INTRODUCTION.
THE following extract from the works
of CONFUCIUS[12]
, will be no
improper introduction to the succeeding
pages, as it bears such honourable testimony
to the morul cast of the ancient
CHINESE POETRY, and contains
an argument in favour of the utility
and respectableness of that fine art in
general. It is much to the honour of
Poesy, that she hath been in all ages,
the first conductress to wisdom and virtue.
"CONFUCIUS exciting his disciples
to the study of the ancient
Poesy, saith, O my children, why do
not you study the book of
ODES[13]
?
"For if we grovel on the earth, if
we lie useless and inglorious: by
the instructions in the Odes, we may
as it were be erected again, and rise
up to true and perfect honour.
"In the Odes, as in a mirrour, we
may behold what becomes us, as
also what is misbecoming: by contemplating
which we may be strongly
affected with a wholesome indignation.
"Under the influence of the Odes
we may come forth sociable, and
affable, and pleasant: for as Music[14]
aptly tempereth sounds, even so doth
Poesy our passions and appetites.
"We may hate without anger, we
may admit any other natural sensation,
and gratify it without vice
[15]
.
"The Odes teach us how at home
we may serve our parent: how abroad
[we may serve] our prince.
In another place, 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
doth not exercise himself in those
chapters is like a man standing with
his face to a wall; he is rendered
totally insignificant and useless, for
he can neither move a step forward,
nor contemplate any object."