VII. Nan Shan Yu T‘ai

The Nan Shan Yu T‘ai; allusive. A festal ode, where the ruler, as the host, celebrates the virtues of his ministers, who are the guests, and supplicates blessings on them.

1  The southern hills the t‘ai plant show,
    The northern yield the lai.
  Your presence here, my noble guests,
    Fills me with rapture high.
’Tis on your strength that all my states depend;
Myriads of years be yours, years without end!

2  On southern hills are mulberry trees,
    On northern willows grow.
  Your presence here, my noble guests,
    Makes my joy overflow.
Your virtue's rays through all my regions shine;
Myriads of years be yours in boundless line! p. 207

3  On southern hills the medlars thrive,
    And plum trees in the north.
  Your presence here, my noble guests,
    The richest joy calls forth.
Parental love ye for my people show,
And may your virtuous fame decay ne’er know!

4  The southern hills the k‘ao display,
    The northern have the niu.
  Here at our feast, my noble guests,
    My heart rests glad in you.
The eyebrows of long life your foreheads crown;
Still wider be your virtuous fame's renown!

5  The honey trees on southern hills,
    The yü on northern rise.
  Your presence here, my noble guests,
    Rare happiness supplies.
Gray hair and wrinkled face yours yet shall be:
May future times your sons as prosperous see!