THE BLIND MUSICIANS OF THE COURT OF KAU; THE INSTRUMENT OF
MUSIC; AND THEIR HARMONY.

The critics agree in holding that this piece was made on occasion of the
duke of Kau's completing his instruments of music for the ancestral,
temple, and announcing the fact at a grand performance in the temple of
king Wan. It cam hardly be regarded as a sacrificial ode.

There are the blind musicians; there are the blind musicians; In the
court of (the temple of) Kau.[1]

[1. The blind musicians at the court of Kau were numerous. The blindness
of the eyes was supposed to make the ears more acute in hearing, and to
be favourable to the powers of the voice. In the Official Book of Kau,
III, i, par. 22, the enumeration of these blind musicians gives 2
directors of the first rank, and 4 of the second; 40 performers of the
first grade, 100 of the second, and 160 of the third; with 300
assistants who were possessed of vision. But it is difficult not to be
somewhat incredulous as to this great collection of blind musicians
about the court of Kau.]

There are (the music-frames with their) face-boards and posts, The high
toothed-edge (of the former), and the feathers stuck (in the latter);
With the drums, large and small, suspended from them; And the hand-drums
and sounding-stones, the instrument to give the signal for commencing,
and the stopper. These being all complete, the music is struck up. The
pan-pipe and the double flute begin at the same time [1].

Harmoniously blend their sounds; In solemn unison they give forth their