{"collection":"cfu","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cfu/bop/bop229.htm","path":"cfu/bop/bop229.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cfu/bop/bop229.htm","text":"The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876]\n2The drums loud sound, the organ swells;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Their flutes the dancers wave.\n The other instruments and bells\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Join in the concert grave.\n Thus with our music blends the dance,\n The solemn service to enhance,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Which to our sires is paid.\n When rites, the greatest and the least,\n Have been performed to grace the feast,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then to our king \u2018tis said,\n \"Blessings on you your sires bestow.\"\n With joy his sons and grandsons glow;\n They feel inspired to show their care,\n And reverently themselves to bear.\n The guests then come, in order led,\n By him who is their chief and head.\n With those who represent the dead\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They drink in reverent style.\n Attendants wait their cups to fill,\n But order rules \u2019midst their good will.\n Our cups are only drunk to cheer;\n Our temple services are clear\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0From all excesses vile. p. 305\n3When to the mats the guests approach,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mild harmony holds rule.\n These dare not upon those encroach,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And no one plays the fool.\n So long as in duo bounds they keep,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Discreetly they behave;\n But when those bounds they overleap,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then where are they,\u2014so grave?\n They leave the mats, and prance about;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They caper round and round.\n Their caution all is put to rout;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Their wits fall to the ground.\n Anon as still more drunk they grow,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0On rudeness they are set.\n The cups their reason overthrow,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And they themselves forget.\n4Yes, when the guests have drunk too much,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They shout aloud and brawl.\n The dishes get no gentle touch;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Disorder fills the hall. p. 306\n They dance about, now fast, now slow,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Can hardly keep their feet.\n What fools they are they do not know;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No one resumes his seat.\n Each cap, awry, will hardly stay\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Upon the giddy head;\n But they keep on in madness\u2019 way,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And no exposure dread.\n If, when their wits began to reel,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They left the room at once,\n Both host and guests would happier feel,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nor know the sad mischance.\n But holding on, themselves they harm.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The drinking feast is good\n Only when guests their wills can arm\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Against misconduct rude.\n5Whene\u2019er a drinking feast is set,\n Some sober keep, some drunk will get.\n One is appointed to preside,\n With an assistant by his side,\n Record to make, as they decide,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Who praise deserve, who blame. p. 307\n But sots there are, in vice quite sunk,\n Who, seeing some will not get drunk,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Say, \"We for you feel shame.\"\n These, if they could get in a word,\n Might counsel to the rest afford.\n To fright them from their wild excess,\n Sternly they might them thus address:\u2014\n \"From such improper speech refrain;\n Not called to speak, your tongues restrain.\n You're drunk; if but a word you say,\n We'll send you out this very day,\n To find a thing which nature scorns,\u2014\n A ram full grown, yet wanting horns.\n Drink but three cups, your memory's gone;\n How can you drinking still go on?\"","title":"The Book of Poetry: Book VII. Decade of Sang Hu: VI. Pin Chih Ch\u2018u Yen","type":"page"}