Mr. Dafis on the Poetry of the Chinese. 441 



^.1 



" The paths of trouble heedlessly he braves. 

 Now shines a wit — and now a madman raves: 

 His outward form by nature's bounty drest. 

 Foul weeds usurp'd the wilderness, his breast ; 

 And bred in tumult, ignorant of rule. 

 He hated letters — an accomplish'd fool ! 

 In act deprav'd, contaminate in mind, 

 Strang-e ! had he fear'd the censures of mankind. 



Titles and wealth to him no joys impart — 

 By penury pinch'd, he sank beneath the smart : 

 Oh, wretch ! to flee the good thy fate intends. 

 Oh, hopeless ! to thy country and thy friends ! 

 In uselessness, the first beneath the sky. 

 And curst, in sinning, with supremacy ! 

 Minions of pride and luxury, lend an ear. 

 And shun his follies, if his fate ye fear !" 



The language of descriptive poetry exists in every intermediate gradation, 

 from the perfectly formed couplet and stanza, to those figurative compo- 

 sitions, which differ from prose in Httle else than the brilUancy of their 

 imagery, or the elevation oi' tlieir sentiment. Besides the Tsze, of which 

 an example has been given in the First Part (page 409), there is a still less 



