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Heaven protects and establishes thee, |
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With the greatest securtiy; |
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Makes thee entirely virtuous, |
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That thou mayest enjoy every happiness; |
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Grants thee much increase, |
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So that thou hast all in abundance. |
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Heaven protects and establishes thee, |
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It grants thee all excellence, |
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So that thine every matter is right, |
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And thou receivest every heavenly favour. |
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It sends down to thee long-during happiness, |
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Which the days are not sufficient to enjoy. |
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Heaven protects and establishes thee, |
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So that in every thing thou dost prosper, |
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Like the high hills, and the mountain masses, |
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Like the topmost ridges, and the greatest bulks; |
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That, as the stream ever coming on, |
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Such is thine increase. |
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With happy auspices and purifications, thou bringest the offerings, |
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And dost filially present them; |
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In spring, summer, autumn, and winter, |
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To the dukes and former kings, |
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Who says, ' We give to thee, |
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Myriad of years of duration unlimited. ' |
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The spirits come, |
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And confer on thee many blessings. |
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The people are simple and honest, |
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Daily enjoying their meat and drink. |
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All the black-haired race, in all their surnames, |
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Universally practise your virtue. |
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Like the moon advancing to the full, |
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Like the sun ascending the heavens, |
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Like the age of the southern hills, |
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Never waning, never falling, |
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Like the luxuriance of the fir and the cypress; -- |
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May such be thy succeeding line! |
Published
by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003
by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia