Sacred Books of the East/Volume 3/The Shih/The Minor Odes of the Kingdom/Decade 6/Ode 3

 

The Sixth Decade, or that of Pei Shan.

Ode 3, Stanzas 1, 4 and 5. The Hsiâo Ming.

 

An officer, kept long abroad on distant service, appeals to Heaven, deploring the hardships of his lot, and tenders good advice to his more fortunate friends at court.

O bright and high Heaven,
Who enlightenest and rulest this lower world!
I marched on this expedition to the west,
As far as this wilderness of Khiû.
From the first day of the second month,
I have passed through the cold and the heat.
My heart is sad;
The poison (of my lot) is too bitter.
I think of those (at court) in their offices,
And my tears flow down like rain.
Do I not wish to return?
But I fear the net for crime.

Ah! ye gentlemen,
Do not reckon on your rest being permanent.
Quietly fulfil the duties of your offices,
Associating with the correct and upright;
So shall the spirits hearken to you,
And give you good.

Ah! ye gentlemen,
Do not reckon on your repose being permanent.
Quietly fulfil the duties of your offices,
Loving the correct and upright;
So shall the spirits hearken to you,
And give you large measures of bright happiness.