{"collection":"cfu","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cfu/bop/bop218.htm","path":"cfu/bop/bop218.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cfu/bop/bop218.htm","text":"The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876]\n2With reverent air, in dress correct,\n With sheep and oxen pure, select,\n When autumn comes, and winter cold,\n Our temple services we hold,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And offer sacrifice.\n The victims slain some haste to flay;\n Some boil the flesh; on stands some lay\n The pieces boiled, which some dispose\n In order due, exact and close,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0According to their size.\n The while, the priest, inside the gate,\n Lest elsewhere welcome be too late,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Our sires asks to descend.\n Complete and brilliant are our rites;\n They grandly come, as he invites.\n Though hid from us in shadowy veil,\n Our offerings with delight they hail,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And to our prayers attend.\n Their filial son, our honored lord,\n Great blessing gets. They will reward\n With myriad years his duty shown,\n And sure maintain upon the throne\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His sons till time shall end. p. 283\n3Before the fires some reverent stand;\n Some take the mighty trays in hand;\n These with the roasted flesh they fill,\n Those with the livers broiled. Then still\n And reverent, the queen presides,\n And every smaller dish provides,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The pious feast to grace.\n The guests and visitors draw near.\n Divined for, now they all appear,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And take an honored place.\n \u2019Tween those who personate our sires,\n Our lord, and them, as rule requires,\n Once and again the cup goes round.\n Each word and smile just that is found,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Which word and smile should be.\n The spirits come in quiet state,\n And answer give with blessings great.\n Myriads of years\u2014his due reward\u2014\n Shall show how they our lord regard,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And keep from evil free. p. 284\n4Exhausted now we feel, but see\n Our every rite from error free.\n The able priest has learned the will\n Of the great spirits. To fulfill\n His part he hastes, and to our lord,\n Standing before him, with grave word,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His message thus conveys:\u2014\n \"Your sacrifice has filled the air\n With fragrance. Both your spirits rare\n And viands rich your sires enjoy.\n Blessings not few, without alloy,\n They give;\u2014each all that you could hope,\n Each sure as law's unerring scope,\n Exact in form, without delay,\n Due reverence you have striven to pay.\n From error free, discharged with care,\n Your ceremonies all declare\n Your filial heart. Your sires henceforth\n Will favors grant of greatest worth,\n For myriad years, and myriads more,\n Nor time exhaust the boundless store.\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2019Tis this the wise priest says. p. 285\n5The rites thus all performed exact,\n The drums and bells announce the fact.\n Our lord withdraws, and takes his way\n Where parting guests their homage pay.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then comes the wise priest's voice:\u2014\n \"The spirits all are satisfied.\"\n No longer in their seats abide\n Their representatives, but slow,\n \u2019Mid warning bells and drums, withdraw;\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So ends the sacrifice.\n The spirits tranquilly ascend.\n The queen and who the queen attend,\n And all the servants, haste to clear\n The hall, that nothing may appear\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Left from the sacred rites.\n Those who are of the royal kin,\n The old and young, abide within,\n The surname of the king they bear,\n And to the special feast repair,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To which his grace invites. p. 286\n6All the musicians follow fast,\n Their special aid at this repast\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The feasters shall not fail.\n The mats the viands rich display;\n No face looks sad, but all are gay.\n They drink, they eat, with fullest zest;\n Dish after dish, well pleased they taste;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Great love and joy prevail.\n At last they rise, and to their lord\n First bow their heads with one accord;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then him they thus address:\u2014\n \"Rich viands and your spirits rare,\n All testified your pious care.\n The spirits of our sires partook;\n On you benignantly they look.\n Your term of life they will extend,\n And favors give that ne\u2019er shall end.\n As through the year the seasons move,\n Your pious feelings equal prove\n Fully each sacrifice to pay.\n So may it be in future day,\n And sons and grandsons of your line,\n Observant of these rites divine,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The ceremony bless!\"","title":"The Book of Poetry: Book VI. The Decade of Pei Shan: V. Ch\u2018u Tz\u2018\u016d","type":"page"}