Shi Ji Zhuan :: :: University of Virginia Library

King Wen is on high ;
Oh ! bright is he in heaven .
Although Zhou was an old country ,
The [favouring] appointment lighted on it recently .
Illustrious was the House of Zhou ,
And the appointment of God came at the proper season .
King Wen ascends and descends ,
On the left and the right of God .

Full of earnest activity was king Wen ,
And his fame is without end .
The gifts [of God] to Zhou ,
Extend to the descendants of king Wen ;—
To the descendants of king Wen ,
In the direct line and the collateral branches for a hundred generations .
All the officers of Zhou ,
Shall [also] be illustrious from age to age .

They shall be illustrious from age to age ,
Zealously and reverently pursuing their plans .
Admirable are the many officers ,
Born in this royal kingdom .
The royal kingdom is able to produce them ,—
The suppporters of [the House of] Zhou .
Numerous is the array of officers ,
And by them king Wen enjoys his repose .

Profound was king Wen ;
Oh ! continuous and bright was his feeling of reverence .
Great is the appointment of Heaven !
There were the descendants of [the sovereigns] of Shang ;—
The descendants of the sovereigns of Shang ,
Were in number more than hundreds of thousands ;
But when God gave the command ,
They became subject to Zhou .

They became subject to Zhou .
The appointment of Heaven is not constant .
The officers of Yin , admirable and alert ,
Assist at the libations in [our] capital ;—
They assist at those libations ,
Always wearing the hatchets on their lower garment and their peculiar cap .
O ye loyal ministers of the king ,
Ever think of your ancestor !

Ever think of your ancestor ,
Cultivating your virtue ,
Always striving to accord with the will [of Heaven] .
So shall you be seeking for much happiness .
Before Yin lost the multitudes ,
[Its kings] were the assessors fo God .
Look to Yin as a beacon ;
The great appointment is not easily [preserved] .

The appointment is not easily [preserved] ,
Do not cause your own extinction .
Display and make bright your righteousness and name ,
And look at [the fate of] Yin in the light of Heaven .
The doings of High Heaven ,
Have neither sound nor smell .
Take your pattern from king Wen ,
And the myriad regions will repose confidence in you .

236. 大明 DA MING

明明在下、赫赫在上。
天難忱斯、不易維王。
天位殷適、使不挾四方。

摯仲氏任、自彼殷商、來嫁于周、曰嬪于京。
乃及王季、維德之行。
大任有身、生此文王。

維此文王、小心翼翼。
昭事上帝、聿懷多福。
厥德不回、以受方國。

天監在下、有命既集。
文王初載、天作之合。
在洽之陽、在渭之涘。
文王嘉止、大邦有子。

大邦有子、俔天之妹。
文定厥祥、親迎于渭。
造舟為梁、不顧其光。

有命自天、命此文王。
于周于京、纘女維莘。
長子維行、篤生武王。
保右命爾、燮伐大商。

殷商之旅、其會如林。
矢于牧野、維予侯興。
上帝臨女、無貳爾心。

牧野洋洋、檀車煌煌、駟騵彭彭。
維師尚父、時維鷹揚、涼彼武王、肆伐大商。
會朝清明。

The illustration of illustrious [virtue] is required below ,
And the dread majesty is on high .
Heaven is not readily to be relied on ;
It is not easy to be king .
Yin's rightful heir to the heavenly seat ,
Was not permitted to possess the kingdom .

Jin , the second of the princesses of Zhi ,
From [the domain of] Yin-shang ,
Came to be married to the prince of Zhou ,
And because his wife in his capital ,
Both she and king Ji ,
Were entirely virtuous .
[Then] Da-ren became pregnant ,
And gave birth to our king Wen .

This king Wen ,
Watchfully and reverently ,
With entire intelligence served God ,
And so secured the great blessing .
His virtue was without deflection ;
And in consequence he received [the allegiance of] the States from all quarters .

Heaven surveyed this lower world ;
And its appointment lighted [on king Wen] .
In his early years ,
It made for him a mate ;—
On the north of the Qia ;
On the banks of the Wei .
When king Wen would wive ,
There was the lady in a large State .

In a large State was the lady ,
Like a fair denizen of Heaven .
The ceremonies determined the auspiciousness [of the union] .
And in person he met her on the Wei .
Over it he made a bridge of boats ;—
The glory [of the occasion] was illustrious .

The favouring appointment was from Heaven ,
Giving the throne to our king Wen ,
In the capital of Zhou .
The lady-successor was from Xin ,
Its eldest daughter , who came to marry him .
She was blessed to give birth to king Wu ,
Who was preserved , and helped , and received also the appointment ,
And in accordance with it smote the great Shang .

The troops of Yin-shang ,
Were collected like a forest ,
And marshalled in the wilderness of Mu .
We rose [to the crisis] ;—
'God is with you , ' [said Shang-fu to the king] ,
'Have no doubts in your heart . '

The wilderness of Mu spread out extensive ;
Bright shone the chariots of sandal ;
The teams of bays , black-maned and white-bellied , galloped along ;
The grand-master Shang-fu ,
Was like an eagle on the wing ,
Assisting king Wu ,
Who at one onset smote the great Shang .
That morning's encounter was followed by a clear bright [day] .

237. 綿 MIAN

綿綿瓜瓞。
民之初生、自土沮漆。
古公亶父、陶父陶穴、未有家室。

古公亶父、來朝走馬。
率西水滸、至于岐下。
爰及姜女、聿來胥宇。

周原膴膴、菫茶如飴。
爰始爰謀、爰契我龜。
曰止曰時、築室于茲。

迺慰迺止、迺左迺右、迺疆迺理、迺宣迺畝、自西徂東、周爰執事。

乃召司空、乃召司徒、俾立室家。
其繩則直、縮版以載、作廟翼翼。

捄之陾陾、度之薨薨、築之登登、削屢馮馮、百堵皆興、鼛鼓弗勝。

迺立皋門、皋門有伉。
迺立應門、應門將將。
迺立冢土、戎醜攸行。

肆不殄厥慍、亦不隕厥問。
柞棫拔矣、行道兌矣。
混夷駾矣、維其喙矣。

虞芮質厥成、文王蹶厥生。
予曰有疏附、予曰有先後、予曰有奔奏、予曰有禦侮。

In long trains ever increasing grow the gourds .
When [our] people first sprang ,
From the country about the Ju and the Qi ,
The ancient duke Tan-fu ,
Made for them kiln-like huts and caves ,
Ere they had yet any houses .

The ancient duke Tan-fu ,
Came in the morning , galloping his horses ,
Along the banks of the western rivers ,
To the foot of [mount] Qi ;
And there , he and the lady Jiang ,
Came , and together looked out for a site on which to settle .

The plain of Zhou looked beautiful and rich ,
With its violets and sowthistles [sweet] as dumplings .
There he began with consulting [his followers] ;
There he singed the tortoise-shell , [and divined] .
The responses were - there to stay , and then ;
And they proceeded there to build their houses .

He encouraged the people and settled them ;
Here on the left , there on the right .
He divided the ground into larger tracts and smaller portions ;
He dug the ditches ; he defined the acres ;
From the west to the east ,
There was nothing which he did not take in hand .

He called his superintendent of works ;
He called his minister of instruction ;
And charged them with the building of the houses .
With the line they made everything straight ;
They bound the frame-boards tight , so that they should rise regularly .
Uprose the ancestral temple in its solemn grandeur .

Crowds brought the earth in baskets
They threw it with shouts into the frames ;
They beat it with responsive blows ;
They pared the walls repeatedly , and they sounded strong .
Five thousand cubits of them arose together ,
So that the roll of the great drum did not overpower [the noise of the builders] .

They set up the gate of the enceinte ;
And the gate of the enceinte stood high .
They set up the court gate ;
And the court gate stood grand .
They reared the great altar [to the Spirits of the land] ,
From which all great movements should proceed .

Thus though he could nto prevent the rage [of his foes] ,
He did not let fall his own fame .
The oaks and the Yu were [gradually] thinned ,
And roads for travelling were opened .
The hordes of the Hun disappeared ,
Startled and panting .

[The chiefs of] Yu and Rui were brought to an agreement ,
By king Wen's stimulating their natural virtue .
Then , I may say , some came to him , previously not knowing him ;
And some , drawn the last by the first ;
And some , drawn by his rapid success ;
Ans some , by his defence [of the weak] from insult .

238. 棫樸 YU PU

芃芃棫樸。
薪之槱之。
濟濟辟王。
左右趣之。

濟濟辟王。
左右奉璋。
奉璋峨峨。
髦士攸宜。

淠彼涇舟。
烝徒楫之。
周王于邁。
六師及之。

倬彼雲漢。
為章于天。
周王壽考。
遐不作人。

追琢其章。
金玉其相。
勉勉我王。
綱紀四方。

Abundant is the growth of the yu and the pu ,
Supplying firewood ; yea , stores of it .
Elegant and dignified was our prince and king ;
On the right and the left they hastened to him .

Elegant and dignified was our prince and king ;
On his left and his right they bore their half-mace [libation-cups] ;—
They bore their instruments with solemn gravity ,
As beseemed such eminent officers .

They rush along , —those boats on the King .
All the rowers labouring at their oars .
The king of Zhou marched on ,
Followed by his six hosts .

Vast is that Milky Way ,
Making a brilliant figure in the sky .
Long years did the king of Zhou enjoy ;—
Did he not exert an influence upon men ?

Engraved and chiselled are the ornaments ;
Of metal and of jade is their substance .
Ever active was our king ,
Giving law and rules to the four quarters [of the kingdom] .

239. 早麓 ZAO LU

瞻彼早麓、榛楛濟濟。
豈弟君子、于祿豈弟。

瑟彼玉瓚、黃流在中。
其弟君子、福祿攸降。

鳶飛戾天、魚躍于淵。
豈弟君子、遐不作人。

清酒既載、騂牡既備。
以享以祀、以介景福。

瑟彼柞棫、民所燎矣。
豈弟君子、神所勞矣。

莫莫葛藟、施于條枚。
豈弟君子、求福不回。

Look at the foot of the Han ,
How abundantly grow the hazel and the arrow-thorn !
Easy and self-possessed was our prince ,
In his pursuit of dignity [still] easy and self-possessed !

Massive is that libation-cup of jade ,
With the yellow liquid [sparkling] in it .
Easy and self-possessed was our prince ,
The fit recipient of blessing and dignity .

The hawk flies up to heaven ;
The fishes leap in the deep .
Easy and self-possessed was our-prince ;—
Did he not exert an influence upon men ?

His clear spirits are in vessel ;
His red bull is ready ;—
To offer , to sacrifice ,
To increase his bright happiness .

Thick grow the oaks and the yu ,
Which the people use for fuel .
Easy and self-possessed was our prince ,
Cheered and encouraged by the Spirits .

Luxuriant are the dolichos and other creepers ,
Clinging to the branches and stems ,
Easy and self-possessed was our prince ,
Seeking for happiness by no crooked ways .

240. 思齊 SI QI

思齊大任、文王之母、思媚周姜、京室之婦。
大姒嗣徽音、則百斯男。

惠于宗公、神罔時怨、神罔時恫。
刑于寡妻、至于兄弟、以御于家邦。

雝雝在宮、肅肅在廟。
不顯亦臨、無射亦保。

肆戎疾不殄、烈假不瑕。
不聞亦式、不諫亦入。

肆成人有德、小子有造。
古之人無斁、譽髦斯士。

Pure and reverent was Da-ren ,
The mother of king Wen ;
Loving was she to Zhou Jiang ;—
A wife becoming the House of Zhou .
Da-si inherited her excellent fame ,
And from her came a hundred sons .

He conformed to the example of his ancestors ,
And their Spirits had no occasion for complaint .
Their Spirits had no occasion for dissatisfaction ,
And his example acted on his wife ,
Extended to his brethren ,
And was felt by all the clans and States .

Full of harmony was he in his palace ;
Full of reverence in the ancestral temple .
Out of sight he still felt as under inspection ;
Unweariedly he maintained [his virtue] .

Though he could not prevent [some] great calamities ,
His brightness and magnanimity were without stain .
Without previous instruction he did what was right ;
Without admonition , he went on [in the path of goodness] .

So , grown up men became virtuous [through him] ,
And young men made [constant] attainments .
[Our] ancient prince never felt weariness ,
And from him were the fame and eminence of his officers .

241. 皇矣 HUANG YI

皇矣上帝、臨下有赫。
監觀四方、求民之莫。
維此二國、其政不獲。
維彼四國、爰究爰度。
上帝耆之、憎其式廓。
乃眷西顧、止維與宅。

作之屏之、其菑其翳。
脩之平之、其灌其栵。
啟之辟之、其檉其椐。
攘之剔之、其

[_]

yan

其柘。
帝遷明德、串夷載路。
天立厥配、受命既固。

帝省其山、柞棫斯拔、松柏斯兌。
帝作邦作對、自大伯王季。
維此王季、因心則友。
則友其兄、則篤其慶。
載錫之光、受祿無喪、奄有四方。

維此王季、帝度其心、貊其德音。
其德克明、克明克類、克長克君。
王此大邦、克順克比。
比于文王、其德靡悔。
既受帝祉、施于孫子。

帝謂文王、無然畔援、無然歆羨、誕先登于岸。
密人不恭、敢距大邦、侵阮徂共。
王赫斯怒、爰整其旅、以按徂旅、以篤于周祜、以對于天下。

依其在京、侵自阮疆、陟我高岡。
無矢我陵、我陵我阿。
無飲我泉、我泉我池。
度其鮮原、居歧之陽、在渭之將。
萬邦之方、下民之王。

帝謂文王、予懷明德、不大聲以色、不長夏以革。
不識不知、順帝之則。
帝謂文王、詢爾仇方、同爾兄弟、以爾鉤援、與爾臨衝、以我崇墉。

臨衝閑閑、崇墉言言。
執訊連連、攸馘安安。
是類是禡、是致是附。
四方以無悔。
臨衝茀茀、崇墉仡仡。
是伐是肆、是絕是忽。
四方以無拂。

[_]

厭 +木

Great is God ,
Beholding this lower world in majesty .
He surveyed the four quarters [of the kingdom] ,
Seeking for some one to give settlement to the people .
Those two [earlier] dynasties ,
Had failed to satisfy Him with their government ;
So throughout the various States ,
He sought and considered ,
For one on which he might confer the rule .
Hating all the great [States] ,
He turned His kind regards on the west ,
And there gave a settlement [to king Da] .

[King Da] raised up and removed ,
The dead trunks , and the fallen trees .
He dressed and regulated ,
The bushy clumps , and the [tangled] rows .
He opened up and cleared ,
The tamarix trees , and the stave-trees .
He hewed and thinned ,
The mountain-mulberry trees .
God having brought about the removal thither of this intelligent ruler ,
The Guan hordes fled away .
Heaven raised up a helpmeet for him .
And the appointment he had received was made sure .

God surveyed the hills ,
Where the oaks and yu were thinned ,
And paths made through the firs and cypresses .
God , who had raised the State , raised up a proper ruler for it ;—
From the time of Da-bo and king Ju [this was done] .
Now this king Ju ,
In his heart was full of brotherly duty .
Full of duty to his elder brother ,
He gave himself the more to promote the prosperity [of the country] ,
And secured to him the glory [of his act] .
He accepted his dignity , and did not lose it ,
And [ere long his family] possessed the whole kingdom .

The king Ju ,
Was gifted by God with the power of judgement ,
So that the fame of his virtue silently grew .
His virtue was highly intelligent ;—
Highly intelligent and of rare discrimination ;
Able to lead , able to rule , —
To rule over this great country ;
Rendering a cordial submission , effecting a cordial union .
When [the sway] came to king Wen ,
His virtue left nothing to be dissatisfied with .
He received the blessing of God ,
And it was extended to his descendants .

God said to king Wen ,
' Be not like those who reject this and cling to that ;
Be not like those who are ruled by their likings and desires ; '
So he grandly ascended before others to the height [of virtue] .
The people of Mi were disobedient ,
Daring to oppose our great country ,
And invaded Yuan , marching to Gung .
The king rose majestic in his wrath ;
He marshalled his troops ,
To stop the invading foes ;
To consolidate the prosperity of Zhou ;
To meet [the expectations of ] all under heaven .

He remained quietly in the capital ;
But [his troops] went on from the borders of Yuan .
They ascended our lofty ridges ,
And [the enemy] arrayed no forces on our hills ,
On our hills , small or large ,
Nor drank at our springs ,
Our springs or our pools .
He then determined the finest of the plains ,
And settled on the south of Ju ,
On the side of the Wei ;
The centre of all the States ,
The resort of the lower people .

God said to king Wen ,
'I am pleased with your intelligent virtue ,
Not loudly proclaimed nor pourtrayed ,
Without extravagance or changeableness ,
Without consciousness of effort on your part ,
In accordance with the pattern of God . '
God said to king Wen ,
' Take measures against the country of your foes .
Along with your brethren ,
Get ready your scaling ladders ,
And yoru engines of onfall and assault ,
To attack the walls of Chong . '

The engines of onfall and assault were gently plied ,
Against the walls of Chong high and great ;
Captives for the question were brought in one after another ;
' The left ears [of the slain] were taken leisurely .
He sacrificed to God , and to the Father of War ,
Thus seeking to induce submission ;
And throughout the kingdom none dared to insult him .
The engines of onfall and assault were vigorously plied ,
Against the walls of Chong very strong ;
He attacked it , and let loose all his forces ;
He extinguished [its sacrifices] , and made an end of its existence ;
And throughout the kingdom none dared to oppose him .'

242. 靈臺 LING TAI

經始靈臺、經之營之。
庶民攻之、不日成之。
經始勿亟、庶民子來。

王在靈囿、麀鹿攸伏、麀鹿濯濯、白鳥翯翯。
王在靈沼、於牣魚躍。

虡業維樅、賁鼓維鏞。
於論鼓鐘、於樂辟廱。

於論鼓鐘、於樂辟廱。
鼉鼓逢逢、朦瞍奏公。

When he planned the commencement of the marvellous tower ,
He planned it , and defined it ;
And the people in crowds undertook the work ,
And in no time completed it .
When he planned the commencement , [he said] , ' Be not in a hurry ; '
But the people came as if they were his children .

The king was in the marvellous park ,
Where the does were lying down , —
The does , so sleek and fat ;
With the white birds glistening .
The king was by the marvellous pond ;—
How full was it of fishes leaping about !

On his posts was the toothed face-board , high and strong ,
With the large drums and bells .
In what unison were their sounds !
What joy was there in the hall with its circlet of water !

In what unison sounded the drums and bells !
What joy was there in the hall with its circlet of water !
The lizard-skin drums rolled harmonious ,
As the blind musicians performed their parts .

243. 下武 XIA WU

下武維周、世有哲王。
三后在天、王配于京。

王配于京、世德作求。
永言配命、成王之孚。

成王之孚、下土之式。
永言考思、考思維則。

媚茲一人、應侯順德。
永言考思、昭哉嗣服。

昭茲來許、繩其祖武。
於萬斯年、受天之祜。

受天之祜、四方來賀。
於萬斯年、不遐有佐。

Successors tread in the steps [of their predecessors] in our Zhou .
For generations there had been wise kings ;
The three sovereigns were in heaven ;
And king [Wu] was their worthy successor in his capital .

King [Wu] was their worthy successor in his capital ,
Rousing himself to seek for the hereditary virtue ,
Always striving to accord with the will [of Heaven] ;
And thus he secured the confidence due to a king .

He secured the confidence due to a king ,
And became a pattern of all below him .
Ever thinking how to be filial ,
His filial mind was the model [which he supplied] .

Men loved him , the One man ,
And responded [to his example] with a docile virtue .
Ever thinking how to be filial ,
He brilliantly continued the doings [of his fathers] .

Brilliantly ! and his posterity ,
Continuing to walk in the steps of their forefathers ,
For myriads of years ,
Will receive the blessing of Heaven .

They will receive the blessing of Heaven .
And from the four quarters [of the kingdom] will felicitations come to them .
For myriads of years ,
Will there not be their helpers ?

244. 文王有聲 WEN WANG YOU SHENG

文王有聲、遹駿有聲。
遹求厥寧、遹觀厥成。
文王烝哉。

文王受命、有此武功。
既伐于崇、作邑于豐。
文王烝哉。

築城伊淢、作豐伊匹。
匪棘其欲、遹追來孝。
王后烝哉。

王公伊濯、為豐之垣。
四方攸同、王后維翰。
王后烝哉。

豐水東注、維禹之績。
四方攸同、皇王維辟。
皇王烝哉。

鎬京辟廱。
自西自東、自南自北、無思不服。
皇王烝哉。

考卜維王、宅是鎬京。
維龜正之、武王成之。
武王烝哉。

豐水有芑、武王豈不仕。
詒厥孫謀、以燕翼子。
武王烝哉。

King Wen is famous ;
Yea , he is very famous .
What he sought was the repose [of the people] ;
What he saw was the completion [of his work] .
A sovereign true was king Wen !

King Wen received the appointment [of Heaven] ,
And achieved his martial success .
Having overthrown Chong ,
He fixed his [capital] city in Feng .
A sovereign true was king Wen !

He repaired the walls along the [old] moat :
His establishing himself in Feng was according to [the pattern of his forefathers] ,
It was not that he was in haste to gratify his wishes ;—
It was to show the filial duty which had come down to him .
A sovereign true was [our] royal prince !

His royal merit was brightly displayed ,
By those walls of Feng .
There were collected [the sympathies of the people of] the four quarters ,
Who regarded the royal prince as their protector .
A sovereign true was [our] royal prince !

The Feng-water flowed on to the east [of the city] ,
Through the meritorious labour of Yu .
There were collected [the sympathies of the people of ] the four quarters ,
Who would have the great king as their ruler .
A sovereign true was the great king !

In the capital of Hao he built his hall with its circlet of water ;
From the west to the east ,
From the south to the north ,
There was not a thought but did him homage .
A sovereign true was the great king !

He examined and divined , did the king ,
About settling in the capital of Hao .
The tortoise-shell decided the site ,
And king Wu completed the city .
A sovereign true was king Wu !

By the Feng-water grows the white millet ;—
Did not king Wu show wisdom in his employment of officers ?
He would leave his plans to his descendants ,
And secure comfort and support to his son .
A sovereign true was king Wu !

生民之什(DECADE OF SHENG MIN)

245. 生民 SHENG MIN

厥初生民、時維姜嫄。
生民如何、克禋克祀、以弗無子。
履帝武敏歆、攸介攸止、載震載夙、載生載育、時維后稷。

誕彌厥月、先生如達、不坼不副、無菑無害。
以赫厥靈、上帝不寧、不康禋祀、居然生子。

誕寘之隘巷、牛羊腓字之。
誕寘之平林、會伐平林。
誕寘之寒冰、鳥覆翼之。
鳥乃去矣、后稷呱矣、實覃實訏、厥聲載路。

誕實匍匐、克歧克嶷、以就口食。
蓺之荏菽、荏菽旆旆、禾役穟穟、麻麥懞懞、瓜瓞唪唪。

誕后稷之穡、有相之道。
茀厥豐草、種之黃茂。
實方實苞、實種實褎、實發實秀、實堅實好、實穎實栗。
即有邰家室。

誕降嘉種、維秬維秠、維穈維芑。
恆之秬秠、是穫是畝。
恆之穈芑、是任是負。
以歸肇祀。

誕我祀如何。
或舂或揄、或簸或蹂。
釋之叟叟、烝之浮浮。
載謀載惟、取蕭祭脂、取羝以軷。
載燔載烈、以興嗣歲。

卬盛于豆、于豆于登。
其香始升、上帝居歆。
胡臭亶時、后稷肇祀、庶無罪悔、以迄于今。

The first birth of [our] people ,
Was from Jiang Yuan .
How did she give birth to [our] people ?
She had presented a pure offering and sacrificed ,
That her childlessness might be taken away .
She then trod on a toe-print made by God , and was moved ,
In the large place where she rested .
She became pregnant ; she dwelt retired ;
She gave birth to , and nourished [a son] ,
Who was Hou-ji .

When she had fulfilled her months ,
Her first-born son [came forth] like a lamb .
There was no bursting , nor rending ,
No injury , no hurt ;—
Showing how wonderful he would be .
Did not God give her the comfort ?
Had He not accepted her pure offering and sacrifice ,
So that thus easily she brought forth her son ?

He was placed in a narrow lane ,
But the sheep and oxen protected him with loving care .
He was placed in a wide forest ,
Where he was met with by the wood-cutters .
He was placed on the cold ice ,
And a bird screened and supported him with its wings .
When the bird went away ,
Hou-ji began to wail .
His cry was long and loud ,
So that his voice filled the whole way .

When he was able to crawl ,
He looked majestic and intelligent .
When he was able to feed himself ,
He fell to planting large beans .
The beans grew luxuriantly ;
His rows of paddy shot up beautifully ;
His hemp and wheat grew strong and close ;
His gourds yielded abundantly .

The husbandry of Hou-ji ,
Proceeded on the plan of helping [the growth] .
Having cleared away the thick grass ,
He sowed the ground with the yellow cereals .
He managed the living grain , till it was ready to burst ;
Then he used it as seed , and it sprang up ;
It grew and came into ear ;
It became strong and good ;
It hung down , every grain complete ;—
And thus he was appointed lord of Tai .

He gave his people the beautiful grains :—
The black millet , and the double-kernelled ;
The tall red , and the white .
They planted extensively the black and the double-kernelled ,
Which were reaped and stacked on the ground .
They planted extensively the tall red and the white ,
Which were carried on their shoulders and backs ,
Home for the sacrifices which he founded .

And how as to our sacrifices [to him] ?
Some hull [the grain] ; some take it from the mortar ;
Some sift it ; some tread it .
It is rattling in the dishes ;
It is distilled , and the steam floats about .
We consult ; we observe the rites of purification ;
We take southernwood and offer it with the fat ;
We sacrifice a ram to the Spirit of the path ;
We offer roast flesh and broiled :—
And thus introduce the coming year .

We load the stands with the offerings ,
The stands both of wood and of earthenware .
As soon as the fragrance ascends ,
God , well pleased , smells the sweet savour .
Fragrant is it , and in its due season !
Hou-ji founded the sacrifice ,
And no one , we presume , has given occasion for blame or regret in regret to it ,
Down to the present day .

246. 行葦 XING WEI

敦彼行葦。
牛羊勿踐履。
方苞方體。
維葉泥泥。
戚戚兄弟。
莫遠具爾。
或肆之筵。
或受之几。

肆筵設席。
授几有緝御。
或獻或酢。
洗爵奠斝。
醓醢以薦。
或燔或灸。
嘉殽脾臄。
或歌或咢。

敦弓既鈞。
舍矢既均。
序賓以賢。
敦弓既句。
既挾四鍭。
四鍭如樹。
序賓以不侮。

曾孫維主。
酒醴維醹。
酌以大斗。
以祈黃耇。
黃耇台背。
以引以翼。
壽考維祺。
以介景福。

In thick patches are those rushes , springing by the way (-side) ;
Let not the cattle and sheep trample them .
Anon they will burst up ; anon they will be completely formed ,
With their leaves soft and glossy .
Closely related are brethren ;—
Let none be absent , let all be near .
For some there are spread mats ;
For some there are given stools [besides] .

The mats are spread , and a second one above ;
The stools are given , and there are plenty of servants .
[The guests] are pledged , and they pledge [the host] in return ;
He rinses the cup , and the guests put theirs down .
Sauces and pickles are brought in ,
With roast meat and broiled .
Excellent provisions there are [also] of tripe and cheek ;
With singing to lutes , and with drums .

The ornamented bows are strong ,
And the four arrows are all balanced .
They discharge the arrows , and all hit ,
And the guests are arranged according to their skill .
The ornamented bows are drawn full ,
And the four arrows are grasped in the hand .
They go straight to the mark as if planted in it ,
And the quests are arranged by the humble propriety of their demeanour .

The distant descendant presides over the feast ;
His sweet spirits are strong .
He fills their cups from a measure ,
And prays for the hoary old [among his quests] ;—
That with hoary age and wrinkled back ,
They may lead on one another [to virtue] , and support one another [in it] ;
That so their old age may be blessed ,
And their bright happiness [ever] increased .

247. 既醉 JI JUI

既醉以酒、既飽以德。
君子萬年、介爾景福。

既醉以酒、爾殽既將。
君子萬年、介爾昭明。

昭明有融、高朗令終。
令終有俶、公尺嘉告。

其告維何、籩豆靜嘉。
朋友攸攝、攝以威儀。

威儀孔時、君子有孝子。
孝子不匱、永錫爾類。

其類維何、室家之壺。
君子萬年、永錫祚胤。

其胤維何、天被爾祿。
君子萬年、景命有僕。

其僕維何、釐爾女士。
釐爾女士、從以孫子。

You have made us drink to the full of your spirits ;
You have satiated us with your kindness ,
May you enjoy , O our lord , myriads of years !
May your bright happiness [ever] be increased !

You have made us drink to the full of your spirits ;
Your viands were all set out before us .
May you enjoy , O our lord , myriads of years !
May your bright intelligence [ever] be increased !

May your bright intelligence become perfect ,
High and brilliant , leading to a good end !
That good end has [now] its beginning :—
The personator of your ancestors announced it in his blessing .

What was his announcement ?
' [ The offerings in] your dishes of bamboo and wood are clean and fine .
Your friends asisting at the service ,
Have done their part with reverent demeanour .

' Your reverent demeanour was altogether what the occasion required ,
And not yours only , but that also of your filial son .
For such filial piety , without ceasing ,
There will ever be conferred blessing on you .

' What will the blessings be ?
That along the passages of your palace ,
You shall move for ten thousand years ;
And there will be granted to you for ever dignity and posterity .

' How as to your posterity ?
Heaven invests you with your dignity ,
Yea for ten thousand years ,
The bright appointment is attached to your person .

' How will it be attached ?
There is given you a heroic wife .
There is given you a heroic wife ,
And from her shall come [the line of] descendants . '

248. 鳧鷖 FU YI

鳧鷖在涇、公尺來燕來寧。
爾酒既清、爾殽既馨、公尺燕飲、福祿來成。

鳧鷖在沙、公尺來燕來宜。
爾酒既多、爾殽既嘉、公尺燕飲、福祿來為。

鳧鷖在渚、公尺來燕來處。
爾酒既湑、爾殽伊脯、公尺燕飲、福祿來下。

鳧鷖在潀、公尺來燕來宗。
既燕于宗、福祿攸降。
公尺燕飲、福祿來崇。

鳧鷖在亹、公尺來止熏熏。
旨酒欣欣、燔炙芬芬、公尺燕飲、無有後艱。

The wild-ducks and widgeons are on the King ;
The personators of your ancestors feast and are happy .
Your spirits are clear ,
Your viands are fragrant ;
The personators of your ancestors feast and drink ;—
Their happiness and dignity are made complete .

The wild-ducks and widgeons are on the sand ;
The personators of the dead enjoy the feast , their appropriate tribute .
Your spirits are abundant ,
Your viands are good ;
The personators of your ancestors feast and drink ;—
Happiness and dignity lend them their aids .

The wild ducks and widgeons are on the islets ;
The personators of your ancestors feast and enjoy themselves .
Your spirits are strained ,
Your viands are in slices ;
The personators of your ancestors feast and drink ;—
Happiness and dignity descend on them .

The wild ducks and widgeons are where the waters meet ;
The personators of your ancestors feast , and are honoured .
The feast is spread in the ancestral temple ,
The place where happiness and dignity descend .
The personators of your ancestors feast and drink ;—
Their happiness and dignity are at the highest point .

The wild ducks and widgeons are in the gorge ;
The personators of your ancestors rest , full of complacency .
Your fine spirits are delicious ,
Your flesh , roast and broiled , is fragrant ;
The personators of your ancestors feast and drink ;—
No troubles shall be theirs after this .

249. 假樂 JIA LE

假樂君子、顯顯令德。
宜民宜人、受祿于天。
保右命之、自天申之。

干祿百福、子孫千億。
穆穆皇皇、宜君宜王。
不愆不忘、率由舊章。

威儀抑抑、德音秩秩。
無怨無惡、率由群匹。
受福無疆、四方之綱。

之綱之紀、燕及朋友。
百辟卿士、媚于天子。
不解于位、民之攸塈。

Of [our] admirable , amiable , sovereign ,
Most illustrious is the excellent virtue .
He orders rightly the people , orders rightly the officers ,
And receives his dignity from heaven ,
Which protects and helps him , and [confirms] his appointment ,
By repeated acts of renewal from heaven .

[So] does he seek for the emoluments of dignity , [and obtain] all blessings ,—
Thousands and hundreds of thousands of descendants ,
Of reverent virtue and admirable character ,
Fit to be rulers [of States] , fit to be king ,
Erring in nothing , forgetful of nothing ,
Observing and following the old statutes .

[May they] manifest all self-restraint in deportment ,
And their virtuous fame be without fail !
Without resentments , without dislikes ,
[May they] give free course to [the good among] the officers ,
Receiving blessing without limit ,
And regulating all within the four quarters [of the kingdom] !

Regulating all , and determining each point ,
Giving repose to his friends ,
All the princes and ministers ,
Will love the son of Heaven .
Not idly occupying his office ,
The people will find rest in him .

250. 公劉 GONG LIU

篤公劉、匪居匪康、迺埸迺疆、迺機迺倉。
迺裹餱糧、于橐于囊、思輯用光。
弓矢斯張、干戈戚揚、爰方啟行。

篤公劉、于胥斯原、既庶既繁、既順迺宣、而無永歎。
陟則在巘、復降在原。
何以舟之、維玉及瑤、鞞琫容刀。

篤公劉、逝彼百泉、瞻彼溥原。
迺陟南岡、乃覯于京。
京師之野、于時處處、于時廬旅、于時言言、于時語語。

篤公劉、于京斯依。
蹌蹌濟濟、俾筵俾几。
既登乃依。
乃造其曹、執豕于牢、酌之用匏。
食之飲之、君之宗之。

篤公劉、既溥既長、既景迺岡、相其陰陽、觀其流泉、其軍三單。
度其隰原、徹田為糧。
度其夕陽、豳居允荒。

篤公劉、于豳斯館。
涉渭為亂、取厲取鍛。
止基迺理、爰眾爰有。
夾其皇澗、溯其過澗。
止旅迺密、芮鞫之即。

Of generous devotion to the people was duke Liu ,
Unable to rest or take his ease [where he was] ,
He divided and subdivided the country into fields ;
He stored up the produce in the fields and in barns ;
He tied up dried meat and grain ,
In bottomless bags and in sacks ;—
That he might hold [the people] together , and glorify [his tribe] .
Then with bows and arrows all ready ,
With shields and spears , and axes , large and small ,
He commenced his march .

Of generous devotion to the people was duke Liu ,
He had surveyed the plain [where he was settled] ;
[The people] were numerous and crowded ;
In sympathy with them , he made proclamation [of his contemplated measure] ,
And there were no perpetual sighings about it
He ascended to the hill-tops ;
He ascended again to the plains .
What was it that he carried at his girdle ?
Pieces of jade , and yao gems ,
And his ornamented scabbard with its sword .

Of generous devotion to the people was duke Liu ,
He went there to [the place of] the hundred springs ,
And saw [around him] the wide plain .
He ascended the ridge on the south ,
And looked at a large [level] height ,
A height affording space for multitudes .
Here was room to dwell in ;
Here might booths be built for strangers ;
Here he told out his mind ;
Here he entered on deliberations .

Of generous devotion to the people was duke Liu ,
When he had found rest on the height ,
With his officers all in dignified order ,
He caused mats to be spread , with stools upon them ;
And they took their places on the mats and leaned on the stools .
He had sent to the herds ,
And taken a pig from the pen .
He poured out his spirits into calabashes ;
And so he gave them to eat and to drink ,
Acknowledged by them as ruler , and honoured .

Of generous devotion to the people was duke Liu ,
[His territory] being now broad and long ,
He determined the points of the heavens by means of the shadows ; and then , ascending the ridges ,
He surveyed the light and the shade ,
Viewing [also] the [course of the] streams and springs .
His armies were three troops ;
He measured the marshes and plains ;
He fixed the revenue on the system of common cultivation of the fields ;
He measured also the fields west of the hills ;
And the settlement of Bin became truly great .

Of generous devotion to the people was duke Liu ,
Having settled in temporary lodging houses in Bin ,
He crossed the Wei by means of boats ,
And gathered whetstones and iron .
When his settlement was fixed , and all boudaries defined ,
The people became numerous and prosperous ,
Occupying both sides of the Huang valley ,
And pushing on up that of Guo ;
And as the population became dense ,
They went on to the country beyond the Ju .

251. 泂酌 JIONG ZHUO

泂酌彼行潦、挹彼注茲、可以饙饎。
豈弟君子、民之父母。

泂酌彼行潦、挹彼注茲、可以濯罍。
豈弟君子、民之攸歸。

洞酌彼行潦、挹彼注茲、可以濯溉。
豈弟君子、民之攸塈。

Take the pool-water from a distance ;
Draw it into one vessel and let it flow to another ,
And it may be used to stream rice or millet .
[How much more should] the happy and courteous sovereign ,
Be the parent of the people !

Take the pool-water from a distance ;
Draw it into one vessel and let it flow to another ,
And it may be used to wash a [spirit] vase .
[How much more should] the happy and courteous sovereign ,
Be the centre of attraction to the people !

Take the pool-water from a distance ;
Draw it into one vessel and let it flow to another ,
And it may be used for all purpose of cleansing .
[How much more should] the happy and courteous sovereign ,
Be the centre of rest to the people !

252. 卷阿 JUAN A

有卷者阿、飄風自南。
豈弟君子、來游來歌、以矢其音。

伴奐爾游矣、優游爾休矣。
豈弟君子、俾爾彌爾性、似先公酋矣。

爾土宇昄章、亦孔之厚矣。
豈弟君子、俾爾彌爾性、百神爾主矣。

爾受命長矣、茀祿爾康矣。
豈弟君子、俾爾彌爾性、純嘏爾常矣。

有馮有翼、有孝有德、以引以翼。
豈弟君子、四方為則。

顒顒卬卬、如圭如璋、令聞令望。
豈弟君子、四方為綱。

鳳凰于飛、翽翽其羽、亦集爰止。
藹藹王多吉士、維君子使、媚於天子。

鳳凰于飛、翽翽其羽、亦傅于天。
藹藹王多吉人、維君子命、媚于庶人。

鳳凰鳴矣、于彼高岡。
梧桐生矣、于彼朝陽。
菶菶萋萋、雝雝喈喈。

君子之車、既庶且多。
君子之馬、既閑且馳。
矢詩不多、維以遂歌。

Into the recesses of the large mound ,
Came the wind whirling from the south .
There was [our] happy , courteous sovereign ,
Rambling and singing ;
And I took occasion to give forth my notes .

'Full of spirits you ramble ;
Full of satisfaction you rest .
O happy and courteous sovereign ,
May you fulfill your years ,
And end them like your ancestors !

'Your territory is great and glorious ,
And perfectly secure .
O happy and courteous sovereign ,
May you fulfill your years ,
As the host of all the Spirits !

'You have received the appointment long-ackowledged ,
With peace around your happiness and dignity .
O happy and courteous sovereign ,
May you fulfill your years ,
With pure happiness your constant possession !

'You have helpers and supporters ,
Men of filial piety and of virtue ,
To lead you on , and act as wings to you ,
[So that] , O happy and courteous sovereign ,
You are a pattern to the four quarters [of the kingdom] .

'Full of dignity and majesty [are they] ,
Like a jade-mace [in its purity] ,
The subject of praise , the contemplation of hope .
O happy and courteous sovereign ,
[Through them] the four quarters [of the kingdom] are guided by you .

'The male and female phoenix fly about ,
Their wings rustling ,
While they settle in their proper resting place .
Many are your admirable officers , O king ,
Ready to be employed by you ,
Loving you , the son of Heaven .

'The male and female phoenix fly about ,
Their wings rustling ,
As they soar up to heaven .
Many are your admirable officers , O king ,
Waiting for your commands ,
And loving the multitudes of the people .

'The male and female phoenix give out their notes ,
On that lofty ridge .
The dryandras grow ,
They grow luxuriantly ;
And harmoniously the notes resound .

'Your carriages , O sovereign ,
Are many , many .
Your horses , O sovereign ,
Are well trained and fleet .
I have made my few verses ,
In prolongation of your song . '

253. 民勞 MIN LU

民亦勞止、汔可小康。
惠此中國、以綏四方。
無縱詭隨、以謹無良。
式遏寇虐、憯不畏明。
柔遠能邇、以定我王。

民亦勞止、汔可小休。
惠此中國、以為民逑。
無縱詭隨、以謹惛怓。
式遏寇虐、無俾民憂。
無棄爾勞、以為王休。

民亦勞止、汔可小息。
惠此京師、以綏四國。
無縱詭隨、以謹罔極。
式遏寇虐、無俾作慝。
敬慎威儀、以近有德。

民亦勞止、汔可小愒。
惠此中國、俾民憂泄。
無縱詭隨、以謹醜厲。
式遏寇虐、無俾正敗。
戎雖小子、而式弘大。

民亦勞止、汔可小安。
惠此中國、國無有殘。
無縱詭隨、以謹繾綣。
式遏寇虐、無俾正反。
王欲玉女、是用大諫。

The people indeed are heavily burdened ,
But perhaps a little ease may be got for them .
Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom ,
To secure the repose of the four quarters of it .
Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious ,
In order to make the unconscientious careful ,
And to repress robbers and oppressors ,
Who have no fear of the clear will [of Heaven] .
Then let us show kindness to those who are distant ,
And help those who are near ;—
Thus establishing [the throne of] our king .

The people indeed are heavily burdened ,
But perhaps a little rest may be got for them .
Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom ,
And make it a gathering-place for the people .
Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious ,
In order to make the noisy braggarts careful ,
And to repress robbers and oppressors ;—
So the people shall not have such sorrow .
Do not cast away your [former] service ,
But secure the quiet of the king .

The people indeed are heavily burdened ,
But perhaps a little relief may be got for them .
Let us cherish this capital ,
To secure the repose of the States in the four quarters .
Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious ,
To make careful those who set no limit to themselves ,
And to repress robbers and oppressors ;—
Not allowing them to act out their evil .
Then let us be reverently careful of our demeanour ,
To cultivate association with the virtuous .

The people indeed are heavily burdened ,
But perhaps a little repose may be got for them .
Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom ,
That the sorrow of the people may be dispelled .
Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious ,
In order to make the multitudes of the evil careful ,
And to repress robbers and oppressors ,
So that the right shall not be over thrown .
Though you may be [but as] little children ,
Your work is vast and great .

The people indeed are heavily burdened ,
But perhaps a little tranquillity may be got for them .
Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom ,
That it may not everywhere suffer such wounds .
Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious ,
In order to make the parasites careful ,
And to repress robbers and oppressors ,
So that the right shall not be reversed .
The king wishes to hold you as [sceptres of] jade ,
And therefore I thus strongly admonish you .

254. 板 BAN

上帝板板、下民卒癉。
出話不然、為猶不遠。
靡聖管管、不實於亶。
猶之未遠、是用大諫。

天之方難、無然憲憲。
天之方蹶、無然泄泄。
辭之輯矣、民之冾矣。
辭之懌矣、民之莫矣。

我雖異事、及爾同僚。
我即而謀、聽我囂囂。
我言維服、勿以為笑。
先民有言、詢于芻蕘。

天之方虐、無然謔謔。
老夫灌灌、小子蹻蹻。
匪我言耄、爾用憂謔。
多將熇熇、不可救藥。

天之方懠、無為夸毗。
威儀卒迷、善人載尸。
民之方殿屎、則莫我敢葵。
喪亂蔑資、曾莫惠我師。

天之牖民、如壎如篪。
如璋如圭、如取如攜。
攜無日益、牖民孔易。
民之多辟、無自立辟。

价人維藩、大師維垣、大邦維屏、大宗維翰、懷德維寧、宗子維城。
無俾城壞、無獨斯畏。

敬天之怒、無敢戲豫。
敬天之渝、無敢馳驅。
昊天曰明、及爾出王。
昊天曰旦、及爾游衍。

God has reversed [His usual course of procedure] ,
And the lower people are full of distress .
The words which you utter are not right ;
The plans which you form are not far-reaching .
As there are not sages , you think you have no guidance ;
You have no reality in your sincerity .
[Thus] your plans do not reach far ,
And I therefore strongly admonish you .

Heaven is now sending down calamities ;—
Do not be so complacent .
Heaven is now producing such movements ;—
Do not be so indifferent .
If your words were harmonious ,
The people would become untied .
If your words were gentle and kind ,
The people would be settled .

Though my duties are different from yours ,
I am your fellow-servant .
I come to advise with you ,
And you hear me with contemptuous indifference .
My words are about the [present urgent] affairs ;—
Do not think them matter for laughter .
The ancients had a saying :—
'Consult the grass and firewood-gatherers . '

Heaven is now exercising oppression ;—
Do not in such a way make a mock of things .
An old man , [I speak] with entire sincerity ;
But you , my juniors , are full of pride .
It is not that my words are those of age ,
But you make a joke of what is sad .
But the troubles will multiply like flames ,
Till they are beyond help or remedy .

Heaven is now displaying its anger ;—
Do not be either boastful or flattering ,.
Utterly departing from all propriety of demeanour ,
Till good men are reduced to personators of the dead .
The people now sigh and groan ,
And we dare not examine [into the causes of their trouble] .
The ruin and disorder are exhausting all their means of living ,
And we show no kindness to our multitudes .

Heaven enlightens the people ,
As the bamboo flute responds to the porcelain whistle ;
As two half maces form a whole one ;
As you take a thing , and bring it away in your hand ,
Bringing it away without any more ado .
The enlightenment of the people is very easy .
They have [now] many perversities ;—
Do not you set up your perversity [before them] .

Good men are a fence ;
The multitudes of the people are a wall ;
Great States are screens ;
Great Families are buttresses ;
The cherishing of virtue secures repose ;
The circle of [the king's] Relatives is a fortified wall .
We must not let the fortified wall get destroyed ;
We must not let him solitary be consumed with terrors .

Revere the anger of Heaven ,
And presume not to make sport or be idle .
Revere the changing moods of Heaven ,
And presume not to drive about [at your pleasure] .
Great Heaven is intelligent ,
And is with you in all your goings .
Great Heaven is clear-seeing ,
And is with you in your wandering and indulgences .

蕩之什(DECADE OF DANG)

255. 蕩 DANG

蕩蕩上帝、下民之辟。
疾威上帝、其命多辟。
天生烝民、其命匪諶。
靡不有初、鮮克有終。

文王曰咨、咨女殷商。
曾是彊禦、曾是掊克。
曾是在位、曾是在服。
天降慆德、女興是力。

文王曰咨、咨女殷商。
而秉義類、彊禦多懟。
流言以對、寇攘式內。
侯作侯祝、靡屆靡究。

文王曰咨、咨女殷商。
女炰烋于中國、歛怨以為德。
不明爾德、時無背無側。
爾德不明、以無陪無卿。

文王曰咨、咨女殷商。
天不湎爾以酒、不義從式。
既愆爾止、靡明靡晦。
式號式呼、俾晝作夜。

文王曰咨、咨女殷商。
如蜩如螗、如沸如羹。
小大近喪、人尚乎由行。
內奰于中國、覃及鬼方。

文王曰咨、咨女殷商。
匪上帝不時、殷不用舊。
雖無老成人、尚有典刑。
曾是莫聽、大命以傾。

文王曰咨、咨女殷商。
人亦有言、顛沛之揭。
枝葉未有害、本實先撥。
殷鑒不遠、在夏后之世。

How vast is God ,
The ruler of men below !
How arrayed in terrors is God ,
With many things irregular in His ordinations !
Heaven gave birth to the multitudes of the people ,
But the nature it confers is not to be depended on .
All are [good] at first ,
But few prove themselves to be so at the last .

King Wen said , 'Alas !
Alas ! you [sovereign of] Yin-shang ,
That you should have such violently oppressive ministers ,
That you should have such extortionate exactors ,
That you should have them in offices ,
That you should have them in the conduct of affairs !
Heaven made them with their insolent dispositions ,
But it is you who employ them , and gave them strength . '

King Wen said , 'Alas !
Alas ! you [sovereign of] Yin-shang ,
You ought to employ such as are good ,
But [you employ instead] violent oppressors , who cause many dissatisfactions .
They respond to you with baseless stories ,
And [thus] robbers and thieves are in your court .
Thence come oaths and curses ,
Without limit , without end . '

King Wen said , 'Alas !
Alas ! you [sovereign of] Yin-shang ,
You show a strong fierce will in the centre of the kingdom ,
And consider the contracting of enmities a proof of virtue .
All unintelligent are you of your [proper] virtue ,
And so you have no [good] men behind you , nor by your side .
Without any intelligence of your [proper] virtue ,
You have no [good] intimate adviser nor minister . '

King Wen said , 'Alas !
Alas ! you [sovereign of] Yin-shang ,
It is not Heaven that flushes your face with spirits ,
So that you follow what is evil and imitate it .
You go wrong in all your conduct ;
You make no distinction between the light and the darkness ;
But amid clamour and shouting ,
You turn the day into night . '

King Wen said , 'Alas !
Alas ! you [sovereign of] Yin-shang ,
[All around you] is like the noise of cicadas ,
Or like the bubbling of boiling soup .
Affairs , great and small , are approaching to ruin ;
And still you [and your creatures] go on in this course .
Indignation is rife against you here in the Middle kingdom ,
And extends to the demon regions . '

King Wen said , 'Alas !
Alas ! you [sovereign of] Yin-shang ,
It is not God that has caused this evil time ,
But it arises from Yin's not using the old [ways] .
Although you have not old experienced men ,
There are still the ancient statutes and laws .
But you will not listen to them ,
And so your great appointment is being overthrown . '

King Wen said , 'Alas !
Alas ! you [sovereign of] Yin-shang ,
People have a saying ,
'When a tree falls utterly ,
While its branches and leaves are yet uninjured ,
It must first have been uprooted . '
The beacon of Yin is not far-distant ;—
It is in the age of the [last] sovereign of Xia . '

256. 抑 YI

抑抑威儀、維德之隅。
人亦有言、靡哲不愚。
庶人之愚、亦職維疾。
哲人之愚、亦維斯戾。

無競維人、四方其訓之。
有覺德行、四國順之。
訏謨定命、遠猶辰告。
敬慎威儀、維民之則。

其在于今、興迷亂于政。
顛覆厥德、荒湛于酒。
女雖湛樂從、弗念厥紹。
罔敷求先生、克共明刑。

肆皇天弗尚、如彼泉流、無淪胥以亡。
夙興夜寐、洒掃廷內、維民之章。
脩爾車馬、弓矢戎兵。
用戒戎作、用逖蠻方。

質爾人民、謹爾侯度、用戒不虞。
慎爾出話、敬爾威儀、無不柔嘉。
白圭之玷、尚可磨也。
斯言之玷、不可為也。

無易由言、無日苟矣。
莫捫朕舌、言不可逝矣。
無言不讎、無德不報。
惠于朋友、庶民小子、子孫繩繩、萬民靡不承。

視爾友君子、輯柔爾顏、不遐有愆。
相在爾室、尚不媿于屋漏。
無曰不顧、莫予云覯。
神之格思、不可度思、矧可射思。

辟爾為德、俾藏俾嘉。
淑慎爾止、不愆于儀。
不僭不賊、鮮不為則。
投我以桃、報之以李。
彼童而角、實虹小子。

荏染柔木、言緡之絲。
溫溫恭人、維德之基。
其維哲人、告之話言、順德之行。
其維愚人、覆謂我僭。
民各有心。

於乎小子、未知藏否。
匪手攜之、言示之事。
匪面命之、言提其耳。
借日未知、亦既抱子。
民之靡盈、誰夙知而莫成。

昊天孔昭、我生靡樂。
視爾夢夢、我心慘慘。
誨爾諄諄、聽我藐藐。
匪用為教、覆用為虐。
借日未知、亦聿既耄。

於乎小子、告爾舊子。
聽用我謀、庶無大悔。
天方艱難、日喪厥國。
取譬不遠、昊天不忒。
回遹其德、俾民大棘。

An outward demeanour , cautious and grave ,
Is an indication of the [inward] virtue .
People have the saying ,
'There is no wise man who is not [also] stupid . '
The stupidity of the ordinary man ,
Is determined by his [natural] defects .
The stupidity of the wise man ,

What is most powerful is the being the man ;—
In all quarters [of the State] men are influenced by it .
To an upright virtuous conduct ,
All in the four quarters of the State render obedient homage .
With great counsels and determinate orders ,
With far-reaching plans and timely announcements ,
And with reverent care of his outward demeanour ,
One will become the pattern of the people .
Is from his doing violence [to his natural character] .

As for the circumstances of the present time ,
You are bent on error and confusion in your government .
Your virtue is subverted ;
You are besotted by drink .
Although you thus pursue nothing but pleasure ,
How is it you do not think of your relation to the past ,
And do not widely study the former kings ,
That you might hold fast their wise laws ?

Shall not those whom great Heaven does not approve of ,
Surely as the waters flow from a spring ,
Sink down together to ruin ?
Rise early and go to bed late ,
Sprinkle and sweep your court-yard ;—
So as to be a pattern to the people .
Have in good order your chariots and horses ,
Your bows and arrows , and [other] weapons of war ;—
To be prepared for warlike action ,
To keep at a distance [the hordes of] the South .

Perfect what concerns your officers and people ;
Be careful of your duties as a prince [of the kingdom] ;—
To be prepared for unforeseen dangers .
Be cautious of what you say ;
Be reverently careful of your outward demeanour ;
In all things be mild and correct .
A flaw in a mace of white jade ,
May be ground away ,
But for a flaw in speech ,
Nothing can be done .

Do not speak lightly ;— your words are your own :—
Do not say , ' This is of little importance . '
No one can hold my tongue for me ;
Words are not to be cast away .
Every word finds its answer ;
Every good deed has its recompense .
If you are gracious among your friends ,
And to the people , as if they were your children ,
Your descendants will continue in unbroken line ,
And all the people will surely be obedient to you .

Looked at in friendly intercourse with superior men ,
You make your countenance harmonious and mild ;—
Anxious not to do anything wrong .
Looked at in your chamber ,
You ought to be equally free from shame before the light which shines in .
Do not say , ' This place is not public ;
No one can see me here . '
The approaches of spiritual Beings ,
Cannot be calculated [beforehand] ;
But the more should they not be slighted .

O prince , let your practice of virtue ,
Be entirely good and admirable .
Watch well over your behaviour ,
And allow nothing wrong in your demeanour .
Committing no excess , doing nothing injurious ;—
There are few who will not in such a case take you for their pattern .
When one throws to me a peach ,
I return to him a plum .
To look for horns on a young ram ,
Will only weary you , my son .

The soft and elastic wood ,
Can be fitted with the silken string .
The mild and the respectful man ,
Possesses the foundation of virtue .
There is a wise man ;—
I tell him [good] words ,
And he yields to them the practice of docile virtue .
There is a stupid man ;—
He says on the contrary that my words are not true :—
So different are people's minds .

Oh ! my son ,
When you did not know what was good , and what was not good ,
Not [only] did I lead you on by the hand ,
But I showed the difference by appealing to affairs .
Not [only] did I charge you face to face ,
But I held you by the ears .
And still perhaps you do not know ,
Although you have held a son in your arms .
If people are not self-sufficient ,
Who comes [only] to a late maturity after early instruction ?

Great Heaven is very intelligent ,
And I pass my life without pleasure .
When I see you so dark and stupid ,
My heart is full of pain .
I taught you with assiduous repetition ,
And you listened to me with contempt .
You would nto consider me your teacher ,
But regarded me as troublesome .
Still perhaps you do not know ;—
But you are very old .

Oh ! my son ,
I have told you the old ways .
Hear and follow my counsels ;—
Then shall you have no cause for great regret .
Heaven is now inflicting calamities ,
And is destroying the State .
My illustrations are not taken from things remote ;—
Great Heaven makes no mistakes .
If you go on to deteriorate in your virtue ,
You will bring the people to great distress .

257. 桑柔 SANG ROU

菀彼桑柔、其下侯旬。
捋采其劉、瘼此下民。
不殄心憂、倉兄填兮。
倬彼昊天、寧不我矜。

四牡騤騤、旟旐有翩。
亂生不夷、靡國不泯。
民靡有黎、具禍以燼。
於乎有哀、國步斯頻。

國步蔑資、天不我將。
靡所止疑、云徂何往。
君子實維、秉心無競。
誰生厲階、至今為梗。

憂心慇慇、念我土宇。
我生不辰、逢天僤努。
自西徂東、靡所定處。
多我覯痻、孔棘我圉。

為謀為毖、亂況斯削。
告爾憂恤、誨爾序爵。
誰能執熱、逝不以濯。
其何能淑、載胥及溺。

如彼溯風、亦孔之僾。
民有肅心、荓云不逮。
好是稼穡、力民代食。
稼穡維寶、代食維好。

天降喪亂、滅我立王。
降此蟊賊、稼穡卒痒。
哀恫中國、具贅卒荒。
靡有旅力、以念穹蒼。

維此惠君、民人所瞻。
秉心宣猶、考慎其相。
維彼不順、自獨俾臧。
自有肺腸、俾民卒狂。

瞻彼中林、甡甡其鹿。
朋友已譖、不胥以穀。
人亦有言、進退維谷。

維此聖人、瞻言百里。
維彼愚人、覆狂以喜。
匪言不能、胡斯畏忌。

維此良人、弗求弗迪。
維彼忍心、是顧是復。
民之貪亂、寧為荼毒。

大風有隧、有空大谷。
維此良人、作為式穀。
維彼不順、征以中垢。

大風有隧、貪人敗類。
聽言則對、誦言如醉。
匪用其良、覆俾我悖。

嗟爾朋友、予豈不知而作。
如彼飛蟲、時亦弋獲。
既之陰女、反予來赫。

民之罔極、職涼善背。
為民不利、如云不克。
民之回遹、職競用力。

民之未戾、職盜為寇。
涼曰不可、覆背善詈。
雖曰匪予、既作爾歌。

Luxuriantly is that young mulberry tree ,
And beneath it wide is the shade ;
But they will pluck its leaves till it is quite destroyed .
The distress inflicted on these [multitudes of the ] people ,
Is an unceasing sorrow to my heart ;—
My commiseration fills [my breast] .
O thou bright and great Heaven ,
Shouldest thou not have compassion on us ?

The four steeds [gallop about] , eager and strong ;
The tortoise-and-serpent and the falcon banners fly about .
Disorder grows , and no peace can be secured .
Every State is being ruined ;
There are no black heads among the people ;
All are reduced to ashes , [as it were] , by calamity .
Oh ! alas !
The doom of the kingdom hurries on .

There is nothing to arrest the doom of the kingdom ;
Heaven does not nourish us .
There is no place in which to stop securely ;
There is no place to which to go .
Superior men are the bonds [of the social state] ,
Allowing no love of strife in their hearts .
Who reared the steps of the dissatisfaction ,
Which has reached the present distress ?

The grief of my heart is extreme ,
And I dwell on [the condition of] our territory .
I was born at an unhappy time ,
To meet with the severe anger of Heaven .
From the west to the east ,
There is no quiet place of abiding .
Many are the distresses I meet with ;
Very urgent is the trouble on our borders .

You have your counsels ; you employ caution ;
But the disorder grows and dismemberments ensue .
I tell you the subjects for anxiety ;
I instruct you how to distinguish the orders of men .
Who can hold anything hot ?
Must he not dip it [first] in water ?
How can you [by your method] bring a good state of things about ?
You [and your advisers] will sink together in ruin .

[The state of things] is like going in the teeth of the wind ,
Which makes one quite breathless .
Some have a mind to go forward ,
But they are made to think it is of no use to do so .
They attach themselves to husbandry ,
And labour like the people instead of eating [the bread of office] .
Their sowing and reaping are precious to them ;
They love this substitute for [official] emolument .

Heaven is sending down death and disorder ,
And has put an end to our king .
It is sending down those devourers of the grain ,
So that the husbandry is all in evil case .
All is in peril and going to ruin ;
I have no strength [to do anything] ,
And think of [the Power in] the azure vault .

Here is a good and righteous ruler ,
Who is looked up to by the people and by all ;—
He keeps his heart , and his plans are formed on mature deliberation ,
Searching carefully for helpers .
There is one who has no such character ,
But reckons only to his own views to be good ;—
He holds only to his own thoughts ,
And causes the people to be distracted .

Look into the middle of that forest ,
At the herds of deer roaming together .
[But here] friends are insincere ,
And do not help one another in what is good .
People have the saying ,
'To go forwards or backwards is alike impracticable . '

Here is a wise man ;—
His views and words reach to a hundred Li ,
There is a stupid man ;—
He on the contrary rejoices in his madness .
It is not that I could not speak [all this] ;—
How is it I was withheld by my fear ?

Here is a good man ,
But he is not sought out nor employed .
There is a hard-hearted man ,
And he is thought of and promoted once and again .
The people [in consequence] desire disorder ,
And find emjoyment in bitter , poisonous ways .

Great winds have a path ;—
They come from the large empty valleys .
Here is a good man ,
Whose doings will be good .
There is a man unobservant of the right ,
Whose goings will be according to his inward filthiness .

Great winds have a path ;—
The covetous men try to subvert their peers .
I would speak , if he would hear my words ,
But I can [only] croon them over as if I were drunk .
He will not employ the good ,
And on the contrary causes me [such] distress .

Ah ! my friends ,
Is it in ignorance that I make [this ode]?
[But it may happen] as in the case of a bird on the wing ,
Which sometimes is hit and caught .
I go to do you good ,
But you become the more incensed against me .

The unlimited disorder of the people ,
Is owing to those hypocrites , skilful to prevaricate .
They work out the injury of the people ,
As if their efforts were not equal to it .
The depravity of the people ,
Is brought about by their strenuous endeavours .

That the people are unsettled ,
Is owing to the robbers that prey on them .
Hypocritical , they say ' These men will not do ; '
But when their backs are turned , they show their skill in reviling [the good] .
Although you say , ' We did not do this , '
I have made this song about you .

258. 雲漢 YUN HAN

倬彼雲漢、昭回于天。
王曰於乎、何辜今之人。
天降喪亂、饑饉薦臻。
靡神不舉、靡愛斯牲。
圭璧既卒、寧莫我聽。

旱既大甚、蘊隆蟲蟲。
不殄禋祀、自郊徂宮。
上下尊瘞、靡神不宗。
后稷不克、上帝不臨。
耗斁下土、寧丁我躬。

旱既大甚、則不可推。
兢兢業業、如霆如雷。
周餘黎民、靡有孑遺。
昊天上帝、則我不遺。
胡不相畏、先祖于摧。

旱既大甚、則不可沮。
赫赫炎炎、云我無所。
大命近止、靡瞻靡顧。
群公先正、則不我助。
父母先祖、胡寧忍予。

旱既大甚、滌滌山川。
旱魃為虐、如惔如焚。
我心憚暑、憂心如熏。
群公先正、則不我聞。
昊天上帝、寧俾我遯。

旱既大甚、黽勉畏去。
胡寧瘨我以旱、憯不知其故。
祈年孔夙、方社不莫。
昊天上帝、則我不虞。
敬恭明神、宜無悔怒。

旱既大甚、散無友紀。
鞫哉庶正、疚哉冢宰。
趣馬師氏、膳夫左右。
靡人不周、無不能正。
瞻卬昊天、云如何里。

瞻卬昊天、有嘒其星。
大夫君子、昭假無嬴。
大命近止、無棄爾成。
何求為我、以戾庶正。
瞻卬昊天、曷惠其寧。

Bright was that milky way ,
Shining and revolving in the sky .
The king said , 'Oh !
What crime is chargeable on us now ,
That Heaven [thus] sends down death and disorder ?
Famine comes again and again .
There is no victim I have grudged ;
Our maces and other tokens are exhausted :—
How is it that I am not heard ?

'The drought is excessive ;
Its fervours become more and more tormenting .
I have not ceased offering pure sacrifices ;
From the border altars I have gone to the ancestral temple .
To the [Powers] above and below I have presented my offerings and then buried them :—
There is no Spirit whom I have not honoured .
Hou-ji is not equal to the occasion ;
God does not come to us .
This wasting and ruin of our country ,—
Would that it fell [only] on me !

'The drought is excessive ;
And I may not try to excuse myself .
I am full of terror and feel the peril ,
Like the clap of thunder or the roll .
Of the remnant of Zhou , among the black-haired people ,
There will not be half a man left ;
Nor will God from His great heaven ,
Exempt [even] me .
Shall we not mingle our fears together ?
[The sacrifices to] my ancestors will be extinguished .

'The drought is excessive ;
And it cannot be stopped .
More fierce and fiery ,
It is leaving me no place .
My end is near ;—
I have none to look up to , none to look around to .
The many dukes and their ministers of the past ,
Give me no help .
O ye parents and [nearer] ancestors ,
How can ye bear to see us thus ?

'The drought is excessive ;—
Parched are the hills , and the streams are dried .
The demon of drought exercises his oppression .
As if scattering flames and fire .
My heart is terrified with the heat ;—
My sorrowing heart is as if on fire .
The many dukes and their ministers of the past ,
Do not hear me ,
O God , from Thy great heaven ,
Grant me the liberty to withdraw [into retirement] !

'The drought is excessive ;—
I struggle , and fear to go away .
How is it I am afflicted with this drought ?
I cannot ascertain the cause of it .
In praying for a good year I was abundantly early ;
I was not late [in sacrificing] to [the Spirits] of the four quarters and of the land .
God in the great heaven ,
Does not consider me .
Reverent to the intelligent Spirits ,
I ought not to be thus the object of their anger .

'The drought is excessive ;—
All is dispersion , and the bonds of government are relaxed .
Reduced to extremities are the Heads of departments ;
Full of distress are my chief minister ,
The master of the horse , the commander of the guards ,
The chief cook , and my attendants .
There is no one who has not [tried to] help [the people] ;
They have not refrained on the ground of being unable .
I look up to the great heaven ;—
Why am I plunged in this sorrow ?

'I look up to the great heaven ,
But its stars sparkle bright .
My great officers and excellent men ,
Ye have drawn near [to Heaven] with reverence with all your powers .
Death is approaching ,
But do not cast away what you have done .
You are seeking not for me only ,
But to give rest to all our departments .
I look up to the great heaven ;—
When shall I be favoured with repose ?

259. 崧高 SONG GAO

崧高維嶽、駿極于天。
維嶽降神、生甫及申。
維申及甫、維周之翰。
四國于蕃、四方于宣。

亹亹申伯、王纘之事。
于邑于謝、南國是式。
王命召伯、定申伯之宅。
登是南邦、世執其功。

王命申伯、式是南邦。
因是謝人、以作爾庸。
王命召伯、徹申伯土田。
王命傅御、遷其私人。

申伯之功、召伯是營。
有俶其城、寢廟既成。
既成藐藐、王錫申伯。
四牡蹻蹻、鉤膺濯濯。

王遣申伯、路車乘馬。
我圖爾居、莫如南土。
錫爾介圭、以作爾寶。
往近王舅、南土是保。

申伯信邁、王餞于郿。
申伯還南、謝于誠歸。
王命召伯、徹申伯土疆。
以峙其粻、式遄其行。

申伯番番、既入于謝、徒御嘽嘽。
周邦咸喜、戎有良翰。
不顯申伯、王之元舅、文武是憲。

申伯之德、柔惠且直。
揉此萬邦、聞于四國。
吉甫作誦、其詩孔碩、其風肆好、以贈申伯。

Grandly lofty are the mountains ,
With their large masses reaching to the heavens .
From these mountains was sent down a Spirit ,
Who gave birth to [the princes of] Fu and shen .
Fu and Shen ,
Are the support of Zhou ,
Screens to all the States ,
Diffusing [their influence] over the four quarters of the kingdom .

Full of activity is the chief of Shen ,
And the king would employ him to continue the services [of his fathers] ,
With his capital in Xie ,
Where he should be a pattern to the States of the south .
The king gave charge to the earl of Zhou ,
To arrange all about the residence of the chief of Shen ,
Where he should do what was neccessary for the regions of the south ,
And where his posterity might maintain his merit .

The king gave charge to the chief of Shen ,
'Be a pattern to the regions of the south ,
And by means of those people of Xie ,
Proceed to display your merit . '
The king gave charge to the earl of Zhou ,
To make the statutory definition of the territory and fields of the chief of Shen .
The king gave charge to the chief 's steward ,
To remove the members of his family to the spot .

Of the services of the chief of Shen ,
The foundation was laid by the earl of Zhou ,
Who built first the walls [of this city] ,
And then completed his ancestral temple .
When the temple was completed , wide and grand ,
The king conferred on the chief of Shen ,
Four noble steeds ,
With their hooks for the trappings of the breast-bands , glittering bright .

The king sent away the chief of Shen ,
With its carriage of state and its team of horses .
'I have consulted about your residence ,
That it had best be fixed in the South .
I confer on you a great sceptre ,
As the symbol of your dignity .
Go , my uncle ,
And protect the country of the South .'

The chief of Shen took his departure ,
And the king gave him a parting feast in Mei .
Then the chief of Shen returned , [and proceeded] to the south ,
And found himself at last in Xie .
The king had given charge to the earl of Zhou ,
To make the statutory division of the lands ,
And to lay up stores of provisions ,
That the progress of the chief might be accelerated .

Martial-like , the chief of Shen ,
Entered into Xie .
His footmen and charioteers were numerous ,
And throughout the regions of Zhou all rejoiced .
'You have got a good support :—
Very distinguished is the chief of Shen ,
The great uncle of the king ,
The pattern of the officers , both civil and military . '

The virtue of the chief of Shen ,
Is mild , and regulated , and upright .
He will keep all these countries in order ,
And be famed throughout the kingdom .
[I] , Ji-fu , made this song ,
An ode of great excellence ,
Of influence good ,
To present to the chief of Shen .

260. 烝民 ZHENG MIN

天生烝民、有物有則。
民之秉彝、好是懿德。
天監有周、昭假于下、保茲天子、生仲山甫。

仲山甫之德、柔嘉維則。
令儀令色、小心翼翼。
古訓是式、威儀是力、天子是若、明命使賦。

王命仲山甫、式是百辟。
纘戎祖考、王躬是保。
出納王命、王之喉舌。
賦政于外、四方爰發。

肅肅王命、仲山甫將之。
邦國若否、仲山甫明之。
既明且哲、以保其身。
夙夜匪解、以事一人。

人亦有言、柔則茹之、剛則吐之。
維仲山甫、柔亦不茹、剛亦不吐、不侮矜寡、不畏疆禦。

人亦有言、德輶如毛、民鮮克舉之。
我儀圖之、維仲山甫舉之、愛莫助之。
袞職有闕、維仲山甫補之。

仲山甫出祖、四牡業業、征夫捷捷、每懷靡及。
四牡彭彭、八鸞鏘鏘。
王命仲山甫、城彼東方。

四牡騤騤、八鸞喈喈。
仲山甫徂齊、式遄其歸。
吉甫作誦、穆如清風。仲山甫永懷、以慰其心。

Heaven , in giving birth to the multitudes of the people ,
To every faculty and relationship annexed its law .
The people possess this normal nature ,
And they [consequently] love its normal virtue .
Heaven beheld the ruler of Zhou ,
Brilliantly affecting it by his conduct below ;
And to maintain him , its Son ,
Gave birth to Zhong Shan-fu .

The virtue of Zhong Shan-fu ,
Is mild and admirable , according as it ought to be .
Good is his deportment ; good his looks ;
The lessons of antiquity are his law ;
He is strenuously attentive to his deportment .
In full accord with the Son of Heaven ,
He is employed to spread abroad his bright decrees .

The king gave charge to Zhong Shan-fu :—
'Be a pattern to all the princes ;
Continue [the services of] your ancestors .
You have to protect the royal person ;
Give out the royal decrees , and report on them .
Be the king's throat and tongue ;
Spread his government abroad ,
So that in all quarters it shall be responded to . '

Most dignified was the king's charge ,
And Zhong Shan-fu carries it into execution .
In the States , the princes , be they good or bad ,
Are clearly distinguished by Zhong Shan-fu .
Intelligent is he and wise ,
Protecting his own person ;
Never idle , day or night ,
In the service of the One man .

The people have a saying :—
'The soft is devoured ,
And the hard is ejected from the mouth . '
But Zhong Shan-fu ,
Does not devour the soft ,
Nor eject the powerful .
He does not insult the poor or the widow ;
He does not fear the strong or the oppressive .

The people have a saying :—
'Virtue is light as a hair ,
But few are able to lift it . '
When I think of the matter ,
It is only Zhong Shan-fu that can lift it .
I love him , but can do nothing to help him .
Any defects in the king's duties ,
Are supplied by Zhong Shan-fu .

Zhong Shan-fu went forth , having sacrificed to the Spirit of the road .
His four steeds were strong ;
His men were alert ;
He was always anxious lest he should not be equal to his commission ;
His steeds went on without stopping ,
To the tinkling of their eight bells .
The king had given charge to Zhong Shan-fu ,
To fortify the city there in the east .

With his four steeds so strong ,
And their eight bells , all tinkling ,
Zhong Shan-fu proceeded to Qi ;—
And he will soon return .
I , Yin Ji-fu , have made this song :—
May it enter like a quiet wind ,
Among the constant anxieties of Zhong Shan-fu ,
To soothe his mind !

261. 韓奕 HAN YI

奕奕梁山、維禹甸之、有倬其道。
韓侯受命、王親命之、纘戎祖考。
無廢朕命、夙夜匪解。
虔共爾位、朕命不易。
榦不庭方、以佐戎辟。

四牡奕奕、孔脩且張。
韓侯入覲、以其介圭、入覲于王。
王錫韓侯、淑旂綏章。
簟茀錯衡。
玄袞赤舄、鉤膺鏤錫、鞹鞃淺幭、鞗革金厄。

韓侯出祖、出宿于屠。
顯父餞之、清酒百壺。
其殽維何、炰鱉鮮魚。
其蔌維何、維筍及蒲。
其贈維何、乘馬路車。
籩豆有且、侯氏燕胥。

韓侯取妻、汾王之甥、蹶父之子。
韓侯迎止、于蹶之里。
百兩彭彭、八鸞鏘鏘、不顯其光。
諸娣從之、祁祁如雲。
韓侯顧之、爛其盈門。

蹶父孔武、靡國不到。
為韓姞相攸、莫如韓樂。
孔樂韓土、川澤訏訏、魴鱮甫甫、麀鹿噳噳、有熊有羆、有貓有虎。
慶既令居、韓姞燕譽。

溥彼韓城、燕師所完。
以先祖受命、因時百蠻。
王錫韓侯、其追其貊、奄受北國、因以其伯。
實墉實壑、實畝實籍、獻其貔皮、赤豹黃羆。

Very grand is the mountain of Liang ,
Which was made cultivable by Yu .
Bright it is the way from it ,
[Along which came] the marquis of Han to receive investiture .
The king himself gave the charge :—
'Continue the services of your ancestors ;
Let not my charge to you come to nought .
Be diligent , early and late ,
And reverently discharge your duties ;—
So shall my appointment of you not change .
Be a support against those princes who do not come to court ,
Thus assisting your sovereign . '

With his four steeds , all noble ,
Very long , and large ,
The marquis of Han came to court ,
With the large sceptre of his rank ;—
He entered and appeared before the king .
The king gave him ,
A fine dragon-flag , with its feathery ornaments ;
A chequered bamboo-screen , and an ornamented yoke ;
A dark-coloured robe with the dragons on it , and the redslippers ;
The hooks for the trappings of the breast-bands , and the carved frontlets ;
The leaning-board bound with leather , and a tiger's skin to cover it ,
The ends of the reins , with their metal rings .

When the marquis of Han left the court , he sacrificed to the Spirit of the road ;
He went forth , and lodged for the night in Tu .
There Xian-fu gave him the parting feast ;—
With a hundred vases of clear spirits .
And what were the viands ?
Roast turtle and fresh fish .
And what were the vegetables ?
Bamboo sprouts and pu.
And what were the gifts ?
A carriage of state with its team .
Many were the vessels of sauces and fruits ;
And the other princes [at court] joined in the feast .

The marquis of Han took to himself a wife , —
A niece of king Fen ,
The daughter of Jue-fu .
The marquis of Han went to receive her .
To the residence of Jue .
His hundred chariots were in grand array ,
The eight bells of each emitting their tinkling ;—
Illustrious was the glory [of the occasion] .
The virgins , her companions , followed the lady ,
Leisurely like a beautiful cloud .
The marquis of Han looked round at them ,
Filling the gate with their splendour .

Jue-fu is very martial ,
And there is no State which he had not visited .
When he would select a home for Han-ji ,
There seemed none so pleasant as Han ,
Very pleasant is the territory of Han ,
With its large streams and meres ,
Full of big bream and tench ;
With its multitudes of deer ,
With its bears and grisly bears ;
With its wild-cats and tigers .
Glad was he of so admirable a situation ,
And here Han-ji found rest and joy .

Large is the wall of [the city of] Han ,
Built by the multitudes of Yan .
As his ancestor had received charge ,
To preside over all the wild tribes [of that quarter] ,
The king [now] gave to the marquis of Han ,
The Qi and the Mo ,
Forthwith to hold the States of the north ,
And to preside over them as their chief ;
Making strong his walls , and deep his moats ,
Laying out his fields , regulating his revenues ,
Presenting his skins of the white fox ,
With those of the red panther and the yellow grisly bear .

262. 江漢 JIANG HAN

江漢浮浮、武夫滔滔。
匪安匪遊、淮夷來求。
既出我車、既設我旟。
匪安匪舒、淮夷來鋪。

江漢湯湯、武夫洸洸。
經營四方、告成于王。
四方既平、王國庶定。
時靡有爭、王心載寧。

江漢之滸、王命昭虎、式辟四方、徹我疆土。
匪疚匪棘、王國來極。
于理于理、至于南海。

王命昭虎、來旬來宣。
文武受命、召公維翰。
無曰予小子、召公是似。
肇敏戎公、用錫爾祉。

釐爾圭瓚、鬯一卣。
告于文人、錫山土田。
于周受命、自召祖命。
虎拜稽首、天子萬年。

虎拜稽首、對揚王休、作召公考、天子萬壽。
明明天子、令聞不已、矢其文德、洽此四國。

Large was the volume of the Jiang and the Han ,
And the troops advanced like a flowing current .
There was no resting , no idle wandering ;—
We were seeking for the tribes of the Huai .
We had sent forth our chariots ;
We had displayed our falcon-banners .
There was no resting , no remissness ;—
Against the tribes of the Huai were we marshalled .

Large flowed the Jiang and the Han ,
And grandly martial looked the troops .
The whole country had been reduced to order ,
And an announcement of our success had been made to be king .
When the whole country was pacified ,
The king's State began to feel settled .
There was then an end of strife ,
And the king's heart was composed .

On the banks of the Jiang and the Han ,
The king had given charge to Hu of Zhou :—
'Open up the whole of the country ;
Make the statutory division of my lands there ;
Not to distress the people , nor with urgency ,
But making them conform to the royal state .
Make the larger and the smaller divisions of hte ground ,
As far as the southern sea . '

The king gave charge to Hu of Zhou :—
'You have everywhere diffused [and carried out my orders] .
When Wen and Wu received their appointment ,
The duke of Zhou was their strong support .
You do not [only] have a regard to me the little child ,
But you try to resemble that duke of Zhou .
You have commenced and earnestly displayed your merit ;
And I will make you happy .

'I give you a large libation-cup of jade ,
And a jar of herb-flavoured spirits from the black millet .
I have made announcement to the accomplished one ,
And confer on you hills , lands , and fields .
In Yu-zhou shall you receive investiture ,
According as your ancestor received his . '
Hu bowed with his head to the ground , [and said] ,
'May the Son of Heaven live for ever ! '

Hu bowed with his head to the ground ,
And in response displayed the goodness of the king ,
And roused himself to maintain the fame of his ancestor .
'May the Son of Heaven live for ever !
Very intelligent is the Son of Heaven ;
His good fame shall be without end .
Let him display his civil virtues ,
Till they permeate all quarters of the kingdom .

263. 常武 CHANG WU

赫赫明明、王命卿士、南仲大祖、大師皇父。
整我六師、以脩我戎。
既敬既戒、惠此南國。

王謂尹氏、命程伯休父。
左右陳行、戒我師旅。
率彼淮浦、省此徐土。
不留不處、三事就緒。

赫赫業業、有嚴天子。
王舒保作、匪紹匪遊、徐方繹騷。
震驚徐方、如雷如霆、徐方震驚。

王奮厥武、如震如怒。
進厥虎臣、闞如虓虎。
鋪敦淮濆、仍執醜虜。
截彼淮浦、王師之所。

王旅嘽嘽、如飛如翰、如江如漢、如山之苞、如川之流、綿綿翼翼、不測不克、濯征徐國。

王猶允塞、徐方既來。
徐方既同、天子之功。
四方既平、徐方來庭。
徐方不回、王曰還歸。

Grandly and clearly ,
The king gave charge to his minister ,
A descendant of Nan Zhong ,
The Grand-master Huang-fu :—
'Put my six armies in order ,
And get ready all my apparatus of war .
Be reverent , be cautious ,
That we may give comfort to the States of the south . '

The king said to the Head of the Yin clan ,
'Give a charge to Xiu-fu , earl of Cheng ,
To undertake the arrangement of the ranks ,
And to warn all my troops .
Along the bank of the Huai ,
[We go] to see the land of Xu ,
Not delaying [our march] , not occupying [the territory] ,
That the threefold labours [of husbandry ] may proceed in order . '

Full of grandeur and strength ,
The Son of Heaven looked majestic .
Leisurely and calmly the king advanced ,
Not with his troops in masses , nor in broken lines .
The region of Xu from stage to stage was moved ;
It shook and was terrified , — the region of Xu .
As by the roll of thunder or its sudden crash ,
The region of Xu shook and was terrified .

The king aroused his warlike energy ,
As if he were moved with anger .
He advanced his tiger-like officers .
Looking fierce like raging tigers .
He displayed his masses along the bank of the Huai ,
And forthwith seized a crowd of captives .
Securely kept was the country about the bank of the Huai ,
Occupied by the royal armies .

The royal legions were numerous ;
[Swift] as if they flew on wings ,
[Imposing] as the current of the Jiang and the Han ;
Firm as a mountain ;
Rolling on like a stream ;
Continuous and orderly ;
Inscrutable , invincible ;
Grandly proceeding to set in order the States of Xu .

The king's plans were directed in truth and sincerity ,
And the region of Xu came [at once to terms] ;
Its [chiefs] were all collected together ;—
Through the merit of the Son of Heaven .
The country was all reduced to order ;
Its [chiefs] appeared before the king .
They would not again change their minds ,
And the kings said , ' Let us return . '

264. 瞻卬 ZHAN YANG

瞻卬昊天、則我不惠。
孔填不寧、降此大厲。
邦靡有定、士民其瘵。
蟊賊蟊疾、靡有夷屆。
罪罟不收、靡有夷瘳。

人有土田、女反有之。
人有民人、女覆奪之。
此宜無罪、女反收之。
彼宜有罪、女覆說之。

哲夫成城、哲婦傾城。
懿厥哲婦、為梟為鴟。
婦有長舌、維厲之階。
亂匪降自天、生自婦人。
匪教匪誨、時維婦寺。

鞫人忮忒、譖始竟背。
豈曰不極、伊胡為慝。
如賈三倍、君子是識。
婦無公事、休其蠶織。

天何以刺、何神不富。
舍爾介狄、維予胥忌。
不弔不祥、威儀不類。
人之云亡、邦國殄瘁。

天之降罔、維其優儀。
人之云亡、心之憂矣。
天之降罔、維其幾矣。
人之云亡、心之悲矣。

觱沸檻泉、維其深矣。
心之憂矣、寧自今矣。
不自我先、不自我後。
藐藐昊天、無不克鞏。
無忝皇祖、式救爾後。

I look up to great Heaven ,
But it shows us no kindness .
Very long have we been disquieted ,
And these great calamities are sent down [upon us] .
There is nothing settled in the country ;
Officers and people are in distress .
Through the insects from without and from within ,
There is no peace or limit [to our misery] .
The net of crime is not taken up ,
And there is no peace nor cure [for our state] .

Men had their ground and fields ,
But you have them [now] .
Men had their people and followers ,
But you have violently taken them from them .
Here is one who ought to be held guiltless ,
But you snare him [in the net of crime] .
There is one who ought to be held guilty ,
But you let him escape [from it] .

A wise man builds up the wall [of a city] ,
But a wise woman overthrows it .
Admirable may be the wise woman ,
But she is [no batter than] an owl .
A woman with a long tongue ,
Is [like] a stepping-stone to disorder .
[Disorder] does not come down from heaven ;—
It is produced by the woman .
Those from whom come no lessons , no instruction ,
Are women and eunuchs .

They beat men down , hurtful , deceitful .
Their slanders in the beginning may be falsified in the end ,
But they do not say [that their words were] very wrong ;—
[They say] , ' What evil was there in them ?
As if in the three times cent per cent of traffic ,
A superior man should have any knowledge of it ;
So a woman who has nothing to do with public affairs ,
Leaves her silk-worms and weaving .

Why is it that Heaven is [thus] reproving [you] ?
Why is it that the Spirits are not blessing [you] ?
You neglect your great barbarian [foes] ,
And regard me with hatred .
You are reagrdless of the evil omens [that abound] ,
And your demeanour is all-unseemly ;
[Good] men are going away ,
And the country is sure to go to ruin .

Heaven is letting down its net ,
And many [are the calamities in it] .
[Good] men are going away ,
And my heart is sorrowful .
Heaven is letting down its net ,
And soon [will all be caught in it ] .
Good men are going away .
And my heart is sad .

Right from the spring comes the water bubbling ,
Revealing its depth .
The sorrow of my heart ,—
Is it [only] of to-day ?
Why were these things not before me ?
Or why were they not after me ?
But myteriously Great Heaven ,
Is able to strengthen anything ;
Do not disgrace your great ancestors ,
And it will save your posterity .

265. 召旻 ZHOU WEN

旻天疾威、天篤降喪。
瘨我饑饉、民卒流亡。
我居圉卒荒。

天降罪罟、蟊賊內訌、昏椓靡共、
潰潰回遹、實靖夷我邦。

皋皋訿訿、曾不知其玷。
兢兢業業、孔填不寧、我位孔貶。

如彼歲早、草不潰茂。
如彼棲苴。
我相此邦、無不潰止。

維昔之富、不如時、維今之疚、不如茲。
彼疏斯粺、胡不自替、職兄斯引。

池之竭矣、不云自頻。
泉之竭矣、不云自中。
溥斯害矣、職兄斯弘、不災我躬。

昔先王受命、有如召公、日辟國百里。
今也日蹙國百里。
於乎哀哉、維今之人、不尚有舊。

Compassionate Heaven is arrayed in angry terrors ;
Heaven is indeed sending down ruin ,
Afflicting us with famine ,
So that the people are all wandering fugitives ;—
In the settled regions and on the borders all is desolation .

Heaven sends down its net of crime ;—
Devouring insects , who weary and confuse men's minds ,
Ignorant , oppressive , neglient ,
Breeders of confusion , utterly perverse :—
These are the men employed to tranquilize our country .

Insolent and slanderous , —
[The king] does not know a flaw in them .
We , careful and feeling in peril ,
For long in unrest ,
Are constantly subjected to degradation .

As in a year of drought ,
The grass not attaining to luxuriance ;
As water plants attached to a tree ;
So do I see in this country ,
All going to confusion .

The wealth of former days ,,
Was not like our present condition .
The distress of the present ,
Did not previously reach this degree .
Those are [like] coarse rice , these are [like] fine ;—
Why do you not retire of yourselves ,
But prolong my anxious sorrow ?

A pool becomes dry ,—
Is it not because no water comes to it from its banks ?
A spring becomes dry ,—
Is it not because no water rises in it from itself ?
Great is the injury [all about] .
So that my anxious sorrow is increased .
Will not calamity light on my person ?

Formerly when the former kings received their appointment ,
There were such ministers as the duke of Zhou ,
Who would in a day enlarge the kingdom a hundred Li ;
Now it is contracted in a day a hundred Li .
Oh ! Alas !
Among the men of the present day ,
Are there not still some with the old virtue ?

University of Virginia Library

3. 大雅(GREATER ODES OF THE KINGDOM)

文王之什(DECADE OF WEN WANG)

235. 文王 WEN WANG