Classic of Poetry

Great is God, Beholding this lower world in majesty. He surveyed the four quarters [of the kingdom], Seeking for some one to give settlement to the people. Those two [earlier] dynasties Had failed to satisfy Him with their government; So throughout the various States, He sought and considered, For one on which he might confer the rule. Hating all the great [States], He turned His kind regards on the west, And there gave a settlement [to king T‘ae].

[King T‘ae] raised up and removed The dead trunks, and the fallen trees. He dressed and regulated The bushy clumps, and the [tangled] rows. He opened up and cleared The tamarix trees, and the stave-trees. He hewed and thinned The mountain-mulberry trees. God having brought about the removal thither of this intelligent ruler, The Kwan hordes fled away. Heaven raised up a helpmeet for him, And the appointment he had received was made sure.

God surveyed the hills, Where the oaks and yih were thinned, And paths made through the firs and cypresses. God, who had raised the State, raised up a proper ruler for it;— From the time of T‘ae-pih and king Ke [this was done] Now this king Ke In his heart was full of brotherly duty. Full of duty to his elder brother, He gave himself the more to promote the prosperity [of the country], And secured to him the glory [of his act]. He accepted his dignity, and did not lose it, And [ere long his family] possessed the whole kingdom.

This king Ke Was gifted by God with the power of judgment, So that the fame of his virtue silently grew. His virtue was highly intelligent;— Highly intelligent and of rare discrimination; Able to lead, able to rule,— To rule over this great country; Rendering a cordial submission, effecting a cordial union. When [the sway] came to king Wăn, His virtue left nothing to be dissatisfied with. He received the blessing of God, And it was extended to his descendants.

God said to king Wăn, ‘Be not like those who reject this and cling to that; Be not like those who are ruled by their likings and desires;’ So he grandly ascended before others to the height [of virtue]. The people of Meih were disobedient, Daring to oppose our great country, And invaded Yuen, marching to Kung. The king rose majestic in his wrath; He marshalled his troops, To stop the invading foes; To consolidate the prosperity of Chow; To meet [the expectations of] all under heaven.

He remained quietly in the capital; But [his troops] went on from the borders of Yuen. They ascended our lofty ridges, And [the enemy] arrayed no forces on our hills, On our hills, small or large, Nor drank at our springs, Our springs or our pools. He then determined the finest of the plains, And settled on the south of K‘e, On the side of the Wei; The centre of all the States, The resort of the lower people.

God said to king Wăn, ‘I am pleased with your intelligent virtue, Not loudly proclaimed nor pourtrayed, Without extravagance or changeableness, Without consciousness of effort on your part, In accordance with the pattern of God.’ God said to king Wăn, ‘Take measures against the country of your foes. Along with your brethren, Get ready your scaling ladders, And your engines of onfall and assault, To attack the walls of Ts‘ung.’

The engines of onfall and assault were gently plied, Against the walls of Ts‘ung high and great; Captives for the question were brought in one after another; The left ears [of the slain] were taken leisurely. He sacrificed to God, and to the Father of war, Thus seeking to induce submission; And throughout the kingdom none dared to insult him. The engines of onfall and assault were vigorously plied, Against the walls of Ts‘ung very strong; He attacked it, and let loose all his forces; He extinguished [its sacrifices], and made an end of its existence; And throughout the kingdom none dared to oppose him.