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When the guests first approach the mats ,
They take their places on the left and the right in an orderly manner .
The dishes of bamboo and wood are arranged in rows ,
With the sauces and kernels displayed in them .
The spirits are mild and good ,
And they drink , all equally reverent .
The bells and drums are properly arranged ;
And they raise their pledge-cups with order and ease .
[Then] the great target is set up ;
The bows and arrows are made ready for the shooting ;
The archers are matched in classes .
' Show your skill in shooting , ' [it is said] .
' I shall hit that mark , ' [it is responded] ,
'And pray you to drink the cup . '

The dancers move with their flutes to the notes of the organ and drum ,
While all the instruments perform in harmony .
All this is done to please the meritorious ancestors ,
Along with the observance of all ceremonies .
When all the ceremonies have been performed ,
Grandly and fully ,
'We confer on you great blessings , ' [says the representative of the dead] ,
'And may your descendants [also] be happy ! '
They are happy and delighted ,
And each of them exerts his ability .
A guest draws the spirits ,
An attendant enters again , with a cup ,
And fills it , —the cup of rest .
Thus are performed your seasonal ceremonies .

When the guests first approach the mats ,
All harmonies are they and reverent .
Before they have drunk too much ,
Their deportment is carefully observant of propriety ;
But when they have drunk too much ,
Their deportment becomes light and frivolous :—
They leave their seats , and go elsewhere ,
They keep dancing and capering .
Before they have drunk too much ,
Their deportment is cautious and grave :—
But when they have drunk too much ,
Their deportment becomes indecent and rude :—
Thus when they have too mcuh ,
They lose all sense of orderliness .

When the guests have drunk too much ,
They shout out and brawl .
They disorder the dishes ;
They keep dancing in a fantastic manner .
Thus when they have drunk too much ,
They become insensible of their errors .
With their caps on one side , and like to fall off ,
They keep dancing the will not stop .
If , when they have drunk too much , they went out ,
Both they [and their host] would be happy ;
But remaining after they are drunk ,
Is what is called doing injury to virtue .
Drinking is a good institution ,
Only when there is good deportment in it .

On every occasion of drinking ,
Some get drunk , and some do not .
An inspector is appointed ,
With a recorder to assist him .
But those drunkards , in their vileness ,
Are shamed of those who do not get drunk .
These have no opportunity to speak ,
And prevent the others from proceeding to such great abandonment .
[They might say] , ' Do not speak what you ought not to speak ;
Do not say what you have no occasion to say ,
If you speak , drunk as you are ,
We will make you produce a ram without horns .
With three cups you lose your memories ;—
How dare you go on to more ? '