{"collection":"cfu","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cfu/bop/bop245.htm","path":"cfu/bop/bop245.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cfu/bop/bop245.htm","text":"The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876]\n2What time in Chou ruled our King Chi,\n Among the princesses of Chi,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the domain of Yin,\n The second daughter of her name\n Had through the land a noble fame.\n Her from her parents Chi had sought,\n And to his capital he brought,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And wedded her, Ta-j\u00ean.\n They both could perfect virtue claim,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No duty left undone.\n A mother soon the wife became;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The child was our King W\u00ean.\n3This our King W\u00ean in all his way\n Did watchful reverence display,\n With clearest wisdom serving God,\n Who, pleased to see the course he trod,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Him with great favor crowned.\n His virtue no deflection knew,\n But always to the right was true.\n The states beheld, and all approved;\n With loyal ardor stirred and moved,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0W\u00ean as their head they owned. p. 336\n4Throughout the land Heaven sent its glance;\n Whom should it to the throne advance?\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To W\u00ean came the decree.\n While he was still in early years,\n By Heaven's arranging there appears\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She who his bride should be.\n North of the Hsia, on Wei, she shone,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The child of a great house.\n Then W\u00ean, to years of manhood grown.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tendered to her his vows.\n5Like a fair denizen of Heaven\n Was she to whom those vows were given.\n The gifts he sent were deemed complete,\n And to the Wei, his bride to meet,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Our W\u00ean in person went.\n A bridge of boats across the stream\n He Made, as did her state beseem.\n She crossed; to Chou they held their way.\n Great was the glory of the day,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And glorious the event!\n6Heaven thus its grand appointment made,\n And W\u00ean to all the land displayed, p. 337\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0While still he ruled in F\u00eang.\n Hsin's eldest daughter was the wife,\n Whom Heaven prepared to bless his life,\n And take his virtuous mother's place.\n And Heaven soon gave them further grace;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2019Twas from them King Wu sprung.\n Heaven kept and helped the child, until\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Its summons to him came.\n Then Wu marched forth to do its will,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smote Yin, and won his fame.\n7Countless as forest leaves, Yin's hosts,\n Collected from its utmost coasts,\n Were marshaled in Mu's famous plain,\n To meet King Wu;\u2014but all in vain.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chou to the crisis rose.\n Wu viewed their multitudes with fear,\n But Shang-fu's words soon gave him cheer:\u2014\n \"With you is God; your doubts dispel.\n With Him as helper, we shall quell\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The pride of all our foes.\"\n8Vast was the plain. Each sandal car,\n That brightly shone amidst the war,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dashed rapidly along.\n Each team of steeds, black-maned and bay,\n Against all obstacles made way. p. 338\n Like mighty eagle on the wing,\n Shang-fu was ever near the king,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Whose heart was thus made strong.\n At the first charge Yin's troops gave way,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And took to shameful flight.\n That morn a long and brilliant day\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Displaced the previous night.","title":"The Book of Poetry: Book I. Decade of King W\u00ean: II. Ta Ming","type":"page"}