Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

THE SHI-KING 159
A Love-Song
The moon comes forth, bright in the sky;
A loveher sight to draw my eye
Is she, that lady fair.
She round my heart has fixed love's chain.
But all my longings are in vain.
'Tis hard the grief to bear.
The moon comes forth, a splendid sight;
More winning far that lady bright,
Object of my desire!
Deep-seated is my anxious grief;
In vain I seek to find relief.
While glows the secret fire.
The rising moon shines mild and fair;
More bright is she, whose beauty rare
My heart with longing fills.
With eager wish I pine in vain;
for relief from constant pain,
W^hich through my bosom thrills!
The Lament of a Lover
There where its shores the marsh surround.
Rushes and lotus plants abound.
Their loveliness brings to my mind
The lovelier one that I would find.
In vain I try to ease the smart
Of wounded love that wrings my heart.
In waking thought and nightly dreams,
From every pore the water streams.
All round the marsh's shores are seen
Valerian flowers and rushes green.
But lovelier is that Beauty rare,
Handsome and large, and tall and fair.
1 wish and long to call her mine,
Doomed with the longing still to pine.
Nor day nor night e'er brings relief;
My inmost heart is full of grief.