Chinese Poetry (with Additions)

Supplementary material from Volume IV of the Hao Qiu Zhuan Wilkinson/Percy translation (1761).

POETRY of the CHINESE. EXTRACTED From a Memoir of M. Freret. In I Hift. de I Acadamie Reyal des Inſerip. & Bell. Let. (Depuis 1711 juſques 1717.) WITH ADDITIONS. « FF\HE Chineſe language is the moſt muſical and harmonious <« of all we are acquainted with; for e the words, which compoſe it, are 0 varied not only by Quantity, or the longer and ſhorter time in which

e they

| | | ' 204 DISSERTATION ON they are pronounced but alſo by « the raiſing and falling of the voice, „ and by various inflections of tones, like thoſe in European muſic tf. Yet the Chineſe have never been ac- „ quainted with a verſification whoſe c cadence is regulated by the arrangec ment or diſpoſition of theſe muſical „ tones. Their verſes have only been

diſtinguiſhed by the number of ſylla-

<< bles, to which at length they have „ added rhymes *. a 6 Their + ſe might be edged that (excepting 5 every word in the CHinęſe language ends, either with a vowel, or with the generous liquid N, or with the naſal ſound N G : which laſt is according to the Portugueſe way of writing, frequentiy expreſſed by M. Bayer, P. Du Halde, P. Le Compte, &c. The words of M. Frirer are, &« Jos mots - - = ont wariez, non ſeulement, c. ais encore par Pelevement et abaiſſinent fixè de la voix et par l venſer infletions de tons ſemblables a celles de norre CHINESE POETRY. 205 «. Their firſt meaſured verſes were always compoſed of four ſyllables

or words: for theſe are ſynonimous

« with the Chineſe, eachof their words 6 being pronounced in one time. Here

4 follows an example extracted from the Shi-king or collection of verſes, 4 one notre muſique. Neanmoins les Chinois Wont famais connu la werſification cadencte par Parrangement de ces tons muſicaux; Leur poefie a ſeulement ete conſacrte par le nombre des ſyllabes, et days la Jaiteo ny a ajoutt Ia rime. Which paſſage Bayerus thus tranſlates in his Ching/e grammar,. „Herba - - valde variantur, non modo, c. - - - - verum etiam in elevatione aut depreſſioue certã et determinatd wacis, et. per warias toni in- Hectiones, ad noſtræ mufice ſimilitudinem. Nihilo magis Sinenſes cognitam habent poefem, quee ſecundum noſtræ muſicæ canatur. Poefis enim eorum lantummodo ad certum fyllabarum numerum inſtituta eft tandem etiam rythmi acceſſerunt.” He afterwards adds by way of remark, Yerum illud et, Sinicæ linguæ modulationem nihil affine habere noftre muſice. Itague Kercherum nobis illuſiſſt opinor, cum accentus ad tonos muſicos noſtros accommodaret. Bayer, tom. 1. 126. 11 Thisi sa dduced here to prepare the ö or 206 DISSERTATION ON « one of the claſſical books, in which % Confucius collected together many ancient pieces of poetry. Theſe are « verſes of the king Yoene Van-li, V.o ene. kheoo. ſbene. miene. Lonh. Sbee. nane. piene. Chi. too. i. ſbingb. Chioo. Hai. tfine. kiene. for the following paſſage of P. Da Halde, which can only be reconciled with that of M. Freret by ſappoſing that by cadencte, and cadence they mean ſomething very different. The verſes [of the Chine/e] are meaſured

by the number of written characters, which

% are fo many words of one ſyllable. Some

of their verſes are long, ſome ſhort ; that is,

% have more or fewer words in them, which „ pleaſe by the variety of their cadence and % harmony.” [Fr. Qui plaiſent par la waricte de la cadence et de] harmonie. N „Their verſes ought to have à relation to each other, both in the rhyme and in the «© fipnification of the words, which have among «© them a variety of tones agreeable to the „ ear.” [Fr. Qi ont enter eux une variets des tons agreable a I oreille.] P. Du Halde, v. 2. p. 146. cc That That is. « Mpile the dragon and the ſerpent are « filent, we perceive no difference : but « at the firſt hiſs they dic harge, we 22e to diſtinguiſb them. « -Tle Chineſe verſes at preſent cont {iſt of an unequal numberof ſylla- « bles, viz. of five, ſeven, or nine : „the ancient verſes of four ſyllables cc being now rejected. The verſes now « in uſe have rhymes, and although the « Chineſe don't diſtinguiſh, as we (Sc. the French) their rhymes into maſculine and feminine, they nevertheleſs s very artificially diſpoſe them in ſuch. poems, as have the rhymes varied; for the Chineſe have pretty long 1 Sy pieces CHINESE POETRY. 207 3=O Y2 IR.

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208 DISSERTATION ON pieces of poetry upon the ſame rhyme, and this kind of verſification is in great requeſt amongſt them. « The ſtanzas are always compoſed of an even number, whether of four, ſix, eight, ten or twelve verſes: but in each of theſe the rhymes are differently diſpoſed according to the nature of the ſtanza, in a regular + ſtated method, from which they never deviate. Thus in Quatrains or «© flanzas of four verſes, the firſt and fourth, the ſecond and third rhyme together. But in Sixtains or ſtanzas © of ſix verſes, the firſt, fourth and fixth rhyme together: the ſecond 85 with third, and the fifth is left free. 8. IavaCHINESE POETRY. 209 Invariable laws of a ſimilar kind are obſerved in the other ſtan-

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66: may* ; « By way of example, we ſhall preſent the Reader with a ſtanza of eight verſes together with a tranſ-

« lation: it is Au Elogium on the willow c tree, extracted from a Chineſe Ro- © mance, which the Sieur Hoangh + a 5 native FThe Reader, who thinks it worth his while, may find a particular deſcription of all the ſeveral ſtanzas, in the Memoir from which this account 1s extracted. | + The Sieur Arcadio Hoangh was one of the Cbine/e Literati of the province of Fo-k:en ; and came over into France in the quality of ſecretary to one of the miſſionary biſhops. Some members of the academy thought he might be of ſervice in facilitating the knowledge of Chine/e literature in Europe, He was accordingly preſented to Louis XIV. and was ſet to compoſe a Chineſ⸗ Vol. IV. P — bd—a 2oa .u OS2 .—=4—A =5ef2 .. l. sx e|: ——ne .

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ENi Yl IWU2 88IbC y-. L 0EN 210 DISSERTATION ON &« nativeo f China had begun to tranſlate into French.“ Lon li bboang y te ku ſbi Tao ine ſiou ſha iao thao bhoa I tiene ſbine hbene iou hiene bb Ki toane giou hhoene pou ſoane ki Neune ſse pe theon ine iou li Hhoa moe chouang hiaa khi von .eu Iu ho pou tai tebune tſane ſzeu l ee ie cbi abi tzeu thon ſhi. grammar and dictionary, in which he was afliſted by M. Faurmont, the Arabic profeſſor : but he died before he had half compleated his undertaking. M. Fourmont however found means to continue the plan of the Sieur Hoangh : and atterwards undertook and finiſhed one more commodious and more methodical of his own. The death of this Chineſe happened between 1714 and 1720, Voi L'Hift. de Þ Acad. Roy. des Inſcript. guarto. Tom. 5. p. 318. Edit. 1729. N. B. It is to the Sieur Hoangh that M. Freret acknowledges himſelf indebted for the account he here gives us of the Chine/e Poetry. \ THE IS T7: ” CHINESE POETRY; 211 THE ELOGIUM ON THE WILLOW TREE attempted in the ſame kind of hana with the original. e Scarce. 2 theg ene bear:5 i tes | ſprays The ſprightly. {ana leatbs in roles of green. _ Blufhing with ſhamet he- gaudy peach 15F on; She ſheds ber Hloſſoms and with ſpleen decays. Soft barbinger ofJ oring /! what * rays„ What colours witht hym odeſt charms.m ay No joI kworm decks thyP ale mo;r c ol app 7b ev elvet down5 hing hy2 7. Thus 5 Ir is very WES that the Clineſs have | 2 ſome 212 DISSERTATION ON Thus far the account of M. Freret: which is correſpondent with that of the miſſionaries, who add ſome other particulars not mentioned in it. They inform us that the Chineſe verſes ought ſome ſpecies of the willow, which we are not acquainted with. It is certain that they cu'tivate this vegetable with the greateſt pains, allowing it a prime place in their gardens, and nurſing flips of it in flower-pots with as much care, as we ſhould the mot delicate flower. See Let. ed. xXxjV. p. 402. &c. P. Du Halde, vol. 1. p. 159. | N B. Although it will ſhew the defects of the above tranſlation, but too plainly : it may be ſatisfactory to ſubjoin the French verſion from whichi t is copied: which we are told comes as near the turn of the Chine/e, as the difference between the two languages would admit. A peine la ſaiſon du printemps eft venite, que le Saule cou ure dune robe verte la couleur jaune de Jon bois. Sa beauté fait honte au picher, qui de depit arrache les fleurs gui le parent et les repand far la terre; Þ eclat des plus wives couleurs ne peut Je comparer aux graces fimples et touchantes de cet arbre. Il previent le printemps, et ſans avoir be/oin des vers d ſeye il revet ſes feuilles et ſes branches d un duet weloute, que cet inſecten @ point file." CHINESE POETRY. 213 to have a particular relation, not only | in their rhymes, but alſo in their ſignification and meaning : thus if one verſe ſignify a mountain, fire, water, or whatever elſe, the correſpondent verſe (as ſuppoſe the het and fourth) muſt likewiſe correſpond in its meaning “. They tell us alſo that they have another kind of poetry without rliyme, which conſiſts in the antitheſis or oppoſition of the thoughts; inſomuch that if the firſt thought relates to the ſpring, the ſecond ſnall turn upon the autumn: or if the firſt mention fire, the other ſhall expreſs water T. In ſhort the more difficult and artificial theit com- P. Semedo, p. 56. P. Du Halde, 2. 146. 1 poſitions 214 DISSERTATION ||O N poſitions are, the more 19 5a re8 25 valued. 0 180 23 Ti 70 To 1 account the Reader of taſte will expectn o great matters from the Chineſe poetry: and yet this. pleafing art hath been no where in higher requeſt, than in Cbina, where it was the firſt-voef thheiirc lmoeral-it y religion and politiancd swh,er e ith ath always been regarded with | peculiar reverencaend eſteem. Nay a facility of compoſing verſes is not only intitled to general applauſbuet, i sa mong the qualifications expected in all their great Doctors and Mandarines of letters. And they have often occaſion to exert FUE" Ke, for the Emperor | q ſomeCHINESE POETRY. 215 | ſometimes ſends them pictures or furniture for them to embelliſh; with poetical inſcriptions *: nor is it unuſual at great entertaiments for the company to divert themſelves with capping extemporaty verſes f. 0 But after A ate Chineſe Poetry ſeems to be chiefly of the epigrammatickind, and to conſiſt of thoſe difficiles age which good taſte and found | criticiſm

See the Chineſ Hiſt. vol. 4. pag. 54. &c.

+ P. Du Hale gives an extract from a Chineſe

author, who inveighing againſt ſuch, as neglect their ſtudies, adds, ** Theſe perſons are

« moſt at a loſs, when a banquet is almoſt over.

“The plate and dice go round that the number of little verſes, which every one ought 0 to pronounce [Fr. chacun doit dire] may be & determined by chance. When it comes to „their turn they appear quite ſtupid. Vol, 24 have a3WRe.7p̃. 2˙s ‚,g n 3. p.—a--7 *g p 216 DISSERTATION ON have taught Europeans to neglect. It does not appear that they have ever attempted any of the greater kinds of Poeſy: this at leaſt is true of the Epic: and it is matter of doubt whether the Dramatic may be exceptefodr- t:h e Chineſe Plays ſeem to be meer proſaic dialogues, interſperſed with a few airs, like the Italian opera,” Their ancient Odes,i tm uſt be confeſſed, have a grave and majeſtic ſimplicity z but if we may judge from the ſpecimens produced by P. Du Halde, they are rather ſolemn lectures onm ac. than fraught

This 3is gürtel true dz thoſe large extracts,

which P. Du Halde has given us from the Shi-4ing or Book of Odes; for this reaſon none of thoſe pieces are admitted into this collection. les P. Du _ vol. I. pag. 4og. &c. with with that bold and daring ſublimity, whichwe expect to find in compoſitions of that name. The only kinds of Poetry that are cultivated much among the Chineſe, are either ſhort pieces, reſembling the Epigrams, Rondeaus and Madrigals of the laſt age: or elſe collections of moral Apothegms, which are their only effays of any length. But in almoſt all their poetidal productions appears a - quaintneſs and affectation; a fondneſs for little conceits; and a want of that noble ſimplicity, which is only to be attained by the genuine ſtudy of nature, and of its artleſs beauties: a ſtudy to which the Cbineſe ſeem to pay the leaſt atten· tion of any people in the world. | 21 And . i

= | = 218 DISSERTATION ON And yet amidſt all the reſtraint and diſguiſe in which falſe taſte may have confined or obſcured it, true genius will exert its powers, ſo that among the Poetroyf the Chineſe, there wilt frequently be found nn to be admired. With this view it was thought fo ſhort a collection as the following would notb e unacceptable to the public: nor are there materials for a much larger. It conſiſts of Fragments, which are found ſprinkledu p and down in a few Latin and French books: which, although they are only occaſionally produced in ſhort extracts, and therefore mult— to great diſad vantage thus disjointed - CHINESE POETRY. 219 disjainted from the context, yet will not perhaps ill-repay the trouble of a ſlight peruſal. After all, we muſt intreat the Reader's candour for whatever imperfections he finds in the following pieces: deſiring himt o conſider that many of them are not ſuch as we would have choſen, had we known wheret o have found better. ——* * ———— 7 i , * 4

F 1

4 _ INTRODUCTION. of E Ae r6a f fromt hew orks f CONFUCIUS *, will be no -. improper. introduction to the ſucceeding = Pages, as it bears ſuch honourable te. - » timony..zo the, maral caſto f the ancient CHINESE POETRY, and contains an argument in favour of: the. utility and reſpe&ableneſs of that fine art in general. It is much to the honour of Poeh, that ſbe bath been in all ages, the firſt N to OE and virtue.

CONFUCIUS exciting his diſ-

„ ciples to the * of the ancient Poeſy, INTRODUCTION. 227 « Poeſy, ſaith, O my children, whyd o not you ſtudy the book of ODE S e For if we grovel on the earth, if w*e lie uſeleſs and inglorious: by e * the inſtructions int he Odes, we may

as if were be erected again, and riſe

45 up to true and perfect honour. “In the Odes, as in a mirrour, we £c Aa may behold what becomes us, as 6 The Odes here ſo highly applauded, are elſewhere called by Confucius, THE THREE HUN. ee ODES OF THE ANCIENT SAGES N11c. Lib. 3. p. 9.] They appear to have been (i ſt vehicles of morality among the Chineſe, and are every where quoted by N as oracles of wiſdom and virtue. The collection, which Confucius made of them, is ſtill extant, and regarded by the C:ine/e with all the reverence due to inſpired writings. P. Du Halde hath given us tranſlations of tome of them: See the note above p. 216. | 1 allo —P2L. T EI EI I ———a 222 INTRODUCTION; d alſo what is miſbecoming: by con- < templating which we may be ſtrongly affected with a wholeſome indig- 66. nation. e! » z VT * RY : 0 we may c come 3 Kade and s aftable, and pleaſant: for as Muſic + <« aptly tempereth ſounds, even ſo doth Poeſy our paſſions and appetites. e ny hate without a we 4 It.m ay not be 6004 to note bars what atten-. tion this great philoſopher thought. due to muſic, and hat influence he ſuppoſed it might have on morality: in which, his ſentiments coincide with thoſe of the ancient Greek philoſophers. «© I hate, fays he, the muſic of the ingdom "y* of:C hing: for it diſturds and enervates with 2 pleaſure that muſic of the ancients called, 7a, „cc which is them iſtreſs of alen. e pag E temperance.” 05 « may INTRODUCTION; 223 66 may admit any other natural ſenſa· « tion, and gratify it without vice ?. „ The Odes teach us how at home « we may ; ſerve our parent: how a- “ broad [we may ſerve] our prince, In another plate, CONFUCIUS addreſſing himſelf to his ſon Pe-yu, ſays, „ Doſt thou exerciſe thyſelf in the « firſt chapters of the Odes, called

Cheu-nan and Chao-nan ? He who

66 doth not exerciſe himſelf in thoſe chapters „This « of hating without anger, &c.“ is a r * of Confucius, and occurs in = 7 other 224 INTRODUCTION. ce chapters is like a man ſtanding with « his face to a wall; he is rendered ec totally inſignificant and uſeleſs, for ce he can neither move a ſtep forward, << nor contemplate any object. other parts of his writings. His meaning is, that we ought to hate the vices of men, though at the ſame time we may ſhew all imaginable kindneſs to their perſons. See this point cleared up in the preface to a little tract called, The morals of Confucius, Lond. 1691. 1216. | FRAGLA FRAGMENT $ F POETRY. A . — r— — ee— —= al SE—ALE D | - N I. ELEGIAC VERSES, Addreſſed to the Emperor Tai-keng * by his five brethren, when, upon his being dethroned for his vices, they were driven with him into exile *. 5 The firſtB rother BY.ou r * 7U this lawW as og | ſcribed tob im that ruleth, 3 Tbat Ld The baniſhment of this Emperor, is dated by the Chine/e <aranolagits, 2159 years before Vor. IV. n _ " the | © Martinij Hil. p. 56. 226 FRAGMENTS OF That he ſhould love, not ſcorn or oppreſi the people. For they Ci. e. the people] are the root of empire, 5 On whoſe conflancy and ſtrengib is founded the ſtability of the ſtate. He, who ruleth over others, reſembleth a charioteer : a 1 But be who harneſſeth fix horſes with decayed harneſs, ns Ought not he to ac circumſpetily? The ſecond Brother. At home thou art inflamed with luſt : abroad with |t he love ] hunting : the Chriſtian Za, that is, about 238 years before the Call of Abraham. And if the Chine/e opinion be true, that theſe verſes were really the compoſition of Tai-kang's brothers, this is the moſt ancient piece of Poetry extant in the world. Vid. Martinij Hiſt. p. 55. 1 With CHINESE POETRY. 227 With both to extravagance, Thou delighteſt in obſcene muſic : Tou erefeſt, inthe blood of citizens, buildings, which menace heaven. He, who doth theſe things (however ungrateful the thought) I muſt deem to ruſh headlong and wilful to bis deſtruftion, The houſes of the Chineſe have from the earlieſt antiquity been built low (generally but one ſtory high) and there is nothing they have in greater abhorrence than any innovation in this matter. P. Le Compte tells us, that he himſelf knew one of the principal lords of the court, who having built a houſe a little higher than cuſtom permitted, was glad a few days after to level it with the ground; when he found that one of the public cenſors was about to lodge a complaint againft him for the enormity. [/Yoi. tom. II. 22.]—Some of the Miſſionaries one day ſhewed the late Emperor Kang:h i the model of an European houſe, which was ſeveral ſtories high: the Emperor aſked, if in Europe they were ſtraightened for room below, that they were forced thus to take up their lodging in the air. Lett. edife fc. xxvij. 33. TM Q'2 : The 228 FRAGMENTS OF The third Brother. From the times of Y AU down to the preſent, The imperial houſe hath 2 in all kinds of virtue: Thou baſt turned afide the firſt flow the ſteps of our anceſtors, N Since thou haſt overturned all thoſe things, Wherein their government Was happily eftabliſbed, What wonder that thou 2 art alſo ; fallen ? The fourth Brother. Jiluftrious ! 2 our illuſtrious parents ! bo by their moſt holy laws, and precepts, . gave light 10S evern: well I ee To CHINESE POETRY. 229 To him that ſhould poſſeſs a thouſand kingdoms. Alas | how do J grieve, that theſe dominions, left to thee and us, Should be —— and deſpiſed by thee alone. Thou art juſtly fallen from thy Ae: : who the firſt [of thy race] Haſt prevented it from deſcending to thy poſterity. The fifth Brother. Aas] how ſhall we return home Sorrow hath eaten up and 2 my ſpirit, TATKANG our brother is the public hatred of the people. | „ Whither © 230 FRAGMENTS OF Whither ſhall I turn myſelf * To whom ſhall T ſuppliant flee for ſuccour ? Grief hath deſcended into my heart, more deeply than I am able to bear Jam grieved to my mnmoſt ſoul ! * countemance 1s overwhelmed with ſhame ! My beart waſteth away with anguiſh |Fo n nd | But this I ſuffer deſervedly, in that 1 turned aſide . the path of uprigbineſs; Neither did follow virtue as my guide. But it is too late to lament, and weep for ße time thati sp aſt away. U. A CHINESE POETRY. 231 II. A CHINESE Panegyric From an ancient Ode. O thee and rare virtue of the= VENVANG®*! | How happily did he unite the Alendor of virtue with all his aftions ? When V ENV ANG added the King, he ne himſelf in univerſal love : This is an ancient Chinęſe hero, highly celebrated by their Poets. He is ſaid to have given his ſon the three following admonitions. Whatever thou ſeeſt, that is virtuous, imitate. Time and opportunity fail not to uſe. To remove and extirpate vice, never coale. * Confuc. lib. 1. p. 10. > Conf. lib.x . Pe 9. | | 8 OS: When + '# ; | - 1 ä8.- 232 FRAGMENTS OP . : iw25”q t. 8ar N renn ben V E N- ANG added the ſubjed, he perfected bimſelf in __ and obſervance. When VE N-V 4 NG adlad the ſou, he perfected himſelf in dutiful obedience: When VE N. ANG adted ihe father, He perfected himſelf in paternal affection. When V E NV A N G had dealings with men in general, he perfected * in en —— III. Verſes CHINESE POETRY. 232 III. Verſes in Praife of UVC UN Prince of the kingdomo f GUEY, From an ancient Ode. Behold that bay, which is formed by the winding of the river KI. Beſet with tufts of verdant canes, how beautifully Iuxuriant | So is our prince adorned with virtues, He is like one, bat carvande ſmtoohtbe th . Tvory. 25

X7 is a river in the province 8 that

gives name to a city, which is watered by its ſtreams. Vid. Mart. Atlas. © Confuc, lib. 1. p. 10. 234 FRAGMENTS OF He is like one that cutteth and poliſheth diamonds *, O how ſublime, yet profound [is bel] O how reſolute, yet cautious! How renowned and reſpectable! We have a prince adorned with virtues : Whom to the end of time we never can forget. EY The Chine/e commentator T/eng-t/# (for the Chine/e have their commentators and ſcholiaſts) explains the fourth and fifth verſes, as expreſſing the unwearied care and attention of this prince to reform and improve himſelf and his ſubjeQs: as a nice artiſt, who deals in works of the moſt elegant kinds, never reſts till he hath brought his manufacture to the moſt exquiſite perfection. Vid. Confuc. lib. I. p. 10. IV. Verſes CHINESE POETRY. 235 Iv. Verſes on a Tyre From an ancient Ode, quoted by the CHINESE Scholiaſt on CO NFUCIUS*. How craggy and broken, riſeth eminent that ſouthern mountain Its aſſemblage of cliffs, how e and Borrid] Thus formidable for thy power and Arn: Thou riſeſt eminent, mighty maſter, royal And all the people lock 5 to thee with awe and terror;

Confuc, lib. 1. p. 27.

„„ But 236 FRAGMENTS OF But not with love; for thou regardeſt not theirs, 73 | But thy own intereſt and welfare. On an amiable Bride. Theſe ſhould ſeem to be part of an Epithalamium, and are of great antiquity, being quoted by CON FUC The peach. tree in the early ſpring : how anmiable ] how lovely! Tis leaves how beſet NET? ! 0 B delighiful ! Such is the new-married bride, when ſhe paſſeth into the houſe of her huſband, © Conf. lib. 1. p. 23. Npere CHINESE POETRY. 2 237 Where fhe dealeth out Weir Portians to bis domeſtics, And diſchargeth every 40 to him a Hic family. Among the ſayings of CO N FU- ' CIUS, are quoted from ſome an- _ cient Poem the following verſes ; + ſpoke by a Perſon in exile, who ſeeing by chance a tree, like ons A in his own Country, is reminded of ſome Friend with whom he had often there ſat under its ſhade . The leaves and flowers of that fruit-bearing tree are continually wafted to and fro with the breathing Zephyrs. How ̃⁵E H R e rCaeT Tn .—I A.

- 2 —

——2 233 FRAGMENTS OF How [then] can I ever ceaſe to think of thee? How can 1 ever but wiſh to ſee thee? £425 Alas ! vain and empty wiſhes! Our reſpeftive dwellings are far aſunder. VII. A Fragment of an ancient Ode, quoted by CONFUCIUSs, The yellow bird abideth on the erg of - the woody mountain. | By abiding there, ſhe ſheweth ſhe is acquainted with her proper ſtation. Why will not man imitate the bird ? Bayer. Muſeum Sini, tom. 1. P. 132. VIII. An ' CHINESE POETRY. 239 VIII. An Ode of Me. vũ. kong, a venerable old Man of ninety-five: which he cauſed to be ſung every day at the 1 of the Palaceb . In vain doth human force pretend to eftabliſh a fate: If the lord of beaven doth not lenda hand to ſtrengthen it, it tumbleth at the firſt ſhock, It is a water, which, not far from its ſource, Loſeth itſelf, and is dried up in the firſt Sand of the plain. It is a flower, which is blown in the morn» ing, and withereth at night. A whole nation is corrupted 2 the example of a wicked king. b P, Du Halde, vol. 1. P. 646. |

M .Y

—21—— uCrgr¾tea oü smo. n ——⅛ ————— Moa > —=2 ————

i * 240 FRAGMENTS OF On the Divine Juſtice. Heaven is ſuf remeiy de We cannot deceive it. Its knowledge of things here below doth ni commence | The inſtant itH inetb forth,a nd lettetby us y that it knoweth them. Virtue and vice ever remain, the one without reward, ihe other alan puniſo ment. : Thos i as diſpute, but about the time; | ſooner, or later it muſt come to poſs. +, Du Halde, 2. 155 · CHINESE POETRY. 241 | On curbing the Paſſions k. By guarding againſt all violent paſſions, 4 man leadeth a ſtweet and agreeablel ife, Free from the e. which deftroy health. Net that T would Blame the Abs love; Hah bindethR O and Jon,o r uniteth | brethren; They are to each other, what the branches of the tree are to the trunk. This love ought to endure as much as the mutual relation.

P. Du Halde, 2. 167.

Vol. IV. XI. n 24 FRAGMENTS OF XI. On Detraction i. When 1 bear evil ſpoken of anather, it groah me as much pain, 4 if ſharp thorus were Piercing vy Beart. | When I bear another commended, it gives me as much pleaſure, | As the exquiſite ſmell of the moſt fragrant

P, Du Hale, 2. 95.

CHINESE POETRY. 243 on the Cultivation of the Heart *. When the rice hath ſpring up, the buſbandman tranſplanteth it into a = newly cleared: And ſoon after by introducing a — ; water, he ſeeth in this green inundated Feld, the image of a clear . Our beart is the feld: itb ath its attire and riches, when the paſſions are pure and regular. The ſure means of attaining —a ofp erfettion, and a fign that we advance towards it, is not to be conceited, and boaſt we bave attained to it. = p. Du Hal2d. e 166. R 2 XXIII. On 244 FRAGMENTS OF XIII. On the Revolutions of Families ”. Theſe verdant mountains :t heſe lovely meadows

|

Vere once poſſef edb y2 now gone to decay. Let not tbe preſent poſſeſ ors exult too much: Otbers after them may be maſters in their P. Du Halde, 2. 51. 2 ol . e XIV. Againſt CtIINESE POETRY. 245 || XIV. Againſt Extravagance a M [ACHINES E Author, ſpeaking of 100 the extravagant ſplendor, with which 0 | his Countrymen celebrate ſome of N their feſtivals; adds, One would bi 4 be apt to ſay, that the money em- bl e ployed on theſe occaſions was like |; , e the leaf of a tree taken from a |9 « vaſt foreſt; or like a grain of = Go corn taken from a large grana- NJ « ry.“ There needs no more than [i A marriage to ruin the beſt houſes, j It is becauſe they don't read what < 1s ſaid by the Poet, — I— xw e———- i r

9 P. Du Halde, 2. 64. | A In 246 FRAGMENTSO F In the marriages of theſe ſort of families, every body crieth out that the houſes are of fuer. Wait but a few years longer, both the man and bis fortune ſhall be overturned. The jewels and filver ſhall have paſſed away into another family *, The ſame writer proceeds to condemn the like extravagance in 8 upon which occafion he introduces the following, I re- «« member to have ſeen in the province of

K;ang-/i, the houſe of the noble and learned

the wood was covered with its bark; the walls

& were of dry rough ſtorie. Yet he was viſited « by every body of diſtinction, and ſaw none,

who found fault with his lodging.” P. Du

XV. Among CHINESE POETRY. 247 XV. Among the Poems of Tii-Chao-lin, is the following Song *. N great Men of this world, do nos laugh at that poor peaſant, Who hath only coarſe veſſels of common. earth to conthaisi winne , ; Ss Aud who poureth ito ut bim{rif that bem ay drink it: 15 Whiege 7 N . veſtso g ola,n d nun. yo area i anb ynu mberso f faves : © When you have drunk 1 after your fafpron, 7 P. Du Halde, 2.99 6 Ee R 4 if 248 FRAGMENTS OF If both of you chance to be intoxicated, Ze will ſleep together without _— under the ſame tree. A deſcription of a fine day after rain *. The dark and rainy weather, which preceded, gave a new luſtre to the ſun; who bad not been ſeen for many days. A hundred different ſorts of birds, enlivened and diverſified the groves. © Infinite numbers of butterflies, fluttering over the flowery 'beads of the peachtrees fanned by the "_ zepbyrs, 0 ed a ſplendid attire. 7 he flowers Picking to the branches and | F. Du Halde, 2,159. uot CHINESE POETRT. 249 not yet faded, bung the gardens with their tapeſtry. All the youths of the city ſcattered over the plain made a charmingf ight: Each was filled with joy, and gave * wp to feaſ and banquets. XVII. On che Detection of a bad man. The cormorant appeareth black, when ſpringing up, he — off the ſnow, | ꝛobich covered bim. | _ The parrot, hidden ii na buſhy willow tree, is taken notice of, when be beginneth to chatter.

P. Da Hald2e. 1,65 . ES ek WAS

| ELA XVIII. On 250 FRAGMENTS OF XVIII. On an old man killed by accident *, The man diſappeared here below, like the Which towards morning, hurrieth in an inſtant bebind the mountain. Life is lite a lamp, which, the oil Failing, —_— out at the third watch* , » The Ching divide the vight iinrt o five parts or watches, which are longer or ſhorter according to the ſeaſon of the year. See on this head, P.Du Ha lde, 2. 159. XIX. On CHINESE POETRY. 251 XIX. On a perſon failing home after long abſence *, The heart, eagerly bent, flieth to the1 5 like an arrow. , The bark runneth along the ava; a Iban the ſhuttle Over the loom of @ weaver, who is in 55 to finiſh his work. 1 P. Du Halls, 3. 11. . | XX. Extract 252 FRAGMENTS OF XX. Extract from a Poem intitled, The Age infruted,” T Alas |h ow many people, in theſed ayse, undier a human ſhape, Conceal a heart as full of venom, as ſerpents! Who among them remembereth, that the hes of heaven, Which are more active than the motion of a wheel, 149 Look on alſli des, and notbing caneſcape them. That, which one man ſome months ago ſtole from his neighbour in the w:}t, This appears from P. Du Halar to be a work of conſiderable length. See Vel. 2. b 88. | P. e a CHINESE POETRY. 25 3 1sp aſſed byt his time out of his hands into thoſe of his neighbour towards the north. In vain doth any one flatter * that by bis artifices, He ſhall be able to make his fortune at the expence of bis neighbour. 7 Bis pretended fortune is no more durable, Iban the Norvers, Which we ſee open in the morning, and ſhed their leaves in the evening. : Allriches,that are unlawfully acquired, melt lte a ſnow ball, in the bands of their. Poſſeſſor. XXI. A 254 FRAGMENTS, Kc. 8 ee A CHINESE FABLE”. [The kingof T SU being informed 5 the great reputation of the philoſopher CHI ANG-TSE, deputed certain Mandarines of his court with rich preſents of gold and filk, to invite him to come and take upon him the office of Prime-Miniſter. CHW ANG-TSE excuſed himſelf by the following fable, C A beifer, appointed for ſacrifite, and delicately fed for @ leg time, marchedi n pep," loaded with all the ornaments of 4 wviftim : in the midſt of her triumph, ſhe perceived on the road ſome oxen yoked and | ſweating at the plough. This fight redoubled her pride: but when ſhewas brought into the temple, and ſaw the knife lifted up ready to flay ber, ſbe wiſhed to be in the place of thoſe, who ſe unhappy lot foe had deſpiſed. P. Du Halde, 2. þ. 168. 3 A POS TF255 —— th ti th "I" . 1 nth. —_— * —— — amn, 5 EX TRACT from P. Du Halde, vol. a oF. 68 &© With reſpect to the Poetry of the Chi.

neſe, beſides their ancient books, ſome of

&« which are in verfe, the poems of Kiui-- v are extremely delicate and ſweet. Under the dynaſty of the Tang, the Poets Lee-tſau- „ pe and Tu: te- muey did not yield to Anacreon „ and Horace: in ſhort in China, as former- &« ly in Zurope, the philoſophers are Poets, „ and among all their celebrated writers, « T/jeng-nanfgo o is the only one, who has © not written in verſe, for which reaſon he « is compared to the flower Hay-tang, which c would be perfect were it not inſipid.” _ ce Their Poets have Enthuſiaſm : their excc preſſions are often al| legori© cal; and * they % know how to employ properly theg s cu which render a ſtyle more lively and pa- 5 thetic.” e 5

This dynaſty began Anzo Chriſti 618 and ended

Arno gob. 1

wh 7

256 POST S Ir. In a blank page of the Tranſlator $ . f Ms. of the Chineſe Hiſt. is the follow- BF ing liſt, dated Canton, 1720. C red Chingſe Poets. Lee-Tay-peh, lived about 700 years ago. Tong-ghee-chang about 400 ä Chun-Pu-ſpaw, and Cbam - Kam Tzuen os __ Kai ghee, about 50 5 5 Famous Chineſe Painters, who lived goo years ago. TTa ng-Pegb-Hoe, Kiow-ſhe-Tchow, | T chauw-T au. a THE END OF THE CHINESE POETRY.

Hao Qiu Zhuan/en-wilkinson/Chinese Poetry

Chinese Poetry (with Additions)

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