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既克商二年，王有疾，弗豫。二公曰：「我其為王穆卜。」周公曰：「未可以戚我先王？」公乃自以為功，為三壇同墠。為壇於南方，北面，周公立焉。植璧秉珪，乃告太王、王季、文王。 |
| Metal-bound Coffer: |
Two years after the conquest of Shang, the king fell ill, and was quite disconsolate. The two (other great) dukes said, 'Let us reverently consult the tortoise-shell about the king;' but the duke of Zhou said, 'You must not so distress our former kings.' He then took the business on himself, and reared three altars of earth on the same cleared space; and having made another altar on the south of these, and facing the north, he took there his own position. Having put a round symbol of jade (on each of the three altars), and holding in his bands the lengthened symbol (of his own rank), he addressed the kings Tai, Ji, and Wen. |
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史乃冊，祝曰：「惟爾元孫某，遘厲虐疾。若爾三王是有丕子之責于天，以旦代某之身。予仁若考能，多材多藝，能事鬼神。乃元孫不若旦多材多藝，不能事鬼神。乃命于帝庭，敷佑四方，用能定爾子孫于下地。四方之民罔不祗畏。嗚呼！無墜天之降寶命，我先王亦永有依歸。今我即命于元龜，爾之許我，我其以璧與珪歸俟爾命；爾不許我，我乃屏璧與珪。」 |
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The (grand) historiographer had written on tablets his prayer, which was to this effect: 'A. B., your great descendant, is suffering from a severe and violent disease; if you three kings have in heaven the charge of (watching over) him, (Heaven's) great son, let me Dan be a substitute for his person. I was lovingly obedient to my father; I am possessed of many abilities and arts, which fit me to serve spiritual beings. Your great descendant, on the other hand, has not so many abilities and arts as I, and is not so capable of serving spiritual beings. And moreover he was appointed in the hall of God to extend his aid all over the kingdom, so that he might establish your descendants in this lower earth. The people of the four quarters all stand in reverent awe of him. Oh! do not let that precious Heaven-conferred appointment fall to the ground, and (all the long line of) our former kings will also have one in whom they can ever rest at our sacrifices. I will now seek for your determination (in this matter) from the great tortoise-shell. If you grant me (my request), I will take these symbols and this mace, and return and wait for your orders. If you do not grant it, I will put them by.' |
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乃卜三龜，一習吉。啟籥見書，乃並是吉。公曰：「體！王其罔害。予小子新命于三王，惟永終是圖；茲攸俟，能念予一人。」 |
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The duke then divined with the three tortoise-shells, and all were favourable. He opened with a key the place where the (oracular) responses were kept, and looked at them, and they also were favourable. He said, 'According to the form (of the prognostic) the king will take no injury. I, the little child, have got the renewal of his appointment from the three kings, by whom a long futurity has been consulted for. I have now to wait for the issue. They can provide for our One man.' |
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公歸，乃納冊于金滕之匱中。王翼日乃瘳。 |
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When the duke returned, he placed the tablets (of the prayer) in a metal-bound coffer, and next day the king got better. |
