TO MY ABSENT LOVE. 271 



Daily instruct your son, and suffer him not to rove about. When he 

 has a little leisure, let him enter the different public courts. You 

 know through life I have always been diligent ; now, though I am 

 fifty years old, no one has ever preferred a charge against me. On 

 your return home, see that you wound not my reputation." The 

 lady replied, " We will strictly obey Laou-yay's instructions, but 

 when you arrive at the capital, lay your plans of proceeding, and be 

 patient in all your affairs, suffer not pride to enter your heart. The 

 ancients say, ' Think thrice before you act, which may be repeated, 

 then you will never be a disgrace to your species,' consider Loo-ke 

 and Whang-kaou as foolish persons, and do not from pride per- 

 secute them. I hope, Sir, that you will consider what I have 

 said." Mei-kwei on hearing what she said, stroking his eye-brows, 

 and striking the table, replied, " Woman, what do you say ! I 

 exceedingly regret that I am not at the capital ! that I have not 

 seized those traitors ! that I have not with my own hands terminated 

 their existence ! have not eaten their flesh. Why talk about thrice 

 considering and then acting ? As you and I seldom converse toge- 

 ther, I regret exceedingly that we have not now time. Does not 

 Heaven respond to man's desires! and is not the holy Emperor's 

 favour immense as a mountain! since I, the Che-heen magistrate, 

 have been selected to fill an important situation ? On arriving at 

 the capital, and receiving a sword, will I not then behead these 

 traitorous ministers !'' 



To be continued. 



TO MY ABSENT LOVE. 



I crossed the stream, I passed the hill, 



On yester morn, 

 I gazed again upon the scene, 

 Where oft my willing step had been, 



Where Joy was born ! 

 A sight that more befitted spring 



I have not known : 

 The little birds sang sweet and clear, 

 And the mild primrose stooped to hear 



The brook's low tone. 



The place was still a pleasant place, 



It showed no change, 

 And yet my restless heart had not 

 The same enjoyment in the spot 



I thought it strange. 

 I asked me how this thing could be, 



If it were Care 



That clouded Nature's charms, or wo 

 That dulled the sense of good, Oh ! no, 



THOU wert not there ! 



M. 



