666
Illustrations of Men and Things in China.
TRANSLATION OF Soo Hwer's ODE.
DEC.
When you received his majesty's commands to quiet the distant frou-
tier,
Going with you to the river's bridge, we there bade our sad farewell: Restraining my grief and hiding my tears, I left with you this word: "O do not forget my love and affection, nor tarry long away.'
Who would have guessed that since you left, not a word should I
receive.
Have you thought that to your lone wife e'en the spring is bleak and
cold?
At the foot of the gemmeous stairs the greensward is left unmown, And our nuptial chamber with dust and webs is all o'erstrown. Even now, when I speak of our farewell, my soul with dread doth
start,
And my mind revolves what I would be my lord again to see. One time, to be the deep sea moon, I much desire,
And then to be the cloud upon the mountain's brow is my heart's wish: For the giddy mountain clouds for aye my husband's face do meet, And the deep sea moon year by year shines down upon the land
abroad.
The first flying here and flying there, reach my beloved's place; And at thousands and ten thousand miles, you see each other's face. Far far along the distant road, the mountain pass while us dividing, Do I bemoan my lord, who now beyond the marches, so long has
absent been.
At the time you left, when we bade good-bye, the leaves of the reeds.
were yellow;
Who then would have thought, that the plum would have blossomed
its boughs so oft?
Each kind of flowers, scattering its leaves abroad, has met the early
spring:
The time of genial spring, doth urge men to commune: but to whom
shall I turn ?
The pendent willows cover the ground, which for you I oft pull down, The falling flowers bestrew the earth, which none do sweep away: Before the hall, the vernal herbage grows most rich and fragrant. Taking the lute of Tsun in my arms I turn me to the pictured hall, Where for your sake, I try to thruin the ballad of departed friends. Sending my inmost thoughts away, they reach the northern bounds- The northern bounds-how far they are, o'erpassed the hills and
streams.
!