Classic of Documents
夏書 Xià shū
胤征 第九 Book Nine · Yìn zhēng
惟仲康肇位四海，胤侯命掌六師，羲和廢厥職，酒荒于厥邑，胤后承王命徂征。
When Chung-k‘ang commenced his reign over all within the four seas, the prince of Yin was commissioned to take charge of the imperial armies. At this time He and Ho had neglected the duties of their office, and were sunk in wine in their private cities, and the prince of Yin received the imperial charge to go and punish them.
告于眾曰：嗟予有眾！「聖有謨訓。明徵定保。」先王克謹天戒，臣人克有常憲，百官修輔厥后，惟明明。
He made an announcement to his hosts saying, “Ah! ye, all my troops, there are the well-counselled instructions of the sage founder of our dynasty, clearly verified in their power to give stability and security to the State:—‘The former kings were carefully attentive to the warnings of Heaven, and their ministers observed the regular laws of their offices. All the officers, moreover, watchfully—did their duty to assist the government, and the sovereign became entirely intelligent.’
每歲孟春，「遒人以木鐸徇于路，官師相規，工執藝事以諫。」其或不恭，邦有常刑。
Every year in the first month of spring, the herald with his wooden-tongued bell goes along the roads, proclaiming, ‘Ye officers able to direct, be prepared with your admonitions. Ye workmen engaged in mechanical affairs, remonstrate on the subject of your business! If any of you disrespectfully neglect this requirement, the country has regular punishments for you.’”
惟時羲和，顛覆厥德，沈亂于酒。畔官離次，俶擾天紀，遐棄厥司。乃季秋月朔，「辰弗集于房，瞽奏鼓，嗇夫馳，庶人走。」羲和尸厥官，罔聞知，昏迷于天象，以干先王之誅。政典曰：「先時者殺無赦，不及時者殺無赦。」
Now here are He and Ho. They have entirely subverted their virtue, and are sunk and lost in wine. They have violated the duties of their office, and left their posts. They have been the first to allow the regulations of heaven to get into disorder, putting far from them their proper business. On the first day of the last month of autumn, the sun and moon did not meet harmoniously in Fang. The blind musicians beat their drums; the inferior officers and common people bustled and ran about. He and Ho, however, as if they were mere personators of the dead in their offices, heard nothing and knew nothing;—so stupidly went they astray from their duty in the matter of the heavenly appearances, and rendering themselves liable to the death appointed by the former kings. The statutes of government say, ‘When they anticipate the time, let them be put to death without mercy; when they are behind the time, let them be put to death without mercy.’
今予以爾有眾，奉將天罰。爾眾士同力王室，尚弼予，欽承天子威命。
“Now I, with you all, am entrusted with the execution of the punishment appointed by Heaven. Unite your strength, all of you warriors, for the imperial House. Lend me your help, I pray you, reverently to carry out the dread charge of the son of Heaven.
火炎崑岡，玉石俱焚。天吏逸德，烈于猛火。殲厥渠魁，脅從罔治，舊染汙俗，咸與惟新。
“When the fire blazes over the ridge of Kwăn, gems and stones are burned together; but when a minister of Heaven exceeds in doing his duty, the consequences are fiercer than raging fire. I will so destroy only the chief criminals, and not punish their forced followers, while those who have long been stained by their filthy manners will be allowed to renovate themselves.”
嗚呼！「威克厥愛，允濟。」愛克厥威，允罔功。其爾眾士，懋戒哉！
“Oh! when sternness overcomes compassion, then things are surely conducted to a successful issue. When compassion overcomes sternness, no merit can be achieved. All ye, my warriors, exert yourselves, and be cautious.”