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

BOOK XV
THE ODES OF PIN
The Duke of Chow Tells of His Soldiers
To the hills of the east we went,
And long had we there to remain.
When the word of recall was sent.
Thick and fast came the drizzling rain.
When told our return we should take.
Our hearts in the West were and sore
But there did they clothes for us make :
They knew our hard service was o'er.
On the mulberry grounds in our sight
The large caterpillars were creeping;
Lonely and still we passed the night,
All under our carriages sleeping.
; —
To the hills of the East we went,
And long had we there to remain.
When the word of recall was sent,
Thick and fast came the drizzling rain.
The heavenly gourds rise to the eye.
With their fruit hanging under the eave.
In our chambers the sow-bug we spy
Their webs on our doors spiders weave.
Our paddocks seem crowded with deer,
With the glow-worm's light all about.
Such thoughts, while they filled us with fear.
We tried, but in vain, to keep out.
To the hills of the East we went,
And long had we there to remain.
When the word of recall was sent,
Thick and fast came the drizzling rain.
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