Page:Excellent ancient adages, together with notes on the writings of Chinese romanized in the Hokkien dialect.djvu/74

 Translations of Chhien Ju Bun or 2nd Chapter.

The terseness of the following rhymes is extracted mostly from the work of Mr. Robert A. Giles.

1. Blue skies above a yellow earth, Beginning of the creation’s birth.

2. Moon’s courses run around the sun, Stars emit lights when day is done.

3. Spring season comes, the Summer o’er, Reap in autumn, store in winter.

4. By adding month the year complete, The sun and moon should timely meet.

5. Collecting clouds form rain-drops bright, And dew into frost snowy white.

6. Gold from the river Le is found, And jade is brought from Khun Kong’s mount.

7. The sword is styled Excaliber, And pearl claimed the night brighter.

8. Amongst the fruits are damson, plum, Eatable mustard, ginger come.

9. The sea is salt, the river sweet, Bird flies, and fish swims in the deep.

10. When virtuous rulers once appeared, Curious signs were discovered.

11. Chhong khiet [sic] caused the scholastic lore, And Ui-te the first garments wore.

12. Mongst [sic] sovereigns resigned the throne, Iu-gu and To-tong stand alone.

13. On avenging wrongs first detected, Siang’s style Thong, and of Chiu was Hoat.