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316
THE SHIH KING.
DECADE I.
great service, He will enlarge the dignity of your successors.
What is most powerful is the being the man :Its influence will be felt throughout your states. What is most distinguished is the being virtuous :It will secure the imitation of all the princes. Ah! the former kings cannot be forgotten!
ODE 5. THE THIEN 30.
APPROPRIATE TO A SACRIFICE TO KING THÂI. We cannot tell what the sacrifice was; and the Preface, indeed,
says that the piece was used in the seasonal sacrifices to all the former kings and dukes of the House of Kâu. King Thai was the grandfather of king Wăn, and, before he received that title, was known as 'the ancient duke Than-fd. In B.C 1327, he moved with his followers from Pin, an earlier seat of his House, and settled in the plain of Khi, about fifty 11 to the north-east of the present district city of Khi-shan, in Shen-hsî.
Heaven made the lofty hill?, And king Thải brought (the country about) it under cultivation. He made the commencement with it, And king Wăn tranquilly (carried on the work), (Till) that rugged (mount) Khi Had level roads leading to it. May their descendants ever preserve it!
ODE 6. THE HAO THIÊN Y KHẲNG MING.
APPROPRIATE TO A SACRIFICE TO KING KHĂNG. Khăng was the honorary title of Sung, the son and successor of king WQ, B.C. 1115 to 1079.
Heaven made its determinate appointment, Which our two sovereigns received?. King Khăng did not dare to rest idly in it, But night and day enlarged
1 Meaning mount Khi.
· Wån and wa.
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