Book XIX.
57. Chap. I. Hsüan Han [OMITTED].
The scholars hold that in olden days there has been a Golden
Age, which is passed and does not come back owing to the badness
of the times. Wang Ch`ung stands up for his own time, the
Han epoch. He enumerates the lucky portents observed under the
Han emperors, and refers to the great achievements of the Han
dynasty in the way of colonising and civilising savage countries.
58. Chap. II. Hui-kuo [OMITTED].
Wang Ch`ung gives to the Han dynasty the preference over
all the others, and again discourses on the lucky auguries marking
its reign.
59. Chap. III. Yen-fu [OMITTED].
The discovery of gold under the Han dynasty, and of purple
boletus, the sweet-dew-fall in several districts, and the arrival of
dragons and phœnixes are put forward as so many proofs of the
excellence of the Han dynasty.
