Classic of Poetry

Heaven protects and establishes thee, With the greatest security; Makes thee entirely virtuous, That thou mayest enjoy every happiness; Grants thee much increase, So that thou hast all in abundance.

Heaven 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.

Heaven protects and establishes thee, So that in every thing thou dost prosper, Like the high hills, and the mountain masses, Like the topmost ridges, and the greatest bulks; That, as the stream ever coming on, Such is thine increase.

With 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, Who say, ‘We give to thee Myriads of years of duration unlimited.’

The spirits come 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 your virtue.

Like the moon advancing to the full, Like the sun ascending the heavens, Like the age of the southern hills, Never waning, never falling, Like the luxuriance of the fir and the cypress;— May such be thy succeeding line!