Religion
The Ke Tsuy
Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part III, Book II
You gave us of the brimming cup,
And crowned us with your grace.
Great king, for ever may you live
With brightening happiness!
You gave us of the brimming cup,
And dainty viands spread.
May you, great king, for ever live!
Your splendour never fade !
Yea, perfect may your wisdom be,
Achieving its high aim!
“First ends in last ; last springs from first ;”—
Revealed, that message came.
What said the message from your sires ?
“Vessels and gifts are clean ;
And all your friends, assisting you,
Behave with reverent mien.
“Most reverently you did your part,
And reverent by your side
Your son appeared. On you henceforth
Shall ceaseless blessings bide.
“What shall the ceaseless blessing be ?
That in your palace high
For myriad years you dwell in peace,
Rich in posterity.
“What of the sons shall from you flow ?
Through you, thus blessed of Heaven,
Those myriad years of royal sway
Shall to your sons be given.
“And whence shall come that lustrous race ?
From your heroic wife.
From her shall come the line of sons
To live again your life.”
Codex Note
Responsive to the last;—the uncles and brothers of the king express their sense of his kindness, and their wishes for his happiness, mostly in the words in which the personators of the dead had conveyed the satisfaction of his ancestors with the sacrifice offered to them and promised to him their blessing.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Ke Tsuy.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/242/.
Chicago
Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Ke Tsuy.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/242/.
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