redoomed。

He　seized　and　ruled；　but　hungered　for　more　power；

Became　a　prince；　and　still　was　not　content。

And　yet　this　man　of　glorious　career

When　gripped　by　sickness；　wept　as　might　a　child。

Full　well　he　knew；　when　on　the　bed　of　death；

That　all　is　vanity　and　nothing　worth。

His　latest　acts　were　kindly。　Simple　gifts

Of　fragrant　incense　gave　he　to　the　maids。

Ah！　The　ancients'　splendid　deeds　or　secret　thoughts

We　may　not　measure　with　our　puny　rule。

But　criticize　them；　pedants；　as　ye　may

The　mighty　dead　will　smile　at　what　you　say。

As　Cao　Cao　breathed　his　last；　the　whole　of　those　present　raised　a　great　wailing　and　lamentation。　The　news　was　sent　to　the　members　of　the　family；　the　Heir　Cao　Pi；　Lord　of　Yanling　Cao　Zhang；　Lord　of　Linzi　Cao　Zhi；　and　Lord　of　Xiaohuai　Cao　Xiong。　They　wrapped　the　body　in　its　shroud；　enclosed　it　in　a　silver　shell；　and　laid　it　in　a　golden　coffin；　which　was　sent　at　once　home　to　Yejun。

The　eldest　son　wept　aloud　at　the　tidings　and　went　out　with　all　his　following　to　meet　the　procession　and　escort　the　body　of　his　father　into　his　home。　The　coffin　was　laid　in　a　great　hall　beside　the　main　building；　and　all　the　officials　in　deep　mourning　wailed　in　the　hall。

Suddenly　one　stood　out　from　the　ranks　of　the　mourners　and　said；　〃I　would　request　the　heir　to　cease　lamentation　for　the　dead　and　devote　himself　to　the　present　needs　of　state。〃

It　was　Sima　Fu；　and　he　continued；　〃The　death　of　the　Prince　will　cause　an　upheaval　in　the　empire；　and　it　is　essential　that　the　heir　should　assume　his　dignity　without　loss　of　time。　There　is　not　mourning　alone　to　be　seen　to。〃

The　others　replied。　〃The　succession　is　settled；　but　the　investiture　can　hardly　proceed　without　the　ne