University of Virginia Library

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 ?