Classic of Poetry

Very grand is the mountain of Lëang, Which was made cultivable by Yu. Bright is the way from it, [Along which came] the marquis of Han to receive investiture. The king himself gave the charge:— ‘Continue the services of your ancestors; Let not my charge to you come to nought. Be diligent, early and late, And reverently discharge your duties;— So shall my appointment of you not change. Be a support against those princes who do not come to court, Thus assisting your sovereign.’

With his four steeds, all noble, Very long, and large, The marquis of Han came to court, With the large sceptre of his rank;— He entered and appeared before the king. The king gave him A fine dragon-flag, with its feathery ornaments; A chequered bamboo-screen, and an ornamented yoke; A dark-coloured robe with the dragons on it, and the red slippers; The hooks for the trappings of the breast-bands, and the carved frontlets; The leaning-board bound with leather, and a tiger’s skin to cover it. The ends of the reins, with their metal rings.

When the marquis of Han left the court, he sacrificed to the Spirit of the road; He went forth, and lodged for the night in Too. There Hëen-foo gave him the parting feast;— With a hundred vases of clear spirits. And what were the viands? Roast turtle and fresh fish. And what were the vegetables? Bamboo sprouts and poo. And what were the gifts? A carriage of state with its team. Many were the vessels of sauces and fruits; And the other princes [at court] joined in the feast.

The marquis of Han took to himself a wife,— A niece of king Fun, The daughter of Kwei-foo. The marquis of Han went to receive her, To the residence of Kwei. His hundred chariots were in grand array, The eight bells of each emitting their tinkling;— Illustrious was the glory [of the occasion]. The virgins, her companions, followed the lady, Leisurely like a beautiful cloud. The marquis of Han looked round at them, Filling the gate with their splendour.

Kwei-foo is very martial, And there is no State which he had not visited. When he would select a home for Han-k‘eih, There seemed none so pleasant as Han. Very pleasant is the territory of Han, With its large streams and meres, Full of big bream and tench; With its multitudes of deer, With its bears and grisly bears; With its wild-cats and tigers. Glad was he of so admirable a situation, And here Han-k‘eih found rest and joy.

Large is the wall of [the city of] Han, Built by the multitudes of Yen. As his ancestor had received charge To preside over all the wild tribes [of that quarter], The king [now] gave to the marquis of Han The Chuy and the Mih, Forthwith to hold the States of the north, And to preside over them as their chief; Making strong his walls, and deep his moats, Laying out his fields, regulating his revenues, Presenting his skins of the white fox, With those of the red panther and the yellow grisly bear.