Ode 6. The Thien Pâo

ODE 6. THE THIEN PÂO.

A FESTAL ODE, RESPONSIVE TO ANY OF THE FIVE THAT PRECEDE IT. THE KING'S OFFICERS AND GUESTS, HAVING BEEN FEASTED BY HIM, CELEBRATE HIS PRAISES, AND DESIRE FOR HIM THE BLESSING OF HEAVEN AND HIS ANCESTORS.

Ascribed, like the former, to the duke of Kâu.

Heaven protects and establishes thee, With the greatest. security; Makes thee entirely virtuous.

p. 348

[paragraph continues] That thou mayest enjoy every happiness; Grants thee much increase, So that thou hast all in abundance.

Heaven protects and establishes thee. It grants thee all excellence, So that thine every matter is right, And thou receivest every Heavenly favour. It sends down to thee long-during happiness, Which the days are not sufficient to enjoy.

Heaven protects and establishes thee, So that in everything thou dost prosper. Like the high hills and the mountain masses, Like the topmost ridges and the greatest bulks, Like the stream ever coming on, Such is thine increase.

With happy auspices and purifications thou bringest the offerings, And dost filially present them, In spring, summer, autumn, and winter, To the dukes and former kings ¹; And they say, 'We give to thee myriads of years, duration unlimited ².'

The spirits come ³, And confer on thee many blessings. The people are simple and honest, Daily enjoying their meat, and drink. All the black-haired race, in all their surnames, Universally practise thy virtue.

Like the moon advancing to the full, Like the sun ascending the heavens, Like the everlasting southern hills, Never waning, never falling, Like

p. 349

the luxuriance of the fir and the cypress;--May such be thy succeeding line!

Footnotes

348:1 These dukes and former kings are all the ancestors of the royal House of Kâu, sacrificed to at the four seasons of the year.

348:2 Here we have the response of the dukes and kings communicated to the sacrificing king by the individuals chosen to represent them at the service.

348:3 The spirits here are, of course, those of the former dukes and kings.