Part 5 (2/2)

Khang was the honorary t.i.tle of Sung, the son and successor of king Wu, B.C. 1115 to 1079.

Heaven made its determinate appointment, which our two sovereigns received[2]. King Khang did not dare to rest idly in it, But night and day enlarged

[1. Meaning mount Khi.

2. Wan and Wu.]

its foundations by his deep and silent virtue. How did he continue and glorify (his heritage), Exerting all his heart, And so securing its tranquillity!

ODE 7. THE Wu KIANG.

APPROPRIATE TO A SACRIFICE TO KING WAN, a.s.sOCIATED WITH HEAVEN, IN THE HALL OF AUDIENCE.

There is, happily, an agreement among the critics as to the occasion to which this piece is referred. It took place in the last month of autumn, in the Hall of Audience, called also 'the Brilliant Hall,' and 'the Hall of Light.' We must suppose that the princes are all a.s.sembled at court, and that the king receives them in this hall. A sacrifice is then presented to G.o.d, with him is a.s.sociated king Wan, and the two being the fountain from which, and the channel through which, the sovereignty had come to Kau.

I have brought my offerings, A ram and a bull. May Heaven accept them[1]!

I imitate and follow and observe the statutes of king Wan, Seeking daily to secure the tranquillity of the kingdom. King Wan, the Blesser, has descended on the right, and accepted (the offerings).

Do I not, night and day, Revere the majesty of Heaven, Thus to preserve (its favour).

ODE 8. THE s.h.i.+H MaI.

APPROPRIATE TO KING Wu'S SACRIFICING TO HEAVEN, AND TO THE SPIRITS OF THE HILLS AND RIVERS, ON A PROGRESS THROUGH THE KINGDOM, AFTER THE OVERTHROW OF THE SHANG DYNASTY.

Here again there is an agreement among the critics. We find from the Zo Kwan and 'the Narratives of the States.' that the

[1. This is a prayer. The wors.h.i.+pper, it is in view of the majesty of Heaven, shrank from a.s.suming that G.o.d would certainly accept his sacrifice. He a.s.sumes, below, that king Wan does so.]

piece was, when those compilations were made, considered to be the work of the duke of Kau; and, no doubt, it was made by him soon after the accession of Wu to the kingdom, and when he was making a royal progress in a.s.sertion of his being appointed by Heaven to succeed to the rulers of Shang. The 'I' in the fourteenth line is, most probably, to be taken of the duke of Kau, who may have recited the piece on occasion of the sacrifices, in the hearing of the a.s.sembled princes and lords.

Now is he making a progress through his states; May Heaven deal with him as its son!

Truly are the honour and succession come from it to the House of Kau. To his movements All respond with tremulous awe. He has attempted and given rest to all spiritual beings [1], Even to (the spirits of) the Ho and the highest hills. Truly is the king our sovereign lord.

Brilliant and ill.u.s.trious is the House of Kau. He has regulated the positions of the princes; He has called in s.h.i.+elds and spears; He has returned to their cases bows and arrows[2]. He will cultivate admirable virtue, And display it throughout these great regions. Truly will the king preserve the appointment.

[1. 'All spiritual beings' is, literally, 'the hundred spirits,' meaning the spirits presiding, under Heaven, over all nature, and especially the spirits of the rivers and hills throughout the kingdom. Those of the Ho and the lofty mountains are mentioned, because if their spirits Were satisfied with Wu, those of all other mountains and hills, no doubt, were so.

2. Compare with these lines the last chapter of 'the Completion of the War' in the Shu.]

<script>