﻿BOOK OF THE CHINESE. I99 



The verbal translation of the thirty-two original 

 characters is this : 



1 24 3 



' Behold yon reach of the river Ki ; 



T 5 6 7 8 • . 



' Its green reeds how luxuriant ! how luxuriant ! 



9 11 12 10 



* Thus is our prince adorned with virtues; 



13 14 15 16 



' As a carver, as a filer, of ivory, 



17 18 19 20 



' As a cutter, as a polisher, of gems. 



21 22 



' O how elate and sagacious ! O how dauntless and 

 composed ! 



23 24 



6 How worthy of fame ! How worthy of reverence ! 



25 27 28 26 



' We have a prince adorned with virtues, 



29 30 31 32 



6 Whom to the end of time we cannot forget.' 



THE PARAPHRASE. 



Behold, where yon blue riv'let glides 



Along the laughing dale; 

 Light reeds bedeck its verdant sides, 



And frolic in the gale : 



So shines our Prince ! In bright array 

 The Virtues round him wait ; 



And sweetly smil'd th' auspicious day, 

 That rais'd him o'er our state. 



As pliant hands in shapes refin'd ' 

 Rich iv'ry carve and smoothe, 



His Laws thus mould each ductile rriind, 

 And every passion soothe. 

 O 4 



