THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

THE BOOK OF POETEY.
PART III.
GEEATEE ODES OF THE KINGDOM.
BOOK I. Decade of King Wan.
TITLE OF THE PAET. Little needs to be added here to what I have
said on the title of Part II. The term "greater " is given to the pieces
because of their greater length, and the themes of several of them being
of a more exalted kind,—the history and virtues of the ancestors of the
House of Chow, and of the founders of the dynasty. The first eighteen
pieces are "the correct Ya," and are attributed to the duke of Chow.
TITLE OF THE BOOK. As in the last Part, the odes should be arranged
in tens ; and each Decade takes its name from that of the first ode in it.
In this Book Wan is mainly the subject of the first eight pieces, and
king Woo is more prominent in the other two.
I.
The Wan rcang; narrative. CELEBRATING KING WAN, DEAD AND
ALIVE, AS THE FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY OF CHOW, SHOWING HOW
HIS VIRTUES DEEW TO HIM THE FAVOURING REGARD OF HEAVEN,
AXV MADE HIM A BRIGHT PATTERN TO HIS DESCENDANTS AND THEIR
MINISTERS.
It is to'be borne in mind that in this and other pieces Wan is spoken
of as " king Wan," as having been kinged by the duke of Chow after
the subjugation of tile Yin or Shang dynasty, when Woo, Wan's son, in
his old age received the appointment to the throne ;—see " The Doctrine
of the Mean," XVIII. 3. Wan never assumed the title of king himself.
The appointment of Heaven lighted on him, but it took effect only when
his son Fah—king Woo—became the sovereign of China.
The dynasty which Chow superseded is called indifferently Yin or
Shang, and sometimes Yin-shang, by a, combination of these names.
The descendants of its kings, appearing at the court of Chow, assisted at
the sacrifices of the king in his ancestral temple, and continued to wear
the insignia of rank belonging to them as of the royal House of Yin.
BK I. i.] THE BOOK OF POETET. 285
1 The royal Wan now rests on high,
Enshrined in brightness of the sky.
Chow as a state had long been known,
And Heaven's decree at last was shown.
Its lords had borne a glorious name ;
God kinged them when the season came.
King Wan ruled well when earth he trod;
Now moves his spirit near to God.
2 A strong-willed, earnest king was Wan,
And still his fame rolls widening on.
The gifts that God bestowed on Chow
Belong to Wan's descendants now.
Heaven blesses still with gifts divine
The hundred scions of his line;
And all the officers of Chow
From age to age more lustrous grow.
3 More Instrous still from age to age,
All reverent plans their zeal engage ;
And brilliant statesmen owe their birth
To this much-favoured spot of earth.
They spring like products of the land,—
The men by whom the realm doth stand.
Such aid their numerous bands supply,
That Wan rests tranquilly on high.
4 Deep were Wan's thoughts, sustained his ways;
His reverence lit its trembling rays.
Resistless came great Heaven's decree;
The sons of Shang must bend the knee ;—
The sons of Shang, each one a king,
In numbers beyond numbering.
Yet as God spoke, so must it be :—
The sons of Shang all bent the knee.
5 Now each to Chow his homage pays,—
So dark and changing are Heaven's ways.
When we pour our libations here,
The officers of Sbang appear,
Quick and alert to give their aid;—
Such is the service by them paid,
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