I.
ELEGIAC VERSES,
Addressed to the Emperor Tai-kang[16]
by
his five brethren, when, upon his being
dethroned for his vices, they
were driven with him into exile[17]
.
The first Brother.
BY our ancestor YU this law was prescribed
to him that ruleth,
That he should love, not scorn or oppress
the people.
For they [i. e. the people] are the root of
empire,
On whose constancy and strength is founded
the stability of the state.
He, who ruleth over others, resembleth a
charioteer:
But he who harnesseth six horses with decayed
harness,
Ought not he to act circumspectly?
The second Brother.
At home thou art inflamed with lust:
abroad with [the love of] hunting:
With both to extravagance. Thou delightest
in obscene music:
Thou erectest, in the blood of citizens, buildings,
which menace heaven[18]
.
He, who doth these things (however ungrateful
the thought)
I must deem to rush headlong and wilful
to his destruction.
The third Brother.
From the times of Y AU down to the
present,
The imperial house hath flourished in all
kinds of virtue:
Thou hast turned aside the first from the
steps of our ancestors.
Since thou hast overturned all those things,
Wherein their government was happily established,
What wonder that thou thyself art also
fallen?
The fourth Brother.
Illustrious! O our illustrious parents!
Who by their most holy laws, and precepts,
gave light to govern well
To him that should possess a thousand kingdoms.
Alas! how do I grieve, that these dominions,
left to thee and us,
Should be neglected and despised by thee
alone.
Thou art justly fallen from thy kingdom:
who the first [of thy race]
Hast prevented it from descending to thy
posterity.
The fifth Brother.
Alas! how shall we return home!
Sorrow hath eaten up and consumed my
spirit,
TAI-KANG our brother is the public
hatred of the people.
Whither shall I turn myself? To whom
shall I suppliant flee for succour?
Grief hath descended into my heart, more
deeply than I am able to bear!
I am grieved to my inmost soul! my countenance
Is overwhelmed with shame! My heart
wasteth away with anguish!
But this I suffer deservedly, in that I
turned aside from the path of uprightness;
Neither did follow virtue as my guide.
But it is too late to lament, and weep for
the time that is past away.
