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When [Ding] culminated [at night fall], |
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He began to build the palace at Chu. |
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Determining its aspects by means of the sun, |
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He built the mansion at Chu. |
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He planted about it hazel and chesnut trees, |
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The yi, the tong, the zi, and the varnish-tree, |
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Which, when cut down, might afford materials for lutes. |
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He ascended those old walls, |
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And thense surveyed [the site of ] Chu. |
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He surveyed Chu and Tang, |
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With the high hills and lofty elevations about: |
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He descended and examined the mulberry trees; |
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He then divined, and got a fortunate response; |
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And thus the issue has been truly good. |
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When the good rain had fallen, |
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He would order his groom, |
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By starlight, in the morning, to yoke his carriage, |
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And would then stop among the mulberry trees and fields. |
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But not only thus did he show what he was; -- |
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Maintaining in his heart a profound devotion to his duties, |
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His tall horses and mares amounted to three thousand. |
Published
by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003
by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia