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The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876], at sacred-texts.com


VI

The Hao T‘ien Yu Ch‘êng Ming; narrative. Appropriate at a sacrifice to King Ch‘êng.

The fixed decree of mighty Heaven
  Had long to Chou assigned the throne,
Which first to Wên and Wu was given.
  Ch‘êng next to them as ruler shone. p. 437
Then the foundations of his power
  Were made by Ch‘êng more deep and sure.
Through night and day no idle hour
  He knew,—the reticent and pure.
His virtue wrought, and glorified
  The heritage he had obtained;
Nor were his heart's best powers unplied,
  Till o’er the land good order reigned.


Next: VII. Wo Chiang