Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 3.djvu/397

 conveyed home! Alas for us the toiled people! Would that we could have rest !

The sons of the east Are summoned only (to service), without encouragement; While the sons of the west Shine in splendid dresses. The sons of boatmen Have furs of the bear and grisly bear. The sons of the poorest families Form the officers in public employment.

If we present them with spirits, They regard them as not fit to be called liquor. If we give them long girdle pendants with their stones, They do not think them long enough.

There is the Milky Way in heaven , Which looks down on us in light; And the three stars together are the Weaving Sisters , Passing in a day through seven stages (of the sky).

Although they go through their seven stages, They complete no bright work for us. Brilliant shine the Draught Oxen , But they do not serve to draw our carts. In the east there is Lucifer ; In the west there is Hesperus ; Long and curved