VIII.
An Ode of Wey-vû-kong, a venerable
old Man of ninety-five: which he
caused to be sung every day at the
gate of the Palace[28]
.
In vain doth human force pretend to establish
a state:
If the lord of heaven doth not lend a 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 morning,
and withereth at night.
A whole nation is corrupted by the example
of a wicked king.