Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 3.djvu/68

 reside in the northern region, in what was called the Sombre Capital, and (there) to adjust and examine the changes of the winter.' The day,' (said he), 'is at its shortest, and the star is in Mâo;—you may thus exactly determine mid-winter. The people keep in their houses, and the coats of birds and beasts are downy and thick.'

The  said, 'Ah! you, Hsîs and Hos, a round year consists of three hundred, sixty, and six days. Do you, by means of the intercalary month, fix the four seasons, and complete (the period of) the year. (Thereafter), the various officers being regulated in accordance with this, all the works (of the year) will be fully performed.'

3. The  said, 'Who will search out (for me) a man according to the times, whom I can raise and employ?' Fang-khî said, '(Your) heir-son Kû is highly intelligent.' The   said, 'Alas! he is insincere and quarrelsome:—can he do?'

The  said, 'Who will search out (for me) a man equal to the exigency of my affairs?' Hwan-tâu said, 'Oh! the merits of the Minister of Works have just been displayed on a wide scale.' The  said, 'Alas! when all is quiet, he talks; but when employed, his actions turn out differently. He is respectful (only) in appearance. See! the floods assail the heavens!'

The  said, 'Ho! (President of) the Four