On yonder banks a palace, lo! upshoots,
The tender blue of southern
hill behind;
Firm-founded, like the bamboo’s
clamping roots;
Its roof made pine-like, to
a point defined.
Fraternal love here bears its precious
fruits,
And unfraternal schemes be
ne’er designed!
Ancestral sway is his. The walls
they rear,
Five thousand cubits long;
and south and west
The doors are placed. Here will the
king appear,
Here laugh, here talk, here
sit him down and rest.
To mould the walls, the frames they firmly
tie;
The toiling builders beat
the earth and lime.
The walls shall vermin, storm, and bird
defy;—
Fit dwelling is it for his
lordly prime.
Grand is the hall the noble lord ascends;—
In height, like human form
most reverent, grand;
And straight, as flies the shaft when
bow unbends;
Its tints, like hues when
pheasant’s wings expand.
High pillars rise the level court around;
The pleasant light the open
chamber steeps;
And deep recesses, wide alcoves, are found,
Where our good king in perfect
quiet sleeps.
Laid is the bamboo mat on rush mat square;—
Here shall he sleep, and,
waking, say, “Divine
What dreams are good?
For bear and grizzly bear,
And snakes and cobras, haunt
this couch of mine.”
Then shall the chief diviner glad reply,
“The bears foreshow
that Heaven will send you sons.
The snakes and cobras daughters prophesy.
These auguries are all auspicious
ones.
“Sons shall be his—on
couches lulled to rest.
The little ones, enrobed,
with sceptres play;
Their infant cries are loud as stern behest;
Their knees the vermeil covers
shall display.
As king hereafter one shall be addressed;
The rest, our princes, all
the States shall sway.
“And daughters also to him shall
be born.
They shall be placed upon
the ground to sleep;
Their playthings tiles, their dress the
simplest worn;
Their part alike from good
and ill to keep,
And ne’er their parents’ hearts
to cause to mourn;
To cook the food, and spirit-malt
to steep.”
The Condition of King Seuen’s Flocks
Who dares to say your sheep are few?
The flocks are all three hundred
strong.
Who dares despise your cattle too?
There ninety, black-lipped,
press along.
Though horned the sheep, yet peaceful
each appears;
The cattle come with moist and flapping
ears.
These climb the heights, those drink the
pool;
Some lie at rest, while others
roam.
With rain-coats, and thin splint hats
cool,
And bearing food, your herdsmen
come.
In thirties, ranged by hues, the creatures
stand;
Fit victims they will yield at your command.
Your herdsmen twigs and fagots bring,
With prey of birds and beasts
for food.
Your sheep, untouched by evil thing,
Approach, their health and
vigor good.
The herdsman’s waving hand they
all behold,
And docile come, and pass into the fold.