CH‘U YÜAN

[_Fourth Century B.C._]




[1] THE GREAT SUMMONS


_When Ch‘ü Yüan had been exiled from the Court for nine years, he became
so despondent that he feared his soul would part from his body and he
would die. It was then that he made the poem called “The Great Summons,”
calling upon his soul not to leave him._

Green Spring receiveth
The vacant earth;
The white sun shineth;
Spring wind provoketh
To burst and burgeon
Each sprout and flower.
In those dark caves where Winter lurketh
Hide not, my Soul!
O Soul come back again! O, do not stray!

O Soul come back again and go not east or west, or north or south!
For to the East a mighty water drowneth Earth’s other shore;