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When the guests first approach the mats, |
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They take their places on the left and the right in an orderly manner. |
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The dishes of bamboo and wood are arranged in rows, |
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With the sauces and kernels displayed in them. |
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The spirits are mild and good, |
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And they drink, all equally reverent. |
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The bells and drums are properly arranged; |
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And they raise their pledge-cups with order and ease. |
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[Then] the great target is set up; |
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The bows and arrows are made ready for the shooting; |
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The archers are matched in classes. |
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' Show your skill in shooting, ' [it is said]. |
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' I shall hit that mark, ' [it is responded], |
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'And pray you to drink the cup. ' |
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The dancers move with their flutes to the notes of the organ and drum, |
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While all the instruments perform in harmony. |
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All this is done to please the meritorious ancestors, |
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Along with the observance of all ceremonies. |
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When all the ceremonies have been performed, |
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Grandly and fully, |
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'We confer on you great blessings, ' [says the representative of the dead], |
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'And may your descendants [also] be happy! ' |
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They are happy and delighted, |
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And each of them exerts his ability. |
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A guest draws the spirits, |
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An attendant enters again, with a cup, |
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And fills it, -- the cup of rest. |
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Thus are performed your seasonal ceremonies. |
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When the guests first approach the mats, |
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All harmonies are they and reverent. |
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Before they have drunk too much, |
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Their deportment is carefully observant of propriety; |
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But when they have drunk too much, |
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Their deportment becomes light and frivolous: -- |
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They leave their seats, and go elsewhere, |
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They keep dancing and capering. |
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Before they have drunk too much, |
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Their deportment is cautious and grave: -- |
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But when they have drunk too much, |
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Their deportment becomes indecent and rude: -- |
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Thus when they have too mcuh, |
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They lose all sense of orderliness. |
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When the guests have drunk too much, |
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They shout out and brawl. |
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They disorder the dishes; |
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They keep dancing in a fantastic manner. |
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Thus when they have drunk too much, |
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They become insensible of their errors. |
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With their caps on one side, and like to fall off, |
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They keep dancing the will not stop. |
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If, when they have drunk too much, they went out, |
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Both they [and their host] would be happy; |
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But remaining after they are drunk, |
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Is what is called doing injury to virtue. |
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Drinking is a good institution, |
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Only when there is good deportment in it. |
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On every occasion of drinking, |
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Some get drunk, and some do not. |
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An inspector is appointed, |
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With a recorder to assist him. |
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But those drunkards, in their vileness, |
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Are shamed of those who do not get drunk. |
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These have no opportunity to speak, |
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And prevent the others from proceeding to such great abandonment. |
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[They might say], ' Do not speak what you ought not to speak; |
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Do not say what you have no occasion to say, |
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If you speak, drunk as you are, |
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We will make you produce a ram without horns. |
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With three cups you lose your memories; -- |
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How dare you go on to more? ' |