{"collection":"cfu","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cfu/bop/bop269.htm","path":"cfu/bop/bop269.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cfu/bop/bop269.htm","text":"The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876]\n2Mild and admired, this chief displays\n \u00a0\u00a0Virtues that win the heart.\n His air and looks a wondrous grace\n \u00a0\u00a0To all his ways impart.\n His rule of life the ancient law,\n To bear himself unmarred by flaw\n \u00a0\u00a0With earnest mind he aims.\n In sympathy with our great Head,\n Abroad the royal will to spread\n \u00a0\u00a0His constant service claims.\n3The king gave charge to Chung Shan-fu:\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0\"Hear now what I direct.\n As served your fathers, so serve you,\n \u00a0\u00a0And me, your king, protect.\n Let all my lords your pattern see;\n Publish among them each decree;\n \u00a0\u00a0Speak freely in my stead.\n Of what goes on inform my mind. p. 413\n Through you let all my measures find\n \u00a0\u00a0Obedience promptly paid.\"\n4Great was the charge. Our hero hears,\n \u00a0\u00a0And hastens to obey.\n Among the princes he appears;\n \u00a0\u00a0Of each he marks the way.\n Who good, who bad, throughout the land,\n He clearly sees. With wisdom grand\n \u00a0\u00a0He guards his life and fame.\n Nor day nor night he icily rests;\n The king's, the one man's, high behests\n \u00a0\u00a0His soul with zeal inflame.\n5Among the people flies the word:\n \u00a0\u00a0\"What's soft men swallow fast;\n And what is for the teeth too hard\n \u00a0\u00a0Out of their mouths they cast.\"\n But never yet did mortal trace\n In Chung Shan such ignoble case;\n \u00a0\u00a0Nor soft nor hard he knows.\n The strong and fierce he does not dread;\n And on the poor or widowed head\n \u00a0\u00a0Insult he never throws. p. 414\n6Again the people often say:\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0\"Virtue is very light?\n Light as a hair; yet few can bear\n \u00a0\u00a0The burden of its weight.\"\n \u2019Tis so; but Chung Shan, as I think,\n Needs not from virtue's weight to shrink,\n \u00a0\u00a0That other men defies.\n Aid from my love his strength rejects.\n If the king's measures have defects,\n \u00a0\u00a0What's needed he supplies.\n7He asks the spirit of the path\n \u00a0\u00a0His blessing to send down.\n His steeds are strong; each soldier hath\n \u00a0\u00a0A bravery like his own.\n Eastward they march; his charge is there.\n That city's bulwarks to repair,\n \u00a0\u00a0How ardently he hies!\n List to the tinkling of his bells!\n Of his steeds' constant tramp it tells;\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0The walls will soon arise. p. 415\n8Yes, on to Ch\u2018i the hero went,\n \u00a0\u00a0With his four steeds so strong.\n Their eight bells told his purpose bold;\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0He'll not be absent long!\n I, Yin Chi-fu, this song now sing.\n Like gentle breeze, O may it bring\n \u00a0\u00a0To his unresting mind,\n \u2019Mid all his toils and cares, some cheer!\n Yes, may our great Chung Shan find here\n \u00a0\u00a0The comfort I designed!","title":"The Book of Poetry: Book III. Decade of Tang: VI. Ch\u00eang Min","type":"page"}