Book III. The Odes of P‘ei: XVIII. Hsin T‘ai

XVIII The Hsin T‘ai; allusive and narrative. Satirizing the marriage of Duke Hsüan and Hsüan Chiang. 1The New tower, fresh and bright, they show, Where its vast volume rolls the Ho;— For bride a palace rare. To Wei she came, a mate to find; She sought a husband young and kind, But found this misshaped bear. 2There stands the New tower grand and high, Where with still stream the Ho flows by;— For bride a palace rare. To Wei she came, a mate to find; She sought a husband young and kind, But found this misshaped bear. 3As when the net for fish they set, And lo! a goose ensnared they get, They stamp with sudden ire; So might she stamp who came to wed The genial son, and in his stead Got but the humpbacked sire.