Classic of Documents
商書 Shāng shū
太甲上 第十四 Book Fourteen · Tài Jiǎ shàng
惟嗣王不惠于阿衡。
The king, on succeeding to the throne, did not follow the advice of A-hăng.
伊尹作書曰：「先王顧諟天之明命，以承上下神祇。社稷宗廟，罔不祇肅。天監厥德，用集大命，撫綏萬方。惟尹躬克左右厥辟，宅師，肆嗣王丕承基緒。
He, that is, E Yin, then made the following writing:—The former king kept his eye continually on the bright requirements of Heaven, and served and obeyed the spirits of heaven and earth, of the land and the grain, and of the ancestral temple;—all with a reverent veneration. Heaven took notice of his virtue, and caused its great appointment to light on him, that he should soothe and tranquillize the myriad regions. I, Yin, then gave my assistance to my sovereign in the settlement of the people. And thus it is that your Majesty, inheriting the crown, have become charged with the line of the great succession.
「惟尹躬先見于西邑夏，自周有終。相亦惟終；其後嗣王罔克有終，相亦罔終，嗣王戒哉！祇爾厥辟，辟不辟，忝厥祖。」
“I have seen it myself in Hea with its western capital,—that when its sovereigns went through a prosperous course to the end, their ministers also did the same; but afterwards when their successors could not attain to such a consummation, neither did their ministers. Take warning, O heir-king. Reverently use your sovereignty. The sovereign, if you do not play the sovereign, you will disgrace your ancestor.”
王惟庸罔念聞。
The king would not think of these words, nor listen to them.
伊尹乃言曰：「先王昧爽丕顯，坐以待旦。旁求俊彥，啟迪後人，無越厥命以自覆。
On this E Yin said, “The former king, before it was light, sought to have large and clear views, and then sat waiting for the morning. He also sought on every side for men of ability and virtue to instruct and guide his posterity. Do not frustrate his charge to me, and bring on yourself your own overthrow.
「慎乃儉德，惟懷永圖。
Be careful to strive after the virtue of self-restraint, and cherish far-reaching plans.
「若虞機張，往省括于度則釋。欽厥止，率乃祖攸行，惟朕以懌，萬世有辭。」
Be like the forester, who, when he has adjusted the spring, goes to examine the end of the arrow, whether it be placed according to rule, and then lets go;—reverently determine your end, and follow the ways of your ancestor. Thus I shall be delighted, and be able to all ages to show that I have discharged my trust.”
王未克變。
The king was not yet able to change his course.
伊尹曰：「茲乃不義，習與性成。予弗狎于弗順，營于桐宮，密邇先王其訓，無俾世迷。
E Yin said to himself, “This is real unrighteousness, and is becoming by practice a second nature. I cannot bear to be near such a disobedient fellow. I will build a place in the palace at Tung, where he can be quietly near the remains of the former king. This will be a lesson which will keep him from going astray all his life.”
「王徂桐宮居憂，克終允德。」
The king went accordingly to the palace in Tung, and dwelt during the period of mourning. In the end he became sincerely virtuous.