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King Wen is on high; |
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Oh! bright is he in heaven. |
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Although Zhou was an old country, |
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The [favouring] appointment lighted on it recently. |
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Illustrious was the House of Zhou, |
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And the appointment of God came at the proper season. |
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King Wen ascends and descends, |
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On the left and the right of God. |
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Full of earnest activity was king Wen, |
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And his fame is without end. |
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The gifts [of God] to Zhou, |
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Extend to the descendants of king Wen; -- |
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To the descendants of king Wen, |
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In the direct line and the collateral branches for a hundred generations. |
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All the officers of Zhou, |
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Shall [also] be illustrious from age to age. |
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They shall be illustrious from age to age, |
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Zealously and reverently pursuing their plans. |
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Admirable are the many officers, |
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Born in this royal kingdom. |
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The royal kingdom is able to produce them, -- |
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The suppporters of [the House of] Zhou. |
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Numerous is the array of officers, |
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And by them king Wen enjoys his repose. |
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Profound was king Wen; |
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Oh! continuous and bright was his feeling of reverence. |
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Great is the appointment of Heaven! |
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There were the descendants of [the sovereigns] of Shang; -- |
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The descendants of the sovereigns of Shang, |
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Were in number more than hundreds of thousands; |
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But when God gave the command, |
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They became subject to Zhou. |
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They became subject to Zhou. |
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The appointment of Heaven is not constant. |
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The officers of Yin, admirable and alert, |
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Assist at the libations in [our] capital; -- |
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They assist at those libations, |
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Always wearing the hatchets on their lower garment and their peculiar cap. |
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O ye loyal ministers of the king, |
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Ever think of your ancestor! |
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Ever think of your ancestor, |
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Cultivating your virtue, |
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Always striving to accord with the will [of Heaven]. |
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So shall you be seeking for much happiness. |
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Before Yin lost the multitudes, |
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[Its kings] were the assessors fo God. |
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Look to Yin as a beacon; |
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The great appointment is not easily [preserved]. |
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The appointment is not easily [preserved], |
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Do not cause your own extinction. |
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Display and make bright your righteousness and name, |
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And look at [the fate of] Yin in the light of Heaven. |
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The doings of High Heaven, |
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Have neither sound nor smell. |
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Take your pattern from king Wen, |
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And the myriad regions will repose confidence in you. |
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The illustration of illustrious [virtue] is required below, |
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And the dread majesty is on high. |
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Heaven is not readily to be relied on; |
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It is not easy to be king. |
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Yin's rightful heir to the heavenly seat, |
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Was not permitted to possess the kingdom. |
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Jin, the second of the princesses of Zhi, |
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From [the domain of] Yin-shang, |
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Came to be married to the prince of Zhou, |
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And because his wife in his capital, |
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Both she and king Ji, |
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Were entirely virtuous. |
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[Then] Da-ren became pregnant, |
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And gave birth to our king Wen. |
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This king Wen, |
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Watchfully and reverently, |
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With entire intelligence served God, |
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And so secured the great blessing. |
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His virtue was without deflection; |
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And in consequence he received [the allegiance of] the States from all quarters. |
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Heaven surveyed this lower world; |
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And its appointment lighted [on king Wen]. |
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In his early years, |
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It made for him a mate; -- |
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On the north of the Qia; |
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On the banks of the Wei. |
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When king Wen would wive, |
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There was the lady in a large State. |
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In a large State was the lady, |
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Like a fair denizen of Heaven. |
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The ceremonies determined the auspiciousness [of the union]. |
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And in person he met her on the Wei. |
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Over it he made a bridge of boats; -- |
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The glory [of the occasion] was illustrious. |
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The favouring appointment was from Heaven, |
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Giving the throne to our king Wen, |
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In the capital of Zhou. |
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The lady-successor was from Xin, |
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Its eldest daughter, who came to marry him. |
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She was blessed to give birth to king Wu, |
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Who was preserved, and helped, and received also the appointment, |
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And in accordance with it smote the great Shang. |
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The troops of Yin-shang, |
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Were collected like a forest, |
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And marshalled in the wilderness of Mu. |
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We rose [to the crisis]; -- |
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'God is with you, ' [said Shang-fu to the king], |
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'Have no doubts in your heart. ' |
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The wilderness of Mu spread out extensive; |
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Bright shone the chariots of sandal; |
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The teams of bays, black-maned and white-bellied, galloped along; |
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The grand-master Shang-fu, |
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Was like an eagle on the wing, |
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Assisting king Wu, |
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Who at one onset smote the great Shang. |
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That morning's encounter was followed by a clear bright [day]. |
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In long trains ever increasing grow the gourds. |
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When [our] people first sprang, |
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From the country about the Ju and the Qi, |
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The ancient duke Tan-fu, |
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Made for them kiln-like huts and caves, |
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Ere they had yet any houses. |
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The ancient duke Tan-fu, |
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Came in the morning, galloping his horses, |
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Along the banks of the western rivers, |
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To the foot of [mount] Qi; |
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And there, he and the lady Jiang, |
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Came, and together looked out for a site on which to settle. |
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The plain of Zhou looked beautiful and rich, |
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With its violets and sowthistles [sweet] as dumplings. |
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There he began with consulting [his followers]; |
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There he singed the tortoise-shell, [and divined]. |
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The responses were - there to stay, and then; |
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And they proceeded there to build their houses. |
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He encouraged the people and settled them; |
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Here on the left, there on the right. |
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He divided the ground into larger tracts and smaller portions; |
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He dug the ditches; he defined the acres; |
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From the west to the east, |
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There was nothing which he did not take in hand. |
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He called his superintendent of works; |
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He called his minister of instruction; |
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And charged them with the building of the houses. |
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With the line they made everything straight; |
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They bound the frame-boards tight, so that they should rise regularly. |
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Uprose the ancestral temple in its solemn grandeur. |
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Crowds brought the earth in baskets |
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They threw it with shouts into the frames; |
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They beat it with responsive blows; |
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They pared the walls repeatedly, and they sounded strong. |
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Five thousand cubits of them arose together, |
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So that the roll of the great drum did not overpower [the noise of the builders]. |
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They set up the gate of the enceinte; |
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And the gate of the enceinte stood high. |
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They set up the court gate; |
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And the court gate stood grand. |
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They reared the great altar [to the Spirits of the land], |
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From which all great movements should proceed. |
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Thus though he could nto prevent the rage [of his foes], |
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He did not let fall his own fame. |
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The oaks and the Yu were [gradually] thinned, |
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And roads for travelling were opened. |
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The hordes of the Hun disappeared, |
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Startled and panting. |
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[The chiefs of] Yu and Rui were brought to an agreement, |
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By king Wen's stimulating their natural virtue. |
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Then, I may say, some came to him, previously not knowing him; |
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And some, drawn the last by the first; |
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And some, drawn by his rapid success; |
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Ans some, by his defence [of the weak] from insult. |
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Look at the foot of the Han, |
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How abundantly grow the hazel and the arrow-thorn! |
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Easy and self-possessed was our prince, |
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In his pursuit of dignity [still] easy and self-possessed! |
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Massive is that libation-cup of jade, |
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With the yellow liquid [sparkling] in it. |
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Easy and self-possessed was our prince, |
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The fit recipient of blessing and dignity. |
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The hawk flies up to heaven; |
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The fishes leap in the deep. |
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Easy and self-possessed was our-prince; -- |
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Did he not exert an influence upon men? |
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His clear spirits are in vessel; |
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His red bull is ready; -- |
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To offer, to sacrifice, |
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To increase his bright happiness. |
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Thick grow the oaks and the yu, |
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Which the people use for fuel. |
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Easy and self-possessed was our prince, |
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Cheered and encouraged by the Spirits. |
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Luxuriant are the dolichos and other creepers, |
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Clinging to the branches and stems, |
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Easy and self-possessed was our prince, |
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Seeking for happiness by no crooked ways. |
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Pure and reverent was Da-ren, |
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The mother of king Wen; |
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Loving was she to Zhou Jiang; -- |
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A wife becoming the House of Zhou. |
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Da-si inherited her excellent fame, |
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And from her came a hundred sons. |
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He conformed to the example of his ancestors, |
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And their Spirits had no occasion for complaint. |
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Their Spirits had no occasion for dissatisfaction, |
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And his example acted on his wife, |
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Extended to his brethren, |
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And was felt by all the clans and States. |
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Full of harmony was he in his palace; |
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Full of reverence in the ancestral temple. |
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Out of sight he still felt as under inspection; |
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Unweariedly he maintained [his virtue]. |
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Though he could not prevent [some] great calamities, |
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His brightness and magnanimity were without stain. |
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Without previous instruction he did what was right; |
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Without admonition, he went on [in the path of goodness]. |
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So, grown up men became virtuous [through him], |
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And young men made [constant] attainments. |
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[Our] ancient prince never felt weariness, |
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And from him were the fame and eminence of his officers. |
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Great is God, |
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Beholding this lower world in majesty. |
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He surveyed the four quarters [of the kingdom], |
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Seeking for some one to give settlement to the people. |
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Those two [earlier] dynasties, |
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Had failed to satisfy Him with their government; |
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So throughout the various States, |
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He sought and considered, |
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For one on which he might confer the rule. |
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Hating all the great [States], |
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He turned His kind regards on the west, |
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And there gave a settlement [to king Da]. |
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[King Da] raised up and removed, |
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The dead trunks, and the fallen trees. |
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He dressed and regulated, |
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The bushy clumps, and the [tangled] rows. |
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He opened up and cleared, |
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The tamarix trees, and the stave-trees. |
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He hewed and thinned, |
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The mountain-mulberry trees. |
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God having brought about the removal thither of this intelligent ruler, |
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The Guan hordes fled away. |
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Heaven raised up a helpmeet for him. |
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And the appointment he had received was made sure. |
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God surveyed the hills, |
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Where the oaks and yu were thinned, |
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And paths made through the firs and cypresses. |
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God, who had raised the State, raised up a proper ruler for it; -- |
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From the time of Da-bo and king Ju [this was done]. |
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Now this king Ju, |
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In his heart was full of brotherly duty. |
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Full of duty to his elder brother, |
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He gave himself the more to promote the prosperity [of the country], |
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And secured to him the glory [of his act]. |
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He accepted his dignity, and did not lose it, |
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And [ere long his family] possessed the whole kingdom. |
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The king Ju, |
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Was gifted by God with the power of judgement, |
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So that the fame of his virtue silently grew. |
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His virtue was highly intelligent; -- |
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Highly intelligent and of rare discrimination; |
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Able to lead, able to rule, -- |
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To rule over this great country; |
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Rendering a cordial submission, effecting a cordial union. |
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When [the sway] came to king Wen, |
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His virtue left nothing to be dissatisfied with. |
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He received the blessing of God, |
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And it was extended to his descendants. |
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God said to king Wen, |
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' Be not like those who reject this and cling to that; |
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Be not like those who are ruled by their likings and desires; ' |
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So he grandly ascended before others to the height [of virtue]. |
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The people of Mi were disobedient, |
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Daring to oppose our great country, |
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And invaded Yuan, marching to Gung. |
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The king rose majestic in his wrath; |
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He marshalled his troops, |
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To stop the invading foes; |
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To consolidate the prosperity of Zhou; |
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To meet [the expectations of ] all under heaven. |
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He remained quietly in the capital; |
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But [his troops] went on from the borders of Yuan. |
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They ascended our lofty ridges, |
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And [the enemy] arrayed no forces on our hills, |
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On our hills, small or large, |
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Nor drank at our springs, |
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Our springs or our pools. |
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He then determined the finest of the plains, |
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And settled on the south of Ju, |
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On the side of the Wei; |
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The centre of all the States, |
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The resort of the lower people. |
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God said to king Wen, |
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'I am pleased with your intelligent virtue, |
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Not loudly proclaimed nor pourtrayed, |
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Without extravagance or changeableness, |
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Without consciousness of effort on your part, |
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In accordance with the pattern of God. ' |
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God said to king Wen, |
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' Take measures against the country of your foes. |
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Along with your brethren, |
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Get ready your scaling ladders, |
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And yoru engines of onfall and assault, |
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To attack the walls of Chong. ' |
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The engines of onfall and assault were gently plied, |
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Against the walls of Chong high and great; |
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Captives for the question were brought in one after another; |
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' The left ears [of the slain] were taken leisurely. |
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He sacrificed to God, and to the Father of War, |
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Thus seeking to induce submission; |
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And throughout the kingdom none dared to insult him. |
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The engines of onfall and assault were vigorously plied, |
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Against the walls of Chong very strong; |
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He attacked it, and let loose all his forces; |
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He extinguished [its sacrifices], and made an end of its existence; |
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And throughout the kingdom none dared to oppose him.' |
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When he planned the commencement of the marvellous tower, |
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He planned it, and defined it; |
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And the people in crowds undertook the work, |
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And in no time completed it. |
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When he planned the commencement, [he said], ' Be not in a hurry; ' |
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But the people came as if they were his children. |
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The king was in the marvellous park, |
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Where the does were lying down, -- |
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The does, so sleek and fat; |
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With the white birds glistening. |
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The king was by the marvellous pond; -- |
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How full was it of fishes leaping about! |
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On his posts was the toothed face-board, high and strong, |
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With the large drums and bells. |
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In what unison were their sounds! |
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What joy was there in the hall with its circlet of water! |
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In what unison sounded the drums and bells! |
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What joy was there in the hall with its circlet of water! |
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The lizard-skin drums rolled harmonious, |
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As the blind musicians performed their parts. |
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Successors tread in the steps [of their predecessors] in our Zhou. |
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For generations there had been wise kings; |
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The three sovereigns were in heaven; |
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And king [Wu] was their worthy successor in his capital. |
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King [Wu] was their worthy successor in his capital, |
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Rousing himself to seek for the hereditary virtue, |
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Always striving to accord with the will [of Heaven]; |
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And thus he secured the confidence due to a king. |
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He secured the confidence due to a king, |
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And became a pattern of all below him. |
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Ever thinking how to be filial, |
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His filial mind was the model [which he supplied]. |
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Men loved him, the One man, |
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And responded [to his example] with a docile virtue. |
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Ever thinking how to be filial, |
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He brilliantly continued the doings [of his fathers]. |
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Brilliantly! and his posterity, |
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Continuing to walk in the steps of their forefathers, |
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For myriads of years, |
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Will receive the blessing of Heaven. |
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They will receive the blessing of Heaven. |
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And from the four quarters [of the kingdom] will felicitations come to them. |
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For myriads of years, |
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Will there not be their helpers? |
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King Wen is famous; |
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Yea, he is very famous. |
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What he sought was the repose [of the people]; |
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What he saw was the completion [of his work]. |
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A sovereign true was king Wen! |
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King Wen received the appointment [of Heaven], |
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And achieved his martial success. |
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Having overthrown Chong, |
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He fixed his [capital] city in Feng. |
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A sovereign true was king Wen! |
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He repaired the walls along the [old] moat: |
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His establishing himself in Feng was according to [the pattern of his forefathers], |
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It was not that he was in haste to gratify his wishes; -- |
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It was to show the filial duty which had come down to him. |
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A sovereign true was [our] royal prince! |
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His royal merit was brightly displayed, |
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By those walls of Feng. |
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There were collected [the sympathies of the people of] the four quarters, |
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Who regarded the royal prince as their protector. |
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A sovereign true was [our] royal prince! |
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The Feng-water flowed on to the east [of the city], |
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Through the meritorious labour of Yu. |
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There were collected [the sympathies of the people of ] the four quarters, |
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Who would have the great king as their ruler. |
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A sovereign true was the great king! |
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In the capital of Hao he built his hall with its circlet of water; |
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From the west to the east, |
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From the south to the north, |
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There was not a thought but did him homage. |
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A sovereign true was the great king! |
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He examined and divined, did the king, |
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About settling in the capital of Hao. |
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The tortoise-shell decided the site, |
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And king Wu completed the city. |
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A sovereign true was king Wu! |
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By the Feng-water grows the white millet; -- |
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Did not king Wu show wisdom in his employment of officers? |
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He would leave his plans to his descendants, |
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And secure comfort and support to his son. |
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A sovereign true was king Wu! |