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BOOK VIII.
CHARGE TO THE COUNT OF WEI.
163
has belonged to you for long. Reverently and carefully have you discharged your filial duties; gravely and respectfully you behave to spirits and to men.* I admire your virtue, and pronounce it great and not to be forgotten. God will always enjoy your offerings; the people will be reverently harmonious (under your sway).* I raise you therefore to the rank of high duke, to rule this eastern part of our great land.
Be reverent. Go and diffuse abroad your instructions. Be carefully observant of your robes and (other accompaniments of) your appointments; follow and observe the proper statutes ;—so as to prove a bulwark to the royal House, Enlarge (the fame of) your meritorious ancestor; be a law to your people ;-so as for ever to preserve your dignity. (So also) shall you be a help to me, the One man; future ages will enjoy (the benefit of) your virtue ; all the states will take you for a pattern ;-and thus you will make our dynasty of Kâu never weary of you.
Oh! go, and be prosperous. Do not disregard my charge.'
· Sung lay east from Făng and Hảo, the capitals of Wăn and Wa, which were in the present department of Hsî-an, Shen-hsî.
• Meaning probably that he was to bear in mind that, however illustrious his descent, he was still a subject of the king of Kâu,
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