The Ching Min

Heaven made the race of men, designed
With nature good and large ;—
Functions of body, powers of mind,
Their duties to discharge.
All men this normal nature own,
Its normal virtue all men crown
‘With love sincere and true.
Heaven by our sovereign’s course was moved,
And to aid him, its son approved,
Gave birth to Chung Shan-foo.

Mild and admired, this chief displays
Virtues that win the heart.
His air and looks a wondrous grace
To all his ways impart.
His rule of life the ancient law,
To bear himself unmarred by flaw
With earnest mind he aims.
In sympathy with our great Head,
Abroad the royal will to spread
His constant service claims.

The king gave charge to Chung Shan-foo :—
“Hear now what I direct.
As served your fathers, so serve you,
And me, your king, protect.
Let all my lords your pattern see ;
Publish among them each decree ;
Speak freely in my stead.
Of what goes on inform my mind.
Through you let all my measures find
Obedience promptly paid.”

Great was the charge. Our hero hears,
And hastens to obey.
Among the princes he appears ;
Of each he marks the way.
Who good, who bad, throughout the land,
He clearly sees. With wisdom grand
He guards his life and fame.
Nor day nor night he idly rests ;
The king’s, the One man’s, high behests
His soul with zeal inflame.

Among the people flies the word :—
“What’s soft men swallow fast ;
And what is for the teeth too hard
Out of their mouths they cast.”
But never yet did mortal trace
In Chung Shan such ignoble case ;—
Nor soft nor hard he knows.
The strong and fierce he does not dread ;
And on the poor or widowed head
Insult he never throws.

Again the people often say :—
“Virtue is very light,—
Light as a hair; yet few can bear
The burden of its weight.”
’Tis so; but Chung Shan, as I think,
Needs not from virtue’s weight to shrink,
That other men defies.
Aid from my love his strength rejects.
If the king’s measures have defects,
What’s needed he supphes.

He asks the Spirit of the path
His blessing to send down.
His steeds are strong; each soldier hath
A bravery like his own.
Hastward they march; his charge is there.
That city’s bulwarks to repair,
How ardently he hies !
List to the tinkling of his bells!
Of his steeds’ constant tramp it tells ;—
The walls will soon arise.

Yes, on to Ts‘e the hero went,
With his four steeds so strong.
Their eight bells told his purpose bold ;—
He’ll not be absent long!
I, Yin Keih foo, this song now sing.
Like gentle breeze, O may it bring
To his unresting mind,
Mid all his toils and cares, some cheer!
Yes, may our great Chung Shan find here
The comfort I designed !