II. Ts‘ai Fan

The Ts‘ai Fan; narrative. The industry and reverence of a prince's wife, assisting him in sacrificing.

1Around the pools, the islets o’er,
Fast she plucks white southernwood,
To help the sacrificial store;
And for our prince does service good.

2Where streams among the valleys shine,
Of southernwoods she plucks the white;
And brings it to the sacred shrine,
To aid our prince in solemn rite.

3In headdress high, most reverent, she
The temple seeks at early dawn.
The service o’er, the headdress see
To her own chamber slow withdrawn.