| | 金滕: |
武王既喪，管叔及其群弟乃流言於國，曰：「公將不利於孺子。」周公乃告二公曰：「我之弗辟，我無以告我先王。」周公居東二年，則罪人斯得。于後，公乃為詩以貽王，名之曰《鴟鴞》。王亦未敢誚公。 |
| Metal-bound Coffer: |
(Afterwards), upon the death of king Wu, (the duke's) elder brother, he of Guan, and his younger brothers, spread a baseless report through the kingdom, to the effect that the duke would do no good to the (king's) young son. On this the duke said to the two (other great) dukes, 'If I do not take the law (to these men), I shall not be able to make my report to the former kings.' He resided (accordingly) in the east for two years, when the criminals were taken (and brought to justice). Afterwards he made a poem to present to the king, and called it 'the Owl.' The King on his part did not dare to blame the duke. |
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秋，大熟，未獲，天大雷電以風，禾盡偃，大木斯拔，邦人大恐。王與大夫盡弁以啟金滕之書，乃得周公所自以為功代武王之說。二公及王乃問諸史與百執事。對曰：「信。噫！公命我勿敢言。」 |
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In the autumn, when the grain was abundant and ripe, but before it was reaped, Heaven sent a great storm of thunder and lightning, along with wind, by which the grain was all broken down, and great trees torn up. The people were greatly terrified; and the king and great officers, all in their caps of state, proceeded to open the metal-bound coffer and examine the writings in it, where they found the words of the duke when he took on himself the business of being a substitute for king Wu. The two (great) dukes and the king asked the historiographer and all the other officers (acquainted with the transaction) about the thing, and they replied, 'It was really thus; but ah! the duke charged us that we should not presume to speak about it.' |
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王執書以泣，曰：「其勿穆卜！昔公勤勞王家，惟予沖人弗及知。今天動威以彰周公之德，惟朕小子其新逆，我國家禮亦宜之。」王出郊，天乃雨，反風，禾則盡起。二公命邦人凡大木所偃，盡起而築之。歲則大熟。 |
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The king held the writing in his hand, and wept, saying, 'We need not (now) go on reverently to divine. Formerly the duke was thus earnest for the royal House, but I, being a child, did not know it. Now Heaven has moved its terrors to display his virtue. That I, the little child, (now) go with my new views and feelings to meet him, is what the rules of propriety of our kingdom require.' The king then went out to the borders (to meet the duke), when Heaven sent down rain, and, by virtue of a contrary wind, the grain all rose up. The two (great) dukes gave orders to the people to take up the trees that had fallen and replace them. The year then turned out very fruitful. |
