Classic of Documents
商書 Shāng shū
說命下 第二十三 Book Twenty-three · Yuè mìng xià
王曰：「來！汝說。台小子舊學于甘盤，既乃遯于荒野，入宅于河。自河徂亳，暨厥終罔顯。
The king said, “Come, O Yuĕ. I, the little one, first learned with Kan Pwan. Afterwards, I lived concealed in the rude country, and then I went to the inside of the Ho, and lived there. From the Ho I went to Pŏ;—and the result has been that I am unenlightened. Do you teach me what should be my aims.
「爾惟訓于朕志。若作酒醴，爾惟麴糵；若作和羹，爾惟鹽梅。爾交修予，罔予棄，予惟克邁乃訓。」
Be to me as the yeast and the malt in making sweet spirits; as the salt and the prunes in making agreeable soup. Give your help to cultivate me; do not cast me away:—I shall attain to practise your instructions.”
說曰：「王！人求多聞，時惟建事。學于古訓，乃有獲。事不師古，以克永世，匪說攸聞。
Yuĕ said, “O king, men seek to hear much, having in view to establish their affairs. But to learn the lessons of the ancients is the way to attain this. That the affairs of one, not making the ancients his masters, can be perpetuated for generations, is what I have not heard.
「惟學遜志，務時敏，厥修乃來。允懷于茲，道積于厥躬。
“In learning there should be a humble will, and a striving to maintain a constant earnestness. In such a case the learner’s cultivation will surely come. He who sincerely cherishes these things will find all truth accumulating in his person.
「惟斆學半，念終始典于學，厥德脩罔覺。
To teach is one half of learning. When a man’s thoughts from first to last are constantly fixed on such learning, his virtuous cultivation comes unperceived.
「監于先王成憲，其永無愆。
“Survey the perfect pattern of the former king;—so may you for ever be preserved from error.
「惟說式克欽承，旁招俊乂，列于庶位。」
Then shall I be able reverently to meet your views, and on every side to look out for men of eminence to place in the various offices.”
王曰：「嗚呼！說！四海之內，咸仰朕德，時乃風。
The king said, “Oh! Yuĕ, within the four seas, all look up to my virtue:—all through your influence.
「股肱惟人，良臣惟聖。
As his legs and arms form the man, so does a good minister form the sage king.
「昔先正保衡，作我先王，乃曰：『予弗克俾厥后惟堯、舜，其心愧恥，若撻于市。』一夫不獲，則曰：『時予之辜！』佑我烈祖，格于皇天。爾尚明保予，罔俾阿衡，專美有商。
“Formerly there was the premier of our dynasty, Paou-hăng, who made my royal predecessor. He said, ‘If I cannot make my sovereign like Yaou or Shun, I shall feel ashamed in my heart, as if I were beaten in the market place.’ If any one common man did not find all he should desire, he said, ‘It is my fault.’ Thus he assisted my meritorious ancestor, so that he became equal to Great Heaven. Do you give your preserving aid to me, and not let O-hăng engross all the good service to the House of Shang.
「惟后非賢不乂，惟賢非后不食。其爾克紹乃辟于先王，永綏民！」說拜稽首，曰：「敢對揚天子之休命！」
The sovereign should share his government with none but worthy ministers. The worthy minister should accept his support only from the proper sovereign. May you now succeed in making your prince a successor of my royal ancestor, and in securing the lasting happiness of the people!” Yuĕ did obeisance with his head to the ground, and said, “I will venture to respond to, and display abroad, your Majesty’s excellent charge.”