小xiǎo雅yǎ·谷gǔ风fēng之zhī什shén

20-1

习xí习xí谷gǔ风fēng，维wéi风fēng及jí雨yǔ。将jiāng恐kǒng将jiāng惧jù，维wéi予yú与yú女nǚ。将jiāng安ān将jiāng乐lè，女nǘ转zhuǎn弃qì予yǔ。习xí习xí谷gǔ风fēng，维wéi风fēng及jí颓tuí。将jiāng恐kǒng将jiāng惧jù，寘zhì予yǔ于yú怀huái。将jiāng安ān将jiāng乐lè，弃qì予yǔ如rú遗yí。习xí习xí谷gǔ风fēng，维wéi山shān崔cuī嵬wéi。无wú草cǎo不bù死sǐ，无wú木mù不bù萎wēi。忘wàng我wǒ大dà德dé，思sī我wó小xiǎo怨yuàn。

Gently blows the east wind, With wind and rain. In fear and trembling — I was with you. Now in peace and joy — You turn and cast me off. Gently blows the east wind, With wind and tempest. In fear and trembling — You held me to your heart. Now in peace and joy — You cast me off like a thing forgotten. Gently blows the east wind, On the high and rugged hill. No grass but dies, No tree but withers. You forget my great virtues — And remember my small faults.

GLM · 2025 · machine-generated

20-2

蓼liáo蓼liáo者zhě莪é，匪fěi莪é伊yī蒿hāo。哀āi哀āi父fù母mǔ，生shēng我wǒ劬qú劳láo。蓼liáo蓼liáo者zhě莪é，匪fěi莪é伊yī蔚wèi。哀āi哀āi父fù母mǔ，生shēng我wǒ劳láo瘁cuì。缾píng之zhī罄qìng矣yǐ，维wéi罍léi之zhī耻chǐ。鲜xiān民mín之zhī生shēng，不bù如rú死sǐ之zhī久jiú矣yǐ。无wú父fù何hé怙hù？无wú母mǔ何hé恃shì？出chū则zé衔xián恤xù，入rù则zé靡mí至zhì。父fù兮xī生shēng我wǒ，母mǔ兮xī鞠jū我wǒ，拊fú我wǒ、畜chù我wǒ、长zháng我wǒ、育yù我wǒ、顾gù我wǒ、复fù我wǒ、出chū入rù腹fù我wǒ。欲yù报bào之zhī德dé，昊hào天tiān罔wǎng极jí。南nán山shān烈liè烈liè，飘piāo风fēng发fā发fā。民mín莫mò不bù谷gǔ，我wǒ独dú何hé害hài？南nán山shān律lǜ律lǜ，飘piāo风fēng弗fú弗fú。民mín莫mò不bù谷gǔ，我wǒ独dú不bù卒zú！

Tall and tall grows the artemisia, But it is not artemisia — it is the wild wormwood. Alas, alas, my father and mother! You bore me in toil and travail. Tall and tall grows the artemisia, But it is not artemisia — it is the wild purslane. Alas, alas, my father and mother! You bore me in weariness and pain. The jar is empty — It is the larger vessel's shame. The orphaned one's life — Were better ended long ago in death. Without a father, on whom can I lean? Without a mother, on whom can I rely? When I go out, I bear my grief — When I come in, I seem to have nowhere to go. My father gave me life, My mother nourished me. They caressed me, they reared me, They made me grow, they tended me, They looked on me, they returned to me, In going out and coming in, they bore me in their arms. The kindness I would repay — Is vast as boundless Heaven. The southern hill is rugged and steep, The whirlwind blows, blow on blow. All the people nourish their parents — Why am I alone afflicted? The southern hill is high and grand, The whirlwind blows, swift on swift. All the people nourish their parents — I alone am not suffered to fulfil my duty!

GLM · 2025 · machine-generated

20-3

有yǒu饛méng簋guǐ飧sūn，有yǒu捄jiù棘jí匕bǐ。周zhōu道dào如rú砥dǐ，其qí直zhí如rú矢shǐ。君jūn子zí所suó履lǚ，小xiǎo人rén所suǒ视shì。睠juàn言yán顾gù之zhī，澘shān焉yān出chū涕tì。小xiǎo东dōng大dà东dōng，杼zhù柚zhóu其qí空kōng。纠jiū纠jiū葛gé屦jù，可ké以yí履lǚ霜shuāng。佻tiāo佻tiāo公gōng子zi，行xíng彼bǐ周zhōu行xíng。既jì往wǎng既jì来lái，使shí我wǒ心xīn疚jiù。有yǒu洌liè氿guǐ泉quán，无wú浸jìn获huò薪xīn。契qì契qì寤wù叹tàn，哀āi我wǒ惮dàn人rén。薪xīn是shì获huò薪xīn，尚shàng可kě载zài也yě。哀āi我wǒ惮dàn人rén，亦yì可kě息xī也yě。东dōng人rén之zhī子zi，职zhí劳láo不bù来lái。西xī人rén之zhī子zi，粲càn粲càn衣yī服fú。舟zhōu人rén之zhī子zi，熊xióng罴pí是shì裘qiú。私sī人rén之zhī子zi，百bǎi僚liáo是shì试shì。或huò以yǐ其qí酒jiǔ，不bù以yǐ其qí浆jiāng。鞙xuàn鞙xuàn佩pèi璲suì，不bù以yǐ其qí长zhǎng。维wéi天tiān有yǒu汉hàn，监jiān亦yì有yǒu光guāng。跂qí彼bǐ织zhī女nǚ，终zhōng日rì七qī襄xiāng。虽suī则zé七qī襄xiāng，不bù成chéng报bào章zhāng。睆huàn彼bǐ牵qiān牛niú，不bù以yǐ服fú箱xiāng。东dōng有yóu启qǐ明míng，西xī有yóu长zhǎng庚gēng。有yǒu捄jiù天tiān毕bì，载zài施shī之zhī行xíng。维wéi南nán有yǒu箕jī，不bù可ké以yí簸bǒ扬yáng。维wéi北béi有yǒu斗dòu，不bù可ké以yǐ挹yì酒jiǔ浆jiāng。维wéi南nán有yǒu箕jī，载zài翕xī其qí舌shé。维wéi北béi有yǒu斗dòu，西xī柄bǐng之zhī揭jiē。

Well loaded with millet were the dishes, And long and curved were the spoons of thorn-wood. The way to Kâu was like a whetstone, And straight as an arrow. (So) the officers trod it, And the common people looked on it. When I look back and think of it, My tears run down in streams. In the states of the east, large and small, The looms are empty. Then shoes of dolichos fibre Are made to serve to walk on the hoar-frost. Slight and elegant gentlemen Walk along that road to Kâu. Their going and coming makes my heart sad. Ye cold waters, issuing variously from the spring, Do not soak the firewood I have cut. Sorrowful I awake and sigh;— Alas for us toiled people! The firewood has been cut;— Would that it were conveyed home! Alas for us the toiled people! Would that we could have rest! The sons of the east Are summoned only (to service), without encouragement; While the sons of the west Shine in splendid dresses. The sons of boatmen Have furs of the bear and grisly bear. The sons of the poorest families Form the officers in public employment. If we present them with spirits, They regard them as not fit to be called liquor. If we give them long girdle pendants with their stones, They do not think them long enough. There is the Milky Way in heaven, Which looks down on us in light; And the three stars together are the Weaving Sisters, Passing in a day through seven stages (of the sky). Although they go through their seven stages, They complete no bright work for us. Brilliant shine the Draught Oxen, But they do not serve to draw our carts. In the east there is Lucifer; In the west there is Hesperus; Long and curved is the Rabbit Net of the sky;— But they only occupy their places. In the south is the Sieve, But it is of no use to sift. In the north is the Ladle, But it lades out no liquor. In the south is the Sieve, Idly showing its mouth. In the north is the Ladle, Raising its handle in the west.

Legge · 1879 · public domain

20-4

四sì月yuè维wéi夏xià，六liù月yuè徂cú暑shǔ。先xiān祖zú匪fěi人rén？胡hú宁níng忍rén予yǔ？秋qiū日rì凄qī凄qī，百bǎi卉huì具jù腓féi。乱luàn离lí瘼mò矣yǐ，爰yuán其qí适shì归guī？冬dōng日rì烈liè烈liè，飘piāo风fēng发fā发fā。民mín莫mò不bù谷gǔ，我wǒ独dú何hé害hài？山shān有yǒu嘉jiā卉huì，侯hóu栗lì侯hóu梅méi。废fèi为wèi残cán贼zéi，莫mò知zhī其qí尤yóu。相xiāng彼bǐ泉quán水shuǐ，载zài清qīng载zài浊zhuó。我wǒ日rì构gòu祸huò，曷hé云yún能néng谷gǔ？滔tāo滔tāo江jiāng汉hàn，南nán国guó之zhī纪jì。侭jǐn瘁cuì以yǐ仕shì，宁níng莫mò我wó有yǒu。匪fěi鹑chún匪fěi鸢yuān，翰hàn飞fēi戾lì天tiān。匪fěi鳣zhān匪féi鲔wěi，濳qián逃táo于yú渊yuān。山shān有yǒu蕨jué薇wēi，隰xí有yóu杞qǐ桋yí。君jūn子zǐ作zuò歌gē，维wéi以yǐ告gào哀āi。

In the fourth month it is summer, In the sixth month the heat comes on. Are my ancestors not men? Why do they thus suffer me to endure? The autumn days are chill and drear, All the plants are withering. In the tumult of exile and woe — Where shall I turn for rest? The winter days are fierce and biting, The whirlwind blows, blow on blow. All the people enjoy good cheer — Why am I alone afflicted? On the hills are goodly plants — Chestnuts and plums. Ruined and made a curse — And none knows the cause. Look at the spring-waters — Now clear, now muddy. Day after day I meet with trouble — How can I make things go well? The Jiang and the Han, broad and rolling, Are the arteries of the southern lands. I have worn myself out in service — And yet you will not own me. If I were a hawk or a kite, I would soar to the sky. If I were a sturgeon or a wei-fish, I would dive to the depths. On the hills are ferns and vetches, In the low grounds, medlars and birches. The noble man makes this song — Only to tell his sorrow.

GLM · 2025 · machine-generated

20-5

陟zhì彼bí北běi山shān，言yán采cǎi其qí杞qǐ。偕xié偕xié士shì子zi，朝zhāo夕xī从cóng事shì。王wáng事shì靡mí盬gǔ，忧yōu我wǒ父fù母mǔ。溥pǔ天tiān之zhī下xià，莫mò非fēi王wáng土tǔ。率lǜ土tǔ之zhī滨bīn，莫mò非fēi王wáng臣chén。大dà夫fū不bù均jūn，我wǒ从cóng事shì独dú贤xián。四sì牡mǔ彭péng彭péng，王wáng事shì傍bàng傍bàng。嘉jiā我wǒ未wèi老lǎo，鲜xiān我wǒ方fāng将jiāng。旅lǚ力lì方fāng刚gāng，经jīng营yíng四sì方fāng。或huò燕yàn燕yàn居jū息xī，或huò侭jǐn瘁cuì事shì国guó；或huò息xī偃yǎn在zài床chuáng，或huò不bù已yǐ于yú行xíng。或huò不bù知zhī叫jiào号hào，或huò惨cán惨cǎn劬qú劳láo；或huò栖qī迟chí偃yán仰yǎng，或huò王wáng事shì鞅yāng掌zhǎng。或huò湛zhàn乐lè饮yín酒jiǔ，或huò惨cán惨cǎn畏wèi咎jiù；或huò出chū入rù风fēng议yì，或huò靡mí事shì不bú为wèi。

I climb that northern hill, And gather the medlars. Strong and stalwart officers, Morning and evening, serve. The king's affairs are without end — My father and mother are sad. Under the wide heaven, All is the king's land. To the shores of the sea, All are the king's subjects. The great officers are not just — I alone serve, more than all. Four steeds, panting and grand, The king's affairs crowd thick. They praise me that I am not yet old, They are glad that I am just in my prime. My strength is at its height — I am sent to toil in every corner. Some live at ease in their homes, Some wear themselves out for the state. Some lie resting on their beds, Some are ever on the march. Some know not the cry of distress, Some toil in grief and pain. Some lounge and loiter at will, Some are overwhelmed by the king's affairs. Some feast and make merry with wine, Some live in fear of blame. Some gossip as they go in and out, Some have no work they do not do.

GLM · 2025 · machine-generated

20-6

无wú将jiāng大dà车chē，祇qí自zì尘chén兮xī。无wú思sī百bǎi忧yōu，祇qí自zì疷zhī兮xī。无wú将jiāng大dà车chē，维wéi尘chén冥míng冥míng。无wú思sī百bǎi忧yōu，不bù出chū于yú颎jiǒng。无wú将jiāng大dà车chē，维wéi尘chén雍yōng兮xī。无wú思sī百bǎi忧yōu，祇qí自zì重zhòng兮xī。

Do not push the great cart — You will only be covered with dust. Do not harbour a hundred cares — You will only make yourself ill. Do not push the great cart — The dust is dark and blinding. Do not harbour a hundred cares — You will never see your way clear. Do not push the great cart — The dust is thick and choking. Do not harbour a hundred cares — You will only burden yourself.

GLM · 2025 · machine-generated

20-7

明míng明míng上shàng天tiān，照zhào临lín下xià土tǔ。我wǒ征zhēng徂cú西xī，至zhì于yú艽jiāo野yě。二èr月yuè初chū吉jí，载zài离lí寒hán暑shǔ。心xīn之zhī忧yōu矣yǐ，其qí毒dú大dà苦kǔ。念niàn彼bǐ共gòng人rén，涕tì零líng如rú雨yǔ。岂qǐ不bù怀huái归guī？畏wèi此cǐ罪zuì罟gǔ。昔xī我wó往wáng矣yǐ，日rì月yuè方fāng除chú。曷hé云yún其qí还hái？岁suì聿yù云yún莫mò。念niàn我wǒ独dú兮xī，我wǒ事shì孔kǒng庶shù。心xīn之zhī忧yōu矣yǐ，惮dàn我wǒ不bù暇xiá。念niàn彼bǐ共gòng人rén，睠juàn睠juàn怀huái顾gù。岂qǐ不bù怀huái归guī？畏wèi此cí谴qiǎn怒nù。昔xī我wó往wáng矣yǐ，日rì月yuè方fāng奥ào。曷hé云yún其qí还hái，政zhèng事shì愈yù蹙cù。岁suì聿yù云yún莫mò，采cǎi萧xiāo获huò菽shū。心xīn之zhī忧yōu矣yǐ，自zì诒yí伊yī戚qī。念niàn彼bǐ共gòng人rén，兴xìng言yán出chū宿sù。岂qǐ不bù怀huái归guī？畏wèi此cí反fǎn覆fù。嗟jiē尔ěr君jūn子zǐ，无wú恒héng安ān处chù。靖jìng共gòng尔ěr位wèi，正zhèng直zhí是shì与yǔ。神shén之zhī听tīng之zhī，式shì谷gú以yí女nǚ。嗟jiē尔ěr君jūn子zǐ，无wú恒héng安ān息xī。靖jìng共gòng尔ěr位wèi，好hǎo是shì正zhèng直zhí。神shén之zhī听tīng之zhī，介jiè尔ér景jǐng福fú。

O bright and high Heaven, Who enlightenest and rulest this lower world! I marched on this expedition to the west, As far as this wilderness of Khiû. From the first day of the second month, I have passed through the cold and the heat. My heart is sad; The poison (of my lot) is too bitter. I think of those (at court) in their offices, And my tears flow down like rain. Do I not wish to return? But I fear the net for crime. Ah! ye gentlemen, Do not reckon on your rest being permanent. Quietly fulfil the duties of your offices, Associating with the correct and upright; So shall the spirits hearken to you, And give you good. Ah! ye gentlemen, Do not reckon on your repose being permanent. Quietly fulfil the duties of your offices, Loving the correct and upright; So shall the spirits hearken to you, And give you large measures of bright happiness.

Legge · 1879 · public domain

20-8

鼓gǔ钟zhōng将jiāng将jiāng，淮huái水shuǐ汤tāng汤tāng。忧yōu心xīn且qiě伤shāng。淑shū人rén君jūn子zǐ，怀huái允yǔn不bú忘wàng。鼓gǔ钟zhōng喈jiē喈jiē，淮huái水shuǐ湝jiē湝jiē。忧yōu心xīn且qiě悲bēi。淑shū人rén君jūn子zǐ，其qí德dé不bù回huí。鼓gǔ钟zhōng伐fá鼛gāo，淮huái有yǒu三sān洲zhōu。忧yōu心xīn且qiě妯zhóu。淑shū人rén君jūn子zǐ，其qí德dé不bù犹yóu。鼓gǔ钟zhōng钦qīn钦qīn，鼓gǔ瑟sè鼓gǔ琴qín。笙shēng磬qìng同tóng音yīn。以yí雅yá以yǐ南nán，以yǐ籥yuè不bú僭jiàn。

The bells go chang-chang, The waters of the Huai go surging on. My heart is full of grief. The good and noble man — I think of him and will not forget. The bells go jie-jie, The waters of the Huai go rippling on. My heart is full of sorrow. The good and noble man — His virtue is without crookedness. The bells beat the great drum, On the three isles of the Huai. My heart is full of grief. The good and noble man — His virtue is not at fault. The bells go chin-chin, We play the lute, we play the zither. The organ and the sounding-blocks are in harmony. With the Ya and the Nan they blend — With the flute-reed, none is out of place.

GLM · 2025 · machine-generated

20-9

楚chú楚chú者zhě茨cí，言yán抽chōu其qí棘jí。自zì昔xī何hé为wèi？我wǒ蓺yì黍shǔ稷jì。我wó黍shú与yú与yǔ，我wǒ稷jì翼yì翼yì。我wǒ仓cāng既jì盈yíng，我wó庾yǔ维wéi亿yì。以yǐ为wèi酒jiǔ食shí，以yí享xiáng以yǐ祀sì。以yí妥tuó以yǐ侑yòu，以yǐ介jiè景jǐng福fú。济jì济jì跄qiāng跄qiāng，絜jié尔ěr牛niú羊yáng，以yí往wǎng烝zhēng尝cháng。或huò剥bō或huò亨hēng，或huò肆sì或huò将jiāng，祝zhù祭jì于yú祊bēng。祀sì事shì孔kǒng明míng，先xiān祖zǔ是shì皇huáng，神shén保bǎo是shì飨xiǎng。孝xiào孙sūn有yǒu庆qìng，报bào以yǐ介jiè福fú，万wàn寿shòu无wú疆jiāng。执zhí爨cuàn踖jí踖jí，为wèi俎zú孔kǒng硕shuò，或huò燔fán或huò炙zhì。君jūn妇fù莫mò莫mò，为wèi豆dòu孔kǒng庶shù，为wèi宾bīn为wèi客kè。献xiàn醻chóu交jiāo错cuò，礼lǐ仪yí卒zú度dù，笑xiào语yǔ卒zú获huò。神shén保bǎo是shì格gé，报bào以yǐ介jiè福fú，万wàn寿shòu攸yōu酢cù。我wó孔kǒng熯hàn矣yǐ，式shì礼lǐ莫mò愆qiān。工gōng祝zhù致zhì告gào，徂cú赉lài孝xiào孙sūn。苾bì芬fēn孝xiào祀sì，神shén嗜shì饮yǐn食shí。卜bo尔ér百bǎi福fú，如rú几jǐ如rú式shì。既jì齐qí既jì稷jì，既jì匡kuāng既jì𠡠chì。永yǒng锡xī尔ěr极jí，时shí万wàn时shí亿yì。礼lǐ仪yí既jì备bèi，钟zhōng鼓gǔ既jì戒jiè。孝xiào孙sūn徂cú位wèi，工gōng祝zhù致zhì告gào。神shén具jù醉zuì止zhǐ，皇huáng尸shī载zài起qǐ。鼓gǔ钟zhōng送sòng尸shī，神shén保bǎo聿yù归guī。诸zhū宰zǎi君jūn妇fù，废fèi彻chè不bù迟chí。诸zhū父fù兄xiōng弟dì，备bèi言yán燕yàn私sī。乐lè具jù入rù奏zòu，以yǐ绥suī后hòu禄lù。尔ěr殽xiáo既jì将jiāng，莫mò怨yuàn具jù庆qìng。既jì醉zuì既jì饱bǎo，小xiǎo大dà稽qí首shǒu。神shén嗜shì饮yǐn食shí，使shǐ君jūn寿shòu考kǎo。孔kǒng惠huì孔kǒng时shí，维wéi其qí侭jǐn之zhī。子zi子zi孙sūn孙sūn，勿wù替tì引yǐn之zhī。

Thick grew the tribulus (on the ground), But they cleared away its thorny bushes. Why did they this of old? That we might plant our millet and sacrificial millet; That our millet might be abundant, And our sacrificial millet luxuriant. When our barns are full, And our stacks can be counted by tens of myriads, We proceed to make spirits and prepared grain, For offerings and sacrifice. We seat the representatives of the dead, and urge them to eat:— Thus seeking to increase our bright happiness. With correct and reverent deportment, The bulls and rams all pure, We proceed to the winter and autumnal sacrifices. Some flay (the victims); some cook (their flesh); Some arrange (the meat); some adjust (the pieces of it). The officer of prayer sacrifices inside the temple gate, And all the sacrificial service is complete and brilliant. Grandly come our progenitors; Their spirits happily enjoy the offerings; Their filial descendant receives blessing:— They will reward him with great happiness, With myriads of years, life without end. They attend to the furnaces with reverence; They prepare the trays, which are very large;— Some for the roast meat, some for the broiled. Wives presiding are still and reverent, Preparing the numerous (smaller) dishes. The guests and visitors Present the cup all round. Every form is according to rule; Every smile and word are as they should be. The spirits quietly come, And respond with great blessings,— Myriads of years as the (fitting) reward. We are very much exhausted, And have performed every ceremony without error. The able officer of prayer announces (the will of the spirits), And goes to the filial descendant to convey it:— 'Fragrant has been your filial sacrifice, And the spirits have enjoyed your spirits and viands. They confer on you a hundred blessings; Each as it is desired, Each as sure as law. You have been exact and expeditious; You have been correct and careful; They will ever confer on you the choicest favours, In myriads and tens of myriads.' The ceremonies having thus been completed, And the bells and drums having given their warning, The filial descendant goes to his place, And the able officer of prayer makes his announcement, 'The spirits have drunk to the full.' The great representatives of the dead then rise, And the bells and drums escort their withdrawal, (On which) the spirits tranquilly return (to whence they came). All the servants, and the presiding wives, Remove (the trays and dishes) without delay. The (sacrificer's) uncles and cousins All repair to the private feast. The musicians all go in to perform, And give their soothing aid at the second blessing. Your viands are set forth; There is no dissatisfaction, but all feel happy. They drink to the full, and eat to the full; Great and small, they bow their heads, (saying), 'The spirits enjoyed your spirits and viands, And will cause you to live long. Your sacrifices, all in their seasons, Are completely discharged by you. May your sons and your grand-sons Never fail to perpetuate these services!'

Legge · 1879 · public domain

20-10

信xìn彼bǐ南nán山shān，维wéi禹yǔ甸diān之zhī。畇yún畇yún原yuán隰xí，曾céng孙sūn田tián之zhī。我wǒ疆jiāng我wó理lǐ，南nán东dōng其qí亩mǔ。上shàng天tiān同tóng云yún，雨yú雪xuě雰fēn雰fēn。益yì之zhī以yǐ霡mài霂mù，既jì优yōu既jì渥wò。既jì沾zhān既jì足zú，生shēng我wó百bái谷gǔ。疆jiāng埸yì翼yì翼yì，黍shǔ稷jì彧yù彧yù。曾céng孙sūn之zhī穑sè，以yǐ为wèi酒jiǔ食shí。畀bì我wǒ尸shī宾bīn，寿shòu考kǎo万wàn年nián。中zhōng田tián有yǒu庐lú，疆jiāng埸yì有yǒu瓜guā。是shì剥bō是shì菹jū，献xiàn之zhī皇huáng祖zǔ。曾céng孙sūn寿shòu考kǎo，受shòu天tiān之zhī祜hù。祭jì以yǐ清qīng酒jiǔ，从cóng以yǐ骍xīng牡mǔ，享xiǎng于yú祖zú考kǎo。执zhí其qí鸾luán刀dāo，以yí启qǐ其qí毛máo，取qǔ其qí血xuè膋liáo。是shì烝zhēng是shì享xiǎng，苾bì苾bì芬fēn芬fēn。祀sì事shì孔kǒng明míng，先xiān祖zǔ是shì皇huáng。报bào以yǐ介jiè福fú，万wàn寿shòu无wú疆jiāng。

Yes, (all about) that southern hill Was made manageable by Yü. Its plains and marshes being opened up, It was made into fields by the distant descendant. We define their boundaries, We form their smaller divisions, And make the acres lie, here to the south, there to the east. The heavens overhead are one arch of clouds, Snowing in multitudinous flakes; There is superadded the drizzling rain. When (the land) has received the moistening, Soaking influence abundantly, It produces all our kinds of grain. The boundaries and smaller divisions are nicely adjusted, And the millets yield abundant crops, The harvest of the distant descendant. We proceed to make therewith spirits and food, To supply our representatives of the departed, and our guests;— To obtain long life, extending over myriads of years. In the midst of the fields are the huts, And along the bounding divisions are gourds. The fruit is sliced and pickled, To be presented to our great ancestors, That their distant descendant may have long life, And receive the blessing of Heaven. We sacrifice (first) with clear spirits, And then follow with a red bull; Offering them to our ancestors, (Our lord) holds the knife with tinkling bells, To lay open the hair of the victim, And takes the blood and fat. Then we present, then we offer; All round the fragrance is diffused. Complete and brilliant is the sacrificial service; Grandly come our ancestors. They will reward (their descendant) with great blessing, Long life, years without end.

Legge · 1879 · public domain