t e t ra s y l l a biC Sh i P oe t ry : The B o ok of P oeT ry 27

return of a victorious army and the preparation for sacrifices to celebrate that
victory:

The spring days long, so long, 春日遲遲 (chūn rì chí chí )
2 The plants and trees lushly leafed. 卉木萋萋 (hùi mù qī qī )
The orioles warble in harmony as 倉庚喈喈 (cāng gēng jiē jiē)
4 Gathering white artemesia go the women
in profusion. 采蘩祁祁 (căi fán qí qí )
We have seized for questioning the

captured caitiffs. 執訊獲醜 (zhí xùn guó chŏu)

6 As we hurriedly return. 薄言還歸 (bó yán huán guī )
Awe-inspiring is Nanzhong— 赫赫南仲 (hè hè nán zhòng)
8 The Xianyun are pacified! 玁狁于夷 (xiăn yŭn yú yí )
[MSZJ 9.10a]

The oriole seems to symbolize the return from the martial life on campaign to the
domestic world of the family, as in “Dong shan” (East Mountain [Mao no. 156]).
Another poem about gathering plants is “Ge tan” (The Kudzu Vine Grows Longer
[Mao no. 2]):

C 1. 1 0

The Kudzu Vine Grows Longer 葛覃 (gě tán)

The kudzu vine is grown longer 葛之覃兮^ (gě zhī tán xī)
2 Spread to the middle of the valley— 施于中谷 (yì yú zhōng gŭ)
It has leaves so luxuriant. 維葉萋萋^ (wéi yè qī qī)
4 The yellow birds take to flight, 黃鳥于飛 (huáng niăo yú fēi)
Gather in the copse of trees 集于灌木^ ( jí yú guàn mù)
6 And sing in a chorus of warbling. 其鳴喈喈 (qí míng jiē jiē)

The kudzu vine is grown longer 葛之覃兮 (gě zhī tán xī)
8 Spread to the middle of the valley— 施于中谷 (yì yú zhōng gŭ)
It has leaves so dense. 維葉莫莫 (wéi yè mò mò)
10 Cut it, boil it, 是刈是濩 (shì yì shì huò)
For the fine cloth and the coarse; 為絺為綌 (wéi chī wéi xì)
12 I shall not tire of wearing them. 服之無斁 ( fú zhī wú yì)

Told and taught by the duenna 言告師氏^ (yán gào shī shì)
14 Told and taught about being married— 言告言歸 (yán gào yán guī)
Rinsing clean my underclothes 薄汙我私^ (bó wū wŏ sī)
16 Washing out my jacket— 薄澣我衣 (bó huăn wŏ yī)
What should I wash, what not? 害澣害否^ (hé huăn hé fŏu)
18 I am going home to ask after my parents. 歸寧父母 (guī níng fù mŭ)
[MSZJ 1.3b–4b]