The Tséeh Nan Shan

That southern hill, sublime, uprears its craggy height ;
Such thou, Grand-master Yin, before the nation’s sight.
Burning with inward grief, none name thee even in jest ;
Ruin impends, but thou delay’st the needed quest.

Sublime that southern hill, with vegetation grand !
More awful thou, great Yin, whom as unjust we brand.
With pestilence and death, Heaven aids disorder’s sway;
A silent nation frowns ;—thow changest not thy way!

On Yin our Chow depends. By justice he should bind
Our many States in one, with no disloyal mind,
And guide the people right, thus helpful to the king.
O cruel Heaven, that he such woes on all should bring !

In him, himself inert, the people put no trust.
He, treacherous, from place and council keeps the just.
Mean men, unfairly screened, the common weal destroy,
And his vile relatives the highest posts enjoy.

Great Heaven, unjust, the land exhausts with all these
Great Heaven, unkind, these woes upon it ceaseless
Oh! were the good in power, men’s hearts would be at peace !
And ’neath impartial rule, our wranglings soon would cease.

O great unpitying Heaven, our troubles have no close!
With every month they grow; men’s minds know no repose.
My heart with grief is drunk. What weak hand holds the reins ?
’Tis Yin’s supineness that augments the people’s pains.

L yoke my steeds long-necked, and through the land I
From the distress on every side vain the attempt to fly !
Here evil rampant bares the spear ;—they fight with
Then pacified and friends, in revel they engage.

This is from Heaven unjust. Our king has no repose.
Infatuate Yin rejects all counsellors as foes.

This song by me, Kea-foo, the king’s sad case relates.
Would he but change his heart, and nurse the myriad
States !