THE SHE KING; OR, THE BOOK OF ANCIENT POETRY

286 THE BOOK OP POETRY. [PART III/ BK I. ii.]. THE BOOK OF POETRY. 287
While still, they do not cast aside
The cap and broidered axe,—their pride.
Ye servants of our line of kings,
Remember him from whom it springs.
6 Remember him from whom it springs ;—
Let this give to your virtue wings.
Seek harmony with Heaven's great mind ; -
So shall you surest blessing find.
Ere Shang had lost the nation's heart,
Its monarchs all with God had part
In sacrifice. From them you see
'Tis hard to keep high Heaven's decree.
7 'Tis hard to keep high Heaven's decree !
O sin not, or you cease to be.
To add true lustre to your name,
See Shang expire in Heaven's dread flame.
For Heaven's hjgh dealings are profound,
And far transcend all sense and sound.
From Wan your pattern you must draw,
And all the States will own your law.
II.
The Ta ming; narrative. How THE APPOINTMENT OP HEAVEN
BESTED ON KING WAN, AND DESCENDED TO HIS SON, KINO WOO, WHO
OVERTHREW THE DYNASTY OF YlN OK SHANG ;——CELEBRATING ALSO
THE MOTHER AND THE WIPE OP WAN.
Of Wan's father I shall speak particularly On ode VII. He married,
as st. 2 here tells us, a Jiu, the second daughter of the prince of Che, a
principality somewhere in the royal domain of Tin. Chinese writers
celebrate her—T'ae-jin—in the highest tenns, saying that her instruction
of Wan commenced white he was yet in her womb. " Her eyes looked
on no improper sijrht; her ears listened to no licentious sound ; and her
lips uttered no word of pride."
Wan's own wife was the famous T'ae-sze, of the State of Sin, north
of the river Heah. in the present district of Hoh-yang, in T'ung Chow,
Shen-se. The principal city must have been near the Wei.
The wild or plain of Huh, where the deciding battle between Chow
and Shang was fought, was iu the present Ho-nau, not far from the capi
tal of Shaug. Of Shacg-foo, who appears to have been \Voo's principal
officer and supporter on the occasion, I have spoken in the introductory
note to the Odes of Ts'e, Part I.
1 Majestic Heaven from kings below,
That they illustrious virtue show,
With strictest law requires.
They must not on its grace rely,
Nor think that they can change defy.
The House of Yin long ruled the land,
Called to the throne by Heaven's command.
But its last monarch, from it driven,
Lost by supreme decree of Heaven
The kingdom of his sires.
2 What time in Chow ruled our king Ke,
Among the princesses of Che,
In the domain of Yin,
The second daughter of her name
Had through the land a noble fame.
Her from her parents Ke had sought,
And to his capital he brought,
And wedded her, T'ae-jin.
They both could perfect virtue claim,
No duty left undone.
A mother soon the wife became ;
The child was our king Wan.
3 This our king Wan in all his way
Did watchful reverence display,
With clearest wisdom serving God,
Who, pleased to see the course he trod,
Him with great favour crowned.
His virtue no deflection knew,
But always to the right was true.
The States beheld, and all approved;
With loyal ardour stirred and moved,
Wan as their Head they owned.
4 Throughout the land Heaven sent its glance;
Whom should it to the throne advance ?
To Wan came the decree.
While he was still in early years,
By Heaven's arranging there appears
She who his bride should be.