Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 3.djvu/442

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

408

THE SHIH KING.

DECADE II.

Ode 10. The Pan.

An officer of experience mourns over the prevailing misery; complains of the want of sympathy with him shown by other officers; admonishes them, and sets forth the duty required of them, especially in the angry mood in which it might seem that heaven was.

This piece, like the last, is assigned to the time of king Lî.

God has reversed (his usual course of procedure)^[1], And the lower people are full of distress. The words which you utter are not right; The plans which you form are not far-reaching. As there are not sages, you think you have no guidance;—You have no real sincerity. (Thus) your plans do not reach far, And I therefore strongly admonish you.

Heaven is now sending down calamities;—Do not be so complacent. Heaven is now producing such movements;—Do not be so indifferent. If your words were harmonious, The people would become united. If your words were gentle and kind, The people would be settled.

Though my duties are different from yours, I am your fellow-servant. I come to advise with you, And you hear me with contemptuous indifference, My words are about the (present urgent) affairs;—Do not think them matter for laughter. The ancients had a saying:—'Consult the gatherers of grass and firewood^[2].'

↑ The proof of God's having reversed his usual course of procedure was to be found in the universal misery of the people, whose good He was understood to desire, and for the securing of which government by righteous kings was maintained by him.
↑ If ancient worthies thought that persons in such mean employments were to he consulted, surely the advice of the writer deserved to be taken into account by his comrades.

[1] The proof of God's having reversed his usual course of procedure was to be found in the universal misery of the people, whose good He was understood to desire, and for the securing of which government by righteous kings was maintained by him.

[2] If ancient worthies thought that persons in such mean employments were to he consulted, surely the advice of the writer deserved to be taken into account by his comrades.

[1]

[2]