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BOOK V. 4.
LESSONS FROM THE STATES.
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its aspects by means of the sun. He built the palace at Khu. He planted about it hazel and chesnut trees, The I, the Thung, the 3ze, and the varnish tree. Which, when cut down, might afford materials for lutes.
He ascended those old walls, And thence surveyed (the site of) Khu. He surveyed Khů and Thang?, With the lofty hills and high elevations about. He descended and examined the mulberry trees. He then divined by the tortoise-shell, and got a favourable response ? ; And thus the issue has been truly good.
Book V. THE ODES OF WEI. It has been said on the title of Book iii, that Wei at first was the
eastern portion of the old domain of the kings of Shang. With this a brother of king Wů, called Khang-shû, was invested. The principality was afterwards increased by the absorption of Phei and Yung. It came to embrace portions of the present provinces of Kih-li, Shan-tung, and Ho-nan. It outlasted the dynasty of Kâu itself, the last prince of Wei being reduced to the ranks of the people only during the dynasty of Khin.
ODE 4, STANZAS 1 AND 2. THE MĂNG. AN UNFORTUNATE WOMAN, WHO HAD BEEN SEDUCED INTO AN IMPROPER
CONNEXION, NOW CAST OFF, RELATES AND BEMOANS HER SAD CASE. An extract is given from the pathetic history here related, because
it shows how divination was used among the common people, and entered generally into the ordinary affairs of life. A simple-looking lad you were, Carrying cloth
1 Thang was the name of a town, evidently not far from KhQ.
? We have seen before how divination was resorted to on occasion of new undertakings, especially in proceeding to rear a city.
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