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Histories -> Shiji -> Annals -> Annals of the Five Emperors -> 24

舜入于大麓，Shun went to the great plains at the foot of the mountains,
烈風雷雨不迷，and, amid violent wind, thunder, and rain, did not go astray.
堯乃知舜之足授天下。 Yao then knew that Shun was fit to accept the empire,
堯老， and being old,
使舜攝行天子政， caused Shun to be associated with him in the government,
巡狩。and when he went on a tour of inspection
舜得舉用事二十年， Shun was promoted and employed in the administration of affairs for twenty years;
而堯使攝政。 and Yao having directed that he should be associated in the government,
攝政八年而堯崩。he was so associated for eight years. Yao died,
三年喪畢， and when the three years' mourning was over,
讓丹朱， Shun yielded to Danzhu,
天下歸舜。 but the people of the empire turned to Shun.
而禹、皋陶、契、后稷、伯夷、夔、龍、倕、益、彭祖自堯時而皆舉用，Now Yu, Gaoyao, Xie, Houji, Boyi, Kui, Long, Chui Yi, and Pengzu were all from the time of Yao promoted to office,
未有分職。 but had not separate appointments.
於是舜乃至於文祖， Shun having then proceeded to the temple of the accomplished ancestor,
謀于四嶽， deliberated with the president of the four mountains,
辟四門， threw open the four gates,
明通四方耳目，and was in direct communication with officers in all four quarters of the empire, who were eyes and ears to him.
命十二牧論帝德， He ordered the twelve governors to talk of the Emperor's virtue,
行厚德， to be kind to the virtuous,
遠佞人， and keep the artful at a distance,
則蠻夷率服。 so that the barbarians of the south might lead on one another to be submissive.
舜謂四嶽曰：「有能奮庸美堯之事者，使居官相事？」He said to the president of the four mountains, 'Is there anyone who can vigorously display his merits, aud beautify Yao's undertakings, and whom I can make prime minister?'
皆曰：「伯禹為司空，可美帝功。」They all said, 'There is Baron Yu, the superintendent of works,' he can beautify the Emperor's labours.
舜曰：「嗟，然！Shun said, 'Ah!
禹，汝平水土，維是勉哉。yes, Yu, you have put in order the water and the land, but in this matter you must exert yourself.
禹拜稽首，讓於稷、契與皋陶。Yu did obeisance with his head to the ground, while declining in favour of Hou Ji (Millet), Xie, or Gaoyao.
舜曰：「然，往矣。」Shun said, 'Yes; but do you go and set about it.'
舜曰： Shun said,
「棄， 'Qi,
黎民始饑， the black-haired people begin to be famished.
汝后稷播時百穀。」Do you, Prince Millet, sow in their seasons the various kinds of grain.'
舜曰： He also said,
「契， 'Xie,
百姓不親， the people do not love one another,
五品不馴， and the five orders of relationship are not observed.
汝為司徒，You, as minister of instruction,
而敬敷五教， must carefully diffuse abroad those five lessons of duty,
在寬。」 but do so with gentleness.'
舜曰： He also said,
「皋陶， 'Gaoyao,
蠻夷猾夏， the southern barbarians are disturbing the summer region,
寇賊姦軌，while robbers, murderers, villains, and traitors abound.
汝作士，Do you, as minister of crime,
五刑有服，exercise repression by use of the five kinds of punishment
五服三就；—for the infliction of which there are three appointed places
五流有度，—and the five banishments
五度三居：with their several places of detention, and the three degrees of distance.
維明能信。」 Be intelligent and you will inspire confidence.'
舜曰：「誰能馴予工？」Shun said, 'Who can direct the workmen?'
皆曰垂可。 They all said 'Chui can do it';
於是以垂為共工。 so he made Chui minister of works.
舜曰：「誰能馴予上下草木鳥獸？」Shun said, 'Who can superintend my uplands and lowlands, pastures and woods, birds and beasts?'
皆曰益可。They all said, 'Yi is the man';
於是以益為朕虞。 so Yi was made imperial forester.
益拜稽首，讓于諸臣朱虎、熊羆。Yi did obeisance with his head to the ground, and declined in favour of the officials Fir, Tiger, Black Bear, and Grizzly Bear.
舜曰：「往矣，汝諧。」Shun said, 'Go and act harmoniously.'
遂以朱虎、熊羆為佐。Fir, Tiger, Black Bear, and Grizzly Bear were accordingly his assistants.
舜曰：「嗟！Shun said, 'Ah!
四嶽，有能典朕三禮？president of the four mountains, is there anyone who can superintend the three ceremonies?
皆曰伯夷可。They all said, 'Baron Yi is the man.'
舜曰：「嗟！Shun said, 'Ah!
伯夷， Baron Yi,
以汝為秩宗， I will make you arranger of the ancestral temple.
夙夜維敬， Day and night be careful,
直哉維靜絜。」be upright, be pure.'
伯夷讓夔、龍。 Baron Yi declined in favour of Kui or Long,
舜曰： but Shun said,
「然。 'Let it be so,'
以夔為典樂，and made Kui director of music
教稚子， and teacher of youth.
直而溫， 'Be straightforward' (he added) 'and yet mild;
寬而栗， lenient and yet stern;
剛而毋虐，firm, yet not tyrannical;
簡而毋傲；impetuous, yet not arrogant.
詩言意， Poetry gives expression to the thought,
歌長言， and singing is the prolonged utterance of that expression.
聲依永， Notes accompany that utterance,
律和聲， and are harmonized themselves by the pitch-pipes.
八音能諧， The eight kinds of instruments can be adjusted,
毋相奪倫， so that one shall not take from or interfere with another,
神人以和。」 and spirits and men are thereby brought into harmony.'
夔曰： Kui said,
「於！ 'Oh!
予擊石拊石，I smite the stone; I tap the stone,
百獸率舞。」 and the various animals lead on one another to dance.'
舜曰： Shun said,
「龍， 'Long,
朕畏忌讒說殄偽， I dread slanderous speakers and injurious deceivers,
振驚朕眾， who agitate and alarm my people.
命汝為納言， I appoint you minister of communication.
夙夜出入朕命， Day and night you will issue and receive my orders,
惟信。」 but be truthful.'
舜曰： Shun said,
「嗟！ 'Ah!
女二十有二人， you twenty and two men,
敬哉， be reverent,
惟時相天事。」 and you will aid in their proper seasons the undertakings of heaven.'
三歲一考功， Every three years there was an examination of merits,
三考絀陟，and after three examinations there were degradations and promotions
遠近眾功咸興。both far and near. The people's labours generally prospered,
分北三苗。 while the people of the three Miao tribes were divided and defeated.

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