| | 盘庚上: |
盘庚五迁，将治亳殷，民咨胥怨。作《》三篇。 |
| | 盘庚上: |
盘庚迁于殷，民不适有居，率吁众戚出，矢言曰：“我王来，既爰宅于兹，重我民，无尽刘。不能胥匡以生，卜稽，曰其如台？先王有服，恪谨天命，兹犹不常宁；不常厥邑，于今五邦。今不承于古，罔知天之断命，矧曰其克从先王之烈？若颠木之有由蘖，天其永我命于兹新邑，绍复先王之大业，砥绥四方。” |
| Pan Geng I: |
Pan-geng wished to remove (the capital) to Yin, but the people would not go to dwell there. He therefore appealed to all the discontented, and made the following protestations. 'Our king came, and fixed on this. He did so from a deep concern for our people, and not because he would have them all die, where they cannot (now) help one another to preserve their lives. I have consulted the tortoise-shell, and obtained the reply: "This is no place for us." When the former kings had any (important) business, they gave reverent heed to the commands of Heaven. In a case like this especially they did not indulge (the wish for) constant repose - they did not abide ever in the same city. Up to this time (the capital has been) in five regions. If we do not follow (the example) of these old times, we shall be refusing to acknowledge that Heaven is making an end of our dynasty (here); how little can it be said of us that we are following the meritorious course of the former kings! As from the stump of a felled tree there are sprouts and shoots, Heaven will perpetuate its decree in our favour in this new city;--the great inheritance of the former kings will be continued and renewed, and tranquillity will be secured to the four quarters (of the kingdom).' |
| | 盘庚上: |
盘庚斆于民，由乃在位以常旧服，正法度。曰：“无或敢伏小人之攸箴！”王命众，悉至于庭。 |
| Pan Geng I: |
Pan-geng, in making the people aware of his views, began with those who were in (high) places, and took the constantly-recurring circumstances of former times to lay down the right law and measure (for the present emergency), saying, 'Let none of you dare to suppress the remonstrances of the poor people.' The king commanded all to come to him in the courtyard (of his palace). |
| | 盘庚上: |
王若曰：“格汝众，予告汝训：汝猷黜乃心，无傲从康。古我先王，亦惟图任旧人共政。王播告之，修不匿厥指。王用丕钦；罔有逸言，民用丕变。今汝聒聒，起信险肤，予弗知乃所讼。非予自荒兹德，惟汝含德，不惕予一人。予若观火，予亦拙谋作乃逸。” |
| Pan Geng I: |
The king spoke to this effect: 'Come, all of you; I will announce to you my instructions. Take counsel how to put away your (selfish) thoughts. Do not with haughty (disregard of me) follow after your own ease. Of old, our former kings planned like me how to employ the men of old families to share in (the labours of) government. When they wished to proclaim and announce what was to be attended to, these did not conceal the royal views; and on this account the kings greatly respected them. They did not exceed the truth (in their communications with the people), and on this account the people became greatly changed (in their views). Now, (however), you keep clamouring, and get the confidence (of the people) by alarming and shallow speeches; I do not know what you are wrangling about. (In this movement) I am not myself abandoning my proper virtue, but you conceal the goodness of my intentions, and do not stand in awe of me, the One man. I see you as clearly as one sees a fire; but I, likewise, by my undecided plans, have produced your error. |
| | 盘庚上: |
若网在纲，有条而不紊；若农服田，力穑乃亦有秋。汝克黜乃心，施实德于民，至于婚友，丕乃敢大言汝有积德。乃不畏戎毒于远迩，惰农自安，不昏作劳，不服田亩，越其罔有黍稷。 |
| Pan Geng I: |
'When the net has its line, there is order and not confusion; and when the husbandman labours upon his fields, and reaps with all his might, there is the (abundant) harvest. If you can put away your (selfish) thoughts, and bestow real good upon the people, reaching (also) to your own relatives and friends, you may boldly venture to make your words great, and say that you have accumulated merit. But you do not fear the great evils which (through our not removing) are extending far and near; (you are like) idle husbandmen, who yield themselves to ease, and are not strong to toil and labour on their acres, so that they cannot get their crop of millets. |
| | 盘庚上: |
汝不和吉言于百姓，惟汝自生毒，乃败祸奸宄，以自灾于厥身。乃既先恶于民，乃奉其恫，汝悔身何及！相时憸民，犹胥顾于箴言，其发有逸口，矧予制乃短长之命！汝曷弗告朕，而胥动以浮言，恐沈于众？若火之燎于原，不可向迩，其犹可扑灭。则惟汝众自作弗靖，非予有咎。 |
| Pan Geng I: |
'You do not speak in a spirit of harmony and goodness to the people, and are only giving birth to bitter evils for yourselves. You play the part of destroyers and authors of calamity, of villains and traitors, to bring down misery on your own persons. You set the example of evil, and must feel its smart; what will it avail you (then) to repent? Look at the poor people - they are still able to look to one another and give expression to their remonstrances, but when they begin to speak, you are ready with your extravagant talk; how much more ought you to have me before your eyes, with whom it is to make your lives long or short! Why do you not report (their words) to me, but go about to excite one another by empty speeches, frightening and involving the multitudes in misery? When a fire is blazing in the flames so that it cannot be approached, can it still be beaten out? So, it will not be I who will be to blame, that you all cause dispeace in this way, (and must suffer the consequences). |
| | 盘庚上: |
迟任有言曰：‘人惟求旧，器非求旧，惟新。’古我先王暨乃祖乃父胥及逸勤，予敢动用非罚？世选尔劳，予不掩尔善。兹予大享于先王，尔祖其从与享之。作福作灾，予亦不敢动用非德。 |
| Pan Geng I: |
'Chi Ren has said, "In men we seek those of old families; in vessels, we do not seek old ones, but new." Of old, the kings, my predecessors, and your forefathers and fathers shared together the ease and labours (of the government); how should I dare to lay undeserved afflictions on you? For generations the toils of your (fathers) have been approved, and I will not conceal your goodness. Now when I offer the great sacrifices to my predecessors, your forefathers are present to share in them. (They all observe) the happiness I confer and the sufferings I inflict, and I cannot dare to reward virtue that does not exist. |
| | 盘庚上: |
“予告汝于难，若射之有志。汝无侮老成人，无弱孤有幼。各长于厥居。勉出乃力，听予一人之作猷。无有远迩，用罪伐厥死，用德彰厥善。邦之臧，惟汝众；邦之不臧，惟予一人有佚罚。凡尔众，其惟致告：自今至于后日，各恭尔事，齐乃位，度乃口。 罚及尔身，弗可悔。” |
| Pan Geng I: |
'I have announced to you the difficulties (of the intended movement), being bent on it, like an archer (whose only thought is to hit). Do not you despise the old and experienced, and do not make little of the helpless and young. Seek every one long continuance in this (new city), which is to be your abode; exert yourselves and put out your strength (in furthering the removal), and listen to the plans of me, the One man. I will make no distinction between men as being more distantly or more nearly related to me;--the criminal (in this matter) shall die the death, and the good-doer shall have his virtue distinguished. The prosperity of the country (ought to) come from you all. If it fail of prosperity, that must arise from me, the One man, erring in the application of punishment. Be sure, all of you, to make known this announcement. From this time forward, attend respectfully to your business; have (the duties of) your offices regularly adjusted; bring your tongues under the rule of law:--lest punishment come upon you, when repentance will be of no avail.' |
