I. The Na

O grand! the drums, both large and for the hand,

Complete in number, here in order stand.

Their tones, though loud, harmoniously are blent,

And rise to greet our ancestor's [memory].

Him, the great T‘ang, of merit vast, our king

Asks by this music [that we recall], and bring

To us, the worshippers [of GOD], the soothing sense

That he, the object of desire intense,

Is [honoured] here. Deep are the sounds the drums emit,

And now we hear the flutes, which shrilly fit

Into the diapason:—concord great,

Which the sonorous gem doth regulate!

Majestic is our king of T‘ang's great line,

Whose instruments such qualities combine.

Large bells we hear, which with the drums have place,

While in the court the dancers move with grace.

Scions of ancient kings the service view,

Pleased and delighted, guests of goodness true.

Such service we received from former days,

Down from our sires, who showed us virtue's ways,—

How to be meek and mild, from morn to night,

And reverently discharge our parts aright.

May T‘ang [be honoured in] the rites his son thus pays [to GOD],

As round the summer comes, and autumn days!

II. The Léeh tsoo

Ah! from our sire, whose merit vast we own,

What blessings ever upon us come down [by GOD's grace],

Abiding, oft-repeated, deeds of grace!

And you, O king, receive them in this place.

Here in our vessels shine the spirits [lawful drink] clear,

And T‘ang himself, much wished for, [is remembered here].

Here too are set the soups of flavour rare,

Tempered, and mixed, with cunning and with care.

These offerings are set forth, without a word,

Without contention, and with one accord,

To beg [GOD's mercy upon] the honoured lord.

He will the eye-brows of long life confer,

And face of wrinkled age, and whitening hair.

With yokes adorned, and naves with leather bound,

While at the bits the eight bells tinkling sound,

The feudal princes come, to take their part

In all the offerings made with rev'rent heart.

To us the mighty sovereignty was given;

And prosperous fortune long sent down from Heaven [GOD]

Our fruitful harvests clearly prove. And now

Himself pleased with our service [GOD] will show,

And on us blessings without end bestow.

May T‘ang [be honoured in] the rites his son thus pays [to GOD],

As round the summer comes, and autumn days!

III. The Heuen néaou

By Heaven [GOD] sent down, the swallow came to earth,

And gave to our great Seeh his mystic birth.

The sire of Shang, his children long abode

In Yin-land, waxing great. Thereafter GOD

Gave to the martial T‘ang His charge, that he

Should to each State assign its boundary.

T‘ang grandly thus possessed the regions nine,

And to each quarter did its lords assign,

First lord of Shang, the sovereign power who swayed,

He got his charge, certain and stable made.

Thus to our king the throne Woo-ting conveyed.

Woo-ting's descendant is a martial king,

Whose powers, however taxed, still victory bring.

Ten lords, whose chariots dragon banners grace,

His millet dishes in due order place.

A thousand le extends the king's domain,

And there the people to repose are fain.

Lo! to the four seas thence our borders spread,

And from the space within there come to aid

Our temple service many chiefs arrayed.

Our hill of King for border has the Ho.

'Twas right the sovereignty to Shang should go;

And from its ruler now all honours flow.

IV. The Ch‘ang fah

1 The lords of Shang wisdom profound had shown, And omens of their greatness long were known. When the great flood its waters spread around, And Yu alone to curb its power was found,— Yu who the regions of the land defined, And to the great fiefs boundaries assigned, Till o'er the realm was plainly marked each State, Even then the House of Sung 'gan to be great. GOD viewed its daughter's son with favouring grace;— He founded Shang; to him its kings their lineage trace.

2 He, the dark king, ruled with a powerful sway, Success attendant on his glorious way. First with a small State charged, then with a large, He failed not well his duties to discharge. His rules of conduct he himself obeyed, And prompt response all to his lessons made. Next came Seang-t‘oo, the prince of ardent soul, And from Hea's centre, to the four seas' goal, Submissively all owned and bowed to his control.

3 GOD in His favour Shang's House would not leave, And then T‘ang rose that favour to receive. T‘ang's birth was not from Seeh too far removed. His sagely reverence daily greater proved. For long to Heaven [GOD] his brilliant influence rose, And while his acts the fear of GOD disclose, T‘ang as fit model GOD for the nine regions chose.

4 To him gave up the princes, great and small, The ensigns of their rank; on him they all, Like to the pendants of a banner, hung:— So from indulgent Heaven his greatness sprung! T‘ang used no violence, nor was he slow; Nor hard, nor soft, extremes he did not know. His royal rules abroad were gently spread;— All dignities and wealth were gathered round his head.

5 To him from all the States their tribute flowed, And like a strong steed, he sustained the load. Such was the favour he received from Heaven! Proof of his valour through the realm was given. His steadfast soul 'mid terrors never quailed; Nor wavered he by troublous doubts assailed;— On to the sovereign seat he struggled, and prevailed.

6 The martial king aloft his banner reared, And in the field against his foes appeared. He grasped his battle-axe with reverent hand; 'Gainst the attack his foes could make no stand. His progress was like march of blazing fire; None could resist the torrent of his ire. Like root with three shoots was the chiefest foe;— Advance none made he, and no growth could show. Of the nine regions T‘ang possession got; First with the lords of Wei and Koo he fought, And then Keun-woo's strong chief, and Keeh of Hea he smote.

7 In the mid time, between Seang-t‘oo and T‘ang, A shaking came, and peril threatened Shang. But Heaven approved T‘ang as its chosen [servant], And gave for minister the great E Yun, A-hang, who for the king a prosperous issue won.

V. The Yin woo

1 Swift moved with martial force the king of Yin, And King-ts‘oo he attacked, resolved to win. Its dangerous passes fearlessly he sought, And then its multitudes together brought. Soon was the country subject at his feet;— Such triumph proved him T‘ang's descendant meet.

2 "Ye people," thus to King-ts‘oo's hosts he said, "My kingdom's southern part your home have made. Of old, when the successful T‘ang bore sway, The States made haste their offerings to pay. The distant Keang of Te in homage came; No chief then dared deny our sovereign claim. Shall ye, who dwell much nearer than the Keang, Transgress what long has been th' unvaried rule of Shang?

3 "'Twas Heaven [GOD] assigned to all the States their bounds; But where within the sphere of Yu's grand rounds Their capitals were placed, then every year, As business called, their princes did appear Before our king, and to him humbly said, 'Prepare not us to punish or upbraid, For we the due regard to husbandry have paid.'"

4 When Heaven's high glance this lower world surveys, Attention to the people first it pays. Aware of this, our king impartial was, Nor punished so as justice to o'erpass. 'Gainst idleness he took precaution sure;— So o'er the States his rule did firm endure, And all his life he made his happiness secure.

5 Well ordered was his capital, and grand, And served as model good to all the land. Men recognized his energy as great; His glorious fame rang loud through every State. Long was his life, and tranquil was his end; [GOD] blesses and protects us who from him descend.

6 Eager we climbed the King hill near at hand, Where round and straight the pine and cypress stand. We felled these to the ground, and hither brought, And, reverent, hewed them to the shape we sought. Long from the wall project the beams of pine, And numerous rise the pillars, large and fine;— So have we built this house for Woo-ting's peaceful [memorial].