The Neglected Eastern States

Once supped we from well-laden trenchers,
And thornwood spoons bent to the loads!
'Twixt here and Chow, worn smooth as whetstones,
And straight as arrows, were the roads.

Thereon the great officials travelled,
Plebeians there to gaze would go: —
When I look back and contemplate it,
My tears in very torrents flow.

Here in the East, whate'er the Province,!
Shuttle and distaff none may use;
And sparsely-woven fibre-sandals
Must serve to walk on frozen dews.

There, dainty tender sons of nobles
Are journeying on those roads of Chow.
Alack! their goings and their comings
Fill me with sickening sorrow now.

Ye ice-cold rills, from springs escaping!
Do not the gathered fuel soak.
Sore harassed, troubled, sleepless, sighing, —
Enough have our afflicted folk.

Their firewood is cut down and bundled:
Had. they but strength to get it in,
Poor toiling miserable people,
Then some repose perchance they'd win.

Here in the East the sons of nobles
For service hard remain unpaid;
There in the West the sons of nobles
Are in most gorgeous garb arrayed.

There, too, the very sons of boatmen
Apparelled are in furs of bears;
Yea, those of humblest antecedents
Are charged with all the land's affairs.

Let some of them have wine before them,
They take no count yet of its strength;
And their long-dangling girdle -trinkets
In their opinion lack in length!

— There, looking down with radiant brightness,
Appears in Heaven the Milky Way;
There, too, stand out the Weaving Sisters,
Seven stages making through the day

Yet, weaving through their stages seven,
Nought bright for us do they produce.
And the Draught Oxen shimmering yonder
For waggon-draught are scarce of use!

Though in the East be the star of morning,
Though in the West the evening star,
And though the Hare-net show its foldings,
— All keep their paths (nor mend nor mar)!

There in the South the Sieve is shining,
Yet not for sifting was it made.
There in the North appears the Ladle,
Yet ne'er a liquor will it lade.

Though southward there the Sieve be shining,
Here points its Tongue beyond the rest!
Though northward there appear the Ladle,
It hoists its Handle in the West!