"Be regardful of the filial and fraternal duties, in order to give importance to the human relations."
The parents' tender care can be dispensed,
Not till three anxious years their child they've nursed;
A father's watchful toil, a mother's love—
E'en with high Heaven equality demand.
Let, then, the son his parents' board provide
With meat nutritious,—and from winter's cold,
With warmest silk their feeble frames defend;
Nor with their downward years his efforts cease.
When walking, let his arm their steps support;
When sitting, let him in attendance wait.
With tender care let him their comfort seek;
With fond affection all their wishes meet.
When pain and sickness do their strength impair,
Be all his fears and all his love aroused;—
Let him with quickened steps best medicine seek;
And the most skilled physicians' care invite.
And when, at length, the great event[1] doth come,
Be shrowd and coffin carefully prepared.
Yea, throughout life, by offerings and prayer.
Be parents present to his rev'rent thoughts.
Ye children, who this Sacred Edict hear.
Obey its mandates, and your steps direct
Tow'rds duty's paths;—for whoso doth not thus,
How is he worthy of the name of man?
The senior brother first, the junior next,
Such is the order in which men are born;
Let then the junior, with sincere respect,
Obey the sage's rule,—the lower station keep.
Let him, in walking, to the elder yield,
At festive boards, to th' elder give first place:
Whether at home he stay, or walk abroad.
Ne'er let him treat the elder with neglect.
Should some slight cause occasion angry strife.
Let each recal his thoughts once and again;
Nor act till ev'ry point he thrice hath turned;
Remembering whence they both at first have sprung.
- ↑ This expression is used emphatically for a parent's decease, which "is the greatest event of a man's life."
