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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. |
Published
by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003
by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia