University of Virginia Library

O vast and distant Heaven ,
Who art called our parent ,
That without crime or offence ,
I should suffer from disorders thus great !
The terrors of great Heaven are excessive ,
But indeed I have committed no crime .
[The terrors of] great Heaven are very excessive ,
But indeed I have committed no offence .

Disorder then comes to the birth ,
When the first untruth is received .
Its further increase ,
Is from our sovereign's believing the slanderers .
If he were to be angry [with them] ,
The disorder would probably quickly be abated ;
If he were to show his joy [in the good] ,
The disorder would probably quickly cease .

Our sovereign makes frequent covenants ,
And the disorders are thereby increased .
He believes the scoundrels ,
And the disorders thereby grow into oppression .
Their words are very sweet ,
And the disorders thereby advance .
They do not discharge their duties ,
But only create distress to the king .

Very grand is the ancestral temple ;—
A true sovereign made it .
Wisely arranged are the great plans ;—
Sages determined them .
What other men have in their minds ,
I can measure by reflection .
Swiftly runs the crafty hare ,
But it is caught by the hound .

Trees of soft wood , easily wrought ,
Are planted by wise men .
The words of way-farers that come and go ,
Can be discriminated by the mind .
Their easy and grand words ,
[Only] issue from their mouths .
Their artful words , like organ-tongues ,
Show how unblushing are their faces .

Who are they ?
They [are like men who] dwell on the banks of the river ;
And they have neither strenghth nor courage ,
While yet they rear the steps of disorder !
With legs ulcerated and swollen ,
What courage can you have ?
You form plans great and many ,
But your followers about you are few .