VI. Chêng Min

The Chêng Min; narrative. Celebrating the virtues of Chung Shan-fu, who appears to have been one of the principal ministers of King Hsüan, and his dispatch to the east, to fortify the capital of the state of Ch‘i.

1Heaven made the race of men, designed
  With nature good and large;
Functions of body, powers of mind,
  Their duties to discharge.
All men this normal nature own,
Its normal virtue all men crown
  With love sincere and true.
Heaven by our sovereign's course was moved, p. 412
And to aid him, its son approved,
  Gave birth to Chung Shan-fu.

2Mild and admired, this chief displays
  Virtues that win the heart.
His air and looks a wondrous grace
  To all his ways impart.
His rule of life the ancient law,
To bear himself unmarred by flaw
  With earnest mind he aims.
In sympathy with our great Head,
Abroad the royal will to spread
  His constant service claims.

3The king gave charge to Chung Shan-fu:—
  "Hear now what I direct.
As served your fathers, so serve you,
  And me, your king, protect.
Let all my lords your pattern see;
Publish among them each decree;
  Speak freely in my stead.
Of what goes on inform my mind. p. 413
Through you let all my measures find
  Obedience promptly paid."

4Great was the charge. Our hero hears,
  And hastens to obey.
Among the princes he appears;
  Of each he marks the way.
Who good, who bad, throughout the land,
He clearly sees. With wisdom grand
  He guards his life and fame.
Nor day nor night he icily rests;
The king's, the one man's, high behests
  His soul with zeal inflame.

5Among the people flies the word:
  "What's soft men swallow fast;
And what is for the teeth too hard
  Out of their mouths they cast."
But never yet did mortal trace
In Chung Shan such ignoble case;
  Nor soft nor hard he knows.
The strong and fierce he does not dread;
And on the poor or widowed head
  Insult he never throws. p. 414

6Again the people often say:—
  "Virtue is very light?
Light as a hair; yet few can bear
  The burden of its weight."
’Tis so; but Chung Shan, as I think,
Needs not from virtue's weight to shrink,
  That other men defies.
Aid from my love his strength rejects.
If the king's measures have defects,
  What's needed he supplies.

7He asks the spirit of the path
  His blessing to send down.
His steeds are strong; each soldier hath
  A bravery like his own.
Eastward they march; his charge is there.
That city's bulwarks to repair,
  How ardently he hies!
List to the tinkling of his bells!
Of his steeds' constant tramp it tells;—
  The walls will soon arise. p. 415

8Yes, on to Ch‘i the hero went,
  With his four steeds so strong.
Their eight bells told his purpose bold;—
  He'll not be absent long!
I, Yin Chi-fu, this song now sing.
Like gentle breeze, O may it bring
  To his unresting mind,
’Mid all his toils and cares, some cheer!
Yes, may our great Chung Shan find here
  The comfort I designed!