Hymns of Lu

駉駉牡馬，在坰之野。薄言駉者，有驈有皇，有驪有黃，以車彭彭。思無疆思，馬斯臧。

Fat and sturdy stallions, in the open fields of the far suburbs. Those fat horses, some with black bodies and white thighs, some yellow-white, some pure black, some yellow, used to draw carriages, strong and powerful. Thinking of there being no boundary, these horses are so good.

駉駉牡馬，在坰之野。薄言駉者，有騅有駓，有騂有騏，以車伾伾。思無期思，馬斯才。

Fat and sturdy stallions, in the open fields of the far suburbs. Those fat horses, some gray-white mottled, some yellow-white mottled, some red, some blue-black, used to draw carriages, very strong. Thinking of there being no limit of time, these horses have such talent.

駉駉牡馬，在坰之野。溥言駉者，有驒有駱，有騮有雒，以車繹繹。思無斁思，馬斯作。

Fat and sturdy stallions, in the open fields of the far suburbs. Those fat horses, (the source text has a miswritten character in the opening phrase here) some blue-black with scale-like spots, some white with black manes, some red with black manes, some black with white manes, used to draw carriages, running with a smooth gait. Thinking of there being no weariness, these horses are so spirited.

駉駉牡馬，在坰之野。薄言駉者，有駰有騢，有驔有魚，以車祛祛。思無邪思，馬斯徂。

Fat and sturdy stallions, in the open fields of the far suburbs. Those fat horses, some pale black, some red-white mottled, some black with yellow spines, some with white around both eyes, used to draw carriages, strong and sturdy. Thinking of there being no wrongdoing, these horses go forward so.

有駜有駜，駜彼乘黃。夙夜在公，在公明明。振振鷺，鷺於下。鼓咽咽，醉言舞。於胥樂兮！

There are fat horses, there are fat horses, the fat ones being those four yellow horses. From morning to night in the ducal house, in the ducal house they work clearly and well. The egrets in their flurry, the egrets alight. The drums beat softly, and when drunk they dance. All are happy!

有駜有駜，駜彼乘牡。夙夜在公，在公飲酒。振振鷺，鷺于飛。鼓咽咽，醉言歸。於胥樂兮！

There are fat horses, there are fat horses, the fat ones being those four stallions. From morning to night in the ducal house, in the ducal house they drink wine. The egrets in their flurry, the egrets fly. The drums beat softly, and when drunk they return home. All are happy!

有駜有駜，駜彼乘駽。夙夜在公，在公載燕。自今以始，歲其有。君子有谷，詒孫子。於胥樂兮！

There are fat horses, there are fat horses, the fat ones being those four blue-black horses. From morning to night in the ducal house, in the ducal house they feast. From now on, every year there will be a good harvest. The gentleman has good emoluments, to leave to his descendants. All are happy!

思樂泮水，薄採其芹。魯侯戾止，言觀其旗。其旗茷茷，鸞聲噦噦。無小無大，從公於邁。

Thinking of the joyful Pan waters, we go to gather the water parsley. The Marquis of Lu has arrived, and we come to see his banners. The banners flutter and snap, and the bells ring in harmony. Whether small or great, all follow the duke on his journey.

思樂泮水，薄採其藻。魯侯戾止，其馬蹻蹻。其馬蹻蹻，其音昭昭。載色載笑，匪怒伊教。

Thinking of the joyful Pan waters, we go to gather the water algae. The Marquis of Lu has arrived, and his horses are strong and vigorous. His horses are strong and vigorous, and his voice is bright and clear. He is gentle in countenance and smiling; it is not anger but instruction.

思樂泮水，薄採其茆。魯侯戾止，在泮飲酒。既飲旨酒，永錫難老。順彼長道，屈此群醜。

Thinking of the joyful Pan waters, we go to gather the water shield. The Marquis of Lu has arrived, and drinks in the Pan Palace. He has drunk the fine wine, and may it be granted that he not grow old. Following that long road, he subdues these evil crowds.

穆穆魯侯，敬明其德。敬慎威儀，維民之則。允文允武，昭假烈祖。靡有不孝，自求伊祜。

The stately Marquis of Lu is reverent and clear in his virtue. Careful in dignified bearing, he is a model for the people. Truly cultured and truly martial, he shines before his meritorious ancestors. There is no unfilial act, and he seeks this blessing himself.

明明魯侯，克明其德。既作泮宮，淮夷攸服。矯矯虎臣，在泮獻馘。淑問如皋陶，在泮獻囚。

The bright Marquis of Lu is able to show forth his virtue. Having already built the Pan Palace, the Huai barbarians submit from this. The valiant tiger-like ministers present the left ears of the slain in the Pan Palace. Good at questioning like Gao Yao, they present the captives in the Pan Palace.

濟濟多士，克廣德心。桓桓於徵，狄彼東南。烝烝皇皇，不吳不揚。不告於訩，在泮獻功。

Many dignified officers are able to extend a virtuous heart. They march out valiantly, to clear away the southeast. Splendid and magnificent in their grandeur, not loud and not boastful. They do not take their disputes to litigation, and present their merits in the Pan Palace.

角弓其觩。束矢其搜。戎車孔博。徒御無斁。既克淮夷，孔淑不逆。式固爾猶，淮夷卒獲。

The horn bows are curved. The bundled arrows are numerous. The war chariots are very broad. Foot soldiers and charioteers do not tire. Having conquered the Huai barbarians, they are very good and do not defy. Make your plans firm, and the Huai barbarians are finally obtained.

翩彼飛鴞，集於泮林。食我桑黮，懷我好音。憬彼淮夷，來獻其琛。元龜象齒，大賂南金。

The owls flying in a flutter alight in the Pan woods. They eat my mulberries, and remember my good voice. The awakened Huai barbarians come to present their treasures. Great tortoises, ivory, and a great gift of southern gold.

閟宮有侐，實實枚枚。赫赫姜嫄，其德不回。上帝是依，無災無害。

The deeply closed palace temple is quiet, solid and finely made. The glorious Jiang Yuan, whose virtue was not wicked. God above relied on her, and there was no calamity.

彌月不遲，是生后稷。降之百福。黍稷重穋，稙稚菽麥。奄有下國，俾民稼穡。

A full term without delay, and then she gave birth to Hou Ji. A hundred blessings descended. Millet and sorghum early and late, rice early and late, beans and wheat early and late. He covered and possessed the lower states, and made the people farm.

有稷有黍，有稻有秬。奄有下土，纘禹之緒。后稷之孫，實維大王。

There was sorghum and millet, rice and black millet. He covered and possessed the lower lands, and continued the work of Yu. The grandson of Hou Ji was truly the Great King.

居岐之陽，實始剪商。至於文武，纘大王之緒，致天之屆，於牧之野。

He lived on the south side of Mount Qi, and truly began to weaken the Shang. Coming to King Wen and King Wu, who continued the work of the Great King, they carried out Heaven's punishment, at Muye.

無二無虞，上帝臨女。敦商之旅，克鹹厥功。王曰叔父，建爾元子，俾侯於魯。

Have no second thoughts and no doubts; God above looks upon you. Put the army of Shang in order, and be able to accomplish that achievement. The king said: Uncle, I invest your eldest son as marquis in Lu.

大啟爾宇，為周室輔。乃命魯公，俾侯於東。錫之山川，土田附庸。

Greatly open up your borders, and be a support to the House of Zhou. Then he commanded the Duke of Lu to become a marquis in the east, and gave him mountains and rivers, lands and fields, and dependent states.

周公之孫，莊公之子。龍旗承祀。六轡耳耳。春秋匪解，享祀不忒。

Grandson of the Duke of Zhou, son of Duke Zhuang, with the dragon banner he carries on the sacrifices. The six reins are soft and beautiful. Spring and autumn he is not remiss, and his offerings have no fault.

皇皇后帝！皇祖后稷！享以騂犧，是饗是宜。降福既多，周公皇祖，亦其福女。

August Lord on High! August ancestor Hou Ji! With red sacrificial victims we make offerings, and so you feast and are pleased. The blessings sent down are already many; the Duke of Zhou and the august ancestor send down blessings on you too.

秋而載嘗，夏而楅衡，白牡騂剛。犧尊將將，毛炰胾羹。籩豆大房，萬舞洋洋。

In autumn the autumn sacrifice is held, in summer the bullocks are fitted with horn-guards, white bulls and red bulls. The sacrificial vessels gleam; the meat is roasted whole with its hair and cut up for soup. The bamboo and wooden dishes and the great stands and platters, and the ten-thousand dance stretches broad and grand.

孝孫有慶。俾爾熾而昌，俾爾壽而臧。保彼東方，魯邦是嘗。不虧不崩，不震不騰。

The filial grandson has good fortune. May you flourish and be bright, may you live long and be good. May you hold that eastern land, and the state of Lu make its autumn sacrifice from here. Not diminished, not crumbling, not shaken, not overturned.

三壽作朋，如岡如陵。公車千乘，朱英綠縢。二矛重弓。公徒三萬，貝冑朱綅。

With the three elders as friends, like a ridge, like a mound. The duke's war chariots number a thousand, with red tassels and green cords. Two spears and double bows. The duke's foot soldiers number thirty thousand, with shell-adorned helmets stitched with red thread.

烝徒增增，戎狄是膺，荊舒是懲，則莫我敢承！俾爾昌而熾，俾爾壽而富。

The host of soldiers is vast and many; by them the Rong and Di are held off, the Jing and Shu are chastised, and no one dares to withstand me! May you be bright and flourishing, may you live long and be rich.

黃髮臺背，壽胥與試。俾爾昌而大，俾爾耆而艾。萬有千歲，眉壽無有害。

With yellow hair and wrinkled backs, may you compete in long life. May you be bright and great, may you grow old and be strong. May you live ten thousand and a thousand years, long-lived and free of calamity.

泰山岩巖，魯邦所詹。奄有龜蒙，遂荒大東。至於海邦，淮夷來同。

Mount Tai towers high, gazed upon by the state of Lu. It covers and holds Mount Gui and Mount Meng, and so extends to the far east. Reaching the states by the sea, the Huai barbarians come to the meeting.

莫不率從，魯侯之功。保有鳧繹，遂荒徐宅。至於海邦，淮夷蠻貊。

None does not submit; this is the merit of the Marquis of Lu. He holds Mount Fu and Mount Yi, and so extends to the dwelling place of the Xu people. Reaching the states by the sea, the Huai Yi, the Man and the Mo.

及彼南夷，莫不率從。莫敢不諾，魯侯是若。天錫公純嘏，眉壽保魯。

And those southern barbarians, none does not submit. None dares not to assent, and so the Marquis of Lu is obeyed. Heaven gives the duke great blessings, and long life to hold Lu.

居常與許，復周公之宇。魯侯燕喜，令妻壽母。宜大夫庶士，邦國是有。

He holds Chang and Xu, and restores the borders of the Duke of Zhou. The Marquis of Lu feasts and rejoices, with a good wife and a long-lived mother. Fitting to the grandees and the officers, and so the state is held.

既多受祉，黃髮兒齒。徂徠之松，新甫之柏。是斷是度，是尋是尺。

Having already received many blessings, with yellow hair and the teeth of a child. The pines of Mount Culai, the cypresses of Xinfu. Then they are cut, then split, then measured by the fathom, then by the foot.

松桷有舄，路寢孔碩，新廟奕奕。奚斯所作，孔曼且碩，萬民是若。

The pine rafters are thick and huge, the great hall is vast, and the new temple is grand. Made by Xi Si, very long and great; and the ten thousand people submit through it.

猗與那與！置我鞉鼓。奏鼓簡簡，衎我烈祖。湯孫奏假，綏我思成。

Oh, how beautiful and abundant! We set out our drums. The drums beat jian-jian, to delight our meritorious ancestor. The descendant of Tang plays the music to move the spirit, to soothe what we hope to accomplish.

鞉鼓淵淵，嘒嘒管聲。既和且平，依我磬聲。於赫湯孫！穆穆厥聲。

The drums boom deeply, the pipes sound clear and thin. Both harmonious and even, keeping to the sound of my stone chimes. How splendid the descendant of Tang! How solemn the sound.

庸鼓有斁，萬舞有奕。我有嘉客，亦不夷懌。自古在昔，先民有作。

The great bells and great drums sound full and rich, and the ten-thousand dance is grand and orderly. We have fine guests; are they not harmonious and pleased? From ancient times, the earlier people made it.

溫恭朝夕，執事有恪，顧予烝嘗，湯孫之將。

Mild and respectful morning and evening, acting with reverence, favor our winter and autumn sacrifices, the offering of the descendant of Tang.

嗟嗟烈祖！有秩斯祜。申錫無疆，及爾斯所。既載清酤，賚我思成。

Ah, ah, our meritorious ancestor! You have orderly blessings. Bestow them again without limit, until they reach this place of yours. The clear wine is already set out; grant what we hope to accomplish.

亦有和羹，既戒既平。鬷假無言，時靡有爭。綏我眉壽，黃耇無疆。

There is also the harmonized soup, prepared and set right. All gathered and moved to the spirit, no words are spoken, and at this time no one quarrels. Soothe my long life, with yellow hair without limit.

約軧錯衡，八鸞鶬鶬。以假以享，我受命溥將。自天降康，豐年穰穰。

The wheel hubs are wrapped in leather and the yokes patterned, and the eight bells chime cang-cang. They come to commune, come to feast, and I receive a mandate wide and long. From Heaven come down peace and health, and the harvest years are abundant.

來假來饗，降福無疆。顧予烝嘗，湯孫之將。

They come to commune, come to enjoy the feast, and send down blessings without limit. Favor our winter and autumn sacrifices, the offering of the descendant of Tang.

天命玄鳥，降而生商，宅殷土芒芒。古帝命武湯，正域彼四方。

Heaven commanded the dark bird, which came down and gave birth to Shang, who dwelt in the wide land of Yin. In ancient times the Lord on High commanded the martial Tang to fix the borders of the four quarters.

方命厥後，奄有九有。商之先後，受命不殆，在武丁孫子。武丁孫子，武王靡不勝。

He commanded all the lords widely, and covered and held the nine provinces. The former lords of Shang received the mandate without sloth, down to the descendant of Wuding. The descendant of Wuding, King Wu, was equal to everything.

龍旗十乘，大糦是承。邦畿千里，維民所止，肇域彼四海。

Ten dragon-banner carriages, bringing great offerings of millet. The royal domain of a thousand li is where the people dwell, and from it the borders were begun to the four seas.

四海來假，來假祁祁。景員維河。殷受命咸宜，百祿是何。

The four seas come to commune, come to commune in great numbers. Vast and encircling is the river. Yin received the mandate and all was fitting, and a hundred blessings were borne from here.

浚哲維商，長髮其祥。洪水芒芒，禹敷下土方。外大國是疆，幅隕既長。有娀方將，帝立子生商。

Deep and wise was Shang, long manifesting its good omens. The flood waters were vast, and Yu laid out the lands below in all directions. The great states outside were taken as borders, and the territory was already long. The Songs were growing strong, and the Lord set up a son who gave birth to Shang.

玄王桓撥，受小國是達，受大國是達。率履不越，遂視既發。相士烈烈。海外有截。

The Dark King Huanbo was martial and valiant; receiving small states he reached success, receiving great states he reached success. He followed ritual and did not overstep, and so his inspection was carried out. Xiangtu was fierce and glorious. Beyond the seas all was orderly and uniform.

帝命不違，至於湯齊。湯降不遲，聖敬日躋。昭假遲遲，上帝是祗，帝命式於九圍。

The Lord's mandate was not turned aside, and when it came to Tang he was equal to Heaven. Tang's birth was not late, his sage reverence rose day by day. His brilliance moved Heaven, slow and long-lasting; the Lord on High honored him for it, and the Lord's command became the standard for the nine provinces.

受小球大球，為下國綴旒，何天之休。不競不絿，不剛不柔。敷政優優。百祿是遒。

Receiving the small jade and the large jade, he was a model to the states below, bearing the beauty of Heaven. He did not strive, was not hurried, not hard and not soft. He spread his policies leisurely and mild. A hundred blessings gathered here.

受小共大共，為下國駿厖。何天之龍，敷奏其勇。不震不動，不戁不竦，百祿是總。

Receiving the small laws and the great laws, he was a thick shelter to the states below. Bearing Heaven's favor, he laid out and presented his valor. Not shaken and not wavering, not fearful and not startled, a hundred blessings gathered here all together.

武王載旆，有虔秉鉞。如火烈烈，則莫我敢曷。苞有三櫱，莫遂莫達。九有有截，韋顧既伐，昆吾夏桀。

King Wu carried the pennant, reverently holding the battle-axe. Like fire blazing, no one dared to hold me back. From the root came three shoots; none grew smoothly and none reached through. The nine provinces were orderly and uniform; Wei and Gu were already attacked, as were Kunwu and Jie of Xia.

昔在中葉，有震且業。允也天子，降予卿士。實維阿衡，實左右商王。

In earlier days, in the middle age, there was majesty and also danger. Trustworthy was the Son of Heaven, who sent down to me a minister. He was indeed Aheng, and truly assisted the king of Shang.

撻彼殷武，奮伐荊楚。深入其阻，裒荊之旅。有截其所，湯孫之緒。

Swift was the martial Yin, who rose to attack Jing and Chu. He went deep into their strongholds and gathered the army of Jing. He brought order and uniformity to that region, the work of the descendant of Tang.

維女荊楚，居國南鄉。昔有成湯，自彼氐羌，莫敢不來享，莫敢不來王。曰商是常。

You of Jing and Chu, who dwell in the south of the state. In the past, there was Cheng Tang, and from those Di and Qiang, none dared not to come to offer, none dared not to come to court the king. They said Shang was the constant lord.

天命多闢，設都於禹之績。歲事來闢，勿予禍適，稼穡匪解。

Heaven commanded the many lords to set up capitals on the achievements of Yu. Every year's business they came to court, and said: do not give me blame and punishment, and do not be lax in sowing and reaping.

天命降監，下民有嚴。不僭不濫，不敢怠遑。命於下國，封建厥福。

Heaven's mandate came down to inspect, and the people below have dignity. Not overstepping their place and not abusing punishments, they dare not be careless or idle. He commanded the states below and established their blessings.

商邑翼翼，四方之極。赫赫厥聲，濯濯厥靈。壽考且寧，以保我後生。

The capital of Shang is orderly and neat, a standard for the four quarters. Splendid is its fame, bright and shining its numinous power. Long-lived and peaceful, to preserve my descendants.

陟彼景山，松伯丸丸。是斷是遷，方斫是虔。松桷有梴，旅楹有閒，寢成孔安。

They climbed Mount Jing, where the pines and cypresses stand straight and tall. (The base text reads 'pine and uncle', where the character for 'uncle' is a miscopy of the one for 'cypress'.) Then they were cut, then moved, then hewn, then shaved. The pine rafters are long and straight, the many pillars are large and spacious, and when the ancestral temple was finished it was very peaceful.