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周公作《》。 |
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周公曰：“呜呼！君子所，其无逸。先知稼穑之艰难，乃逸，则知小人之依。相小人，厥父母勤劳稼穑，厥子乃不知稼穑之艰难，乃逸乃谚。既诞，否则侮厥父母曰：‘昔之人无闻知。’” |
| Against Luxurious Ease:...: |
The duke of Zhou said, 'Oh! the superior man rests in this, that he will indulge in no luxurious ease. He first understands how the painful toil of sowing and reaping conducts to ease, and thus he understands how the lower people depend on this toil (for their support). I have observed among the lower people, that where the parents have diligently laboured in sowing and reaping, their sons (often) do not understand this painful toil, but abandon themselves to ease, and to village Slang, and become quite disorderly. Or where they do not do so, they (still) throw contempt on their parents, saying, "Those old people have heard nothing and know nothing."' |
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周公曰：“呜呼！我闻曰：昔在殷王中宗，严恭寅畏，天命自度，治民祗惧，不敢荒宁。肆中宗之享国七十有五年。其在高宗，时旧劳于外，爰暨小人。作其即位，乃或亮阴，三年不言。其惟不言，言乃雍。不敢荒宁，嘉靖殷邦。至于小大，无时或怨。肆高宗之享国五十年有九年。其在祖甲，不义惟王，旧为小人。作其即位，爰知小人之依，能保惠于庶民，不敢侮鳏寡。肆祖甲之享国三十有三年。自时厥后立王，生则逸，生则逸，不知稼穑之艰难，不闻小人之劳，惟耽乐之从。自时厥后，亦罔或克寿。或十年，或七八年，或五六年，或四三年。” |
| Against Luxurious Ease:...: |
The duke of Zhou said, 'Oh! I have heard that aforetime Zhong Zong, one of the kings of Yin, was grave, humble, reverential, and timorously cautious. He measured himself with reference to the decree of Heaven, and cherished a reverent apprehension in governing the people, not daring to indulge in useless ease. It was thus that he enjoyed the throne seventy and five years. If we come to the time of Gao Zong, he toiled at first away from the court, and was among the lower people. When he came to the throne, and occupied the mourning shed, it may be said that he did not speak for three years. (Afterwards) he was (still inclined) not to speak; but when he did speak, his words were full of harmonious (wisdom). He did not dare to indulge in useless ease, but admirably and tranquilly presided over the regions of Yin, till throughout them all, small and great, there was not a single murmur. It was thus that he enjoyed the throne fifty and nine years. In the case of Zu-jia, he refused to be king unrighteously, and was at first one of the lower people. When he came to the throne, he knew on what they must depend (for their support), and was able to exercise a protecting kindness towards their masses, and did not dare to treat with contempt the wifeless men and widows. Thus it was that he enjoyed the throne thirty and three years. The kings that arose after these, from their birth enjoyed ease. Enjoying ease from their birth, they did not know the painful toil of sowing and reaping, and had not heard of the hard labours of the lower people. They sought for nothing but excessive pleasure; and so not one of them had long life. They (reigned) for ten years, for seven or eight, for five or six, or perhaps (only) for three or four.' |
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周公曰：“呜呼！厥亦惟我周太王、王季，克自抑畏。文王卑服，即康功田功。徽柔懿恭，怀保小民，惠鲜鳏寡。自朝至于日中昃，不遑暇食，用咸和万民。文王不敢盘于游田，以庶邦惟正之供。文王受命惟中身，厥享国五十年。” |
| Against Luxurious Ease:...: |
The duke of Zhou said, 'Oh! there likewise were king Tai and king Ji of our own Zhou, who were humble and reverentially cautious. King Wen dressed meanly, and gave himself to the work of tranquillization and to that of husbandry. Admirably mild and beautifully humble, he cherished and protected the inferior people, and showed a fostering kindness to the wifeless men and widows. From morning to mid-day, and from mid-day to sundown, he did not allow himself leisure to eat; thus seeking to secure the happy harmony of the myriads of the people. King Wen did not dare to go to excess in his excursions or his hunting, and from the various states he would receive only the correct amount of contribution. The appointment (of Heaven) came to him in the middle of his life, and he enjoyed the throne for fifty years.' |
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周公曰：“呜呼！继自今嗣王，则其无淫于观、于逸、于游、于田，以万民惟正之供。无皇曰：‘今日耽乐。’乃非民攸训，非天攸若，时人丕则有愆。无若殷王受之迷乱，酗于酒德哉！” |
| Against Luxurious Ease:...: |
The duke of Zhou said, 'Oh! from this time forward, do you who have succeeded to the throne imitate Wen's avoiding of excess in his sight-seeing, his indulgence in ease, his excursions, his hunting; and from the myriads of the people receive only the correct amount of contribution. Do not allow yourself the leisure to say, "To-day I will indulge in pleasure." This would not be holding out a lesson to the people, nor the way to secure the favour of Heaven. Men will on the contrary be prompt to imitate you and practise evil. Become not like Shou the king of Yin, who went quite astray, and, became abandoned to drunkenness.' |
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周公曰：“呜呼！我闻曰：‘古之人犹胥训告，胥保惠，胥教诲，民无或胥譸张为幻。’此厥不听，人乃训之，乃变乱先王之正刑，至于小大。民否则厥心违怨，否则厥口诅祝。” |
| Against Luxurious Ease:...: |
The duke of Zhou said, 'Oh! I have heard it said that, in the case of the ancients, (their ministers) warned and admonished them, protected and loved them, taught and instructed them; and among the people there was hardly one who would impose on them by extravagant language or deceiving tricks. If you will not listen to this (and profit by it), your ministers will imitate you, and so the correct laws of the former kings, both small and great, will be changed and disordered. The people, blaming you, will disobey and rebel in their hearts; yea, they will curse you with their mouths.' |
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周公曰：“呜呼！自殷王中宗及高宗及祖甲及我周文王，兹四人迪哲。厥或告之曰：‘小人怨汝詈汝。’则皇自敬德。厥愆，曰：‘朕之愆。’允若时，不啻不敢含怒。此厥不听，人乃或譸张为幻，曰小人怨汝詈汝，则信之，则若时，不永念厥辟，不宽绰厥心，乱罚无罪，杀无辜。怨有同，是丛于厥身。” |
| Against Luxurious Ease:...: |
The duke of Zhou said, 'Oh! those kings of Yin, Zhong Zong, Gao Zong, and Zu-jia, with king Wen of our Zhou, these four men carried their knowledge into practice. If it was told them, "The lower people murmur against you and revile you," then they paid great and reverent attention to their conduct; and with reference to the faults imputed to them they said, "Our faults are really so," thus not simply shrinking from the cherishing of anger. If you will not listen to this (and profit by it), when men with extravagant language and deceptive tricks say to you, "The lower people are murmuring against you and reviling you," you will believe them. Doing this, you will not be always thinking of your princely duties, and will not cultivate a large and generous heart, You will confusedly punish the guiltless, and put the innocent to death. There will be a general murmuring, which will be concentrated upon your person.' |
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周公曰：“呜呼！嗣王其监于兹。” |
| Against Luxurious Ease:...: |
The duke of Zhou said, 'Oh! let the king, who has succeeded to the throne, make a study of these things.' |
