{"collection":"cfu","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cfu/sbe03/sbe03105.htm","path":"cfu/sbe03/sbe03105.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cfu/sbe03/sbe03105.htm","text":"Ascribed, like the former, to the duke of K\u00e2u.\nHeaven protects and establishes thee, With the greatest. security; Makes thee entirely virtuous.\n[paragraph continues] That thou mayest enjoy every happiness; Grants thee much increase, So that thou hast all in abundance.\nHeaven protects and establishes thee. It grants thee all excellence, So that thine every matter is right, And thou receivest every Heavenly favour. It sends down to thee long-during happiness, Which the days are not sufficient to enjoy.\nHeaven protects and establishes thee, So that in everything thou dost prosper. Like the high hills and the mountain masses, Like the topmost ridges and the greatest bulks, Like the stream ever coming on, Such is thine increase.\nWith happy auspices and purifications thou bringest the offerings, And dost filially present them, In spring, summer, autumn, and winter, To the dukes and former kings 1; And they say, 'We give to thee myriads of years, duration unlimited 2.'\nThe spirits come 3, And confer on thee many blessings. The people are simple and honest, Daily enjoying their meat, and drink. All the black-haired race, in all their surnames, Universally practise thy virtue.\nLike the moon advancing to the full, Like the sun ascending the heavens, Like the everlasting southern hills, Never waning, never falling, Like\nthe luxuriance of the fir and the cypress;--May such be thy succeeding line!\n348:1 These dukes and former kings are all the ancestors of the royal House of K\u00e2u, sacrificed to at the four seasons of the year.\n348:2 Here we have the response of the dukes and kings communicated to the sacrificing king by the individuals chosen to represent them at the service.\n348:3 The spirits here are, of course, those of the former dukes and kings.","title":"SBE 3: Shih King: Minor Odes: The First Decade, or that of L\u00fb-ming: Ode 6. The Thien P\u00e2o","type":"page"}