of fish without Ho carp can make; Nor needs, to rest in his domestic joy, A Tsze of Sung as wife to take." THE DISAPPOINTED LOVER Where grow the willows near the eastern gate, And 'neath their leafy shade we could recline, She said at evening she would me await, And brightly now I see the day-star shine! Here where the willows near the eastern gate Grow, and their dense leaves make a shady gloom, She said at evening she would me await. See now the morning star the sky illume! A LOVE-SONG