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The people indeed are heavily burdened, |
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But perhaps a little ease may be got for them. |
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Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom, |
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To secure the repose of the four quarters of it. |
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Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious, |
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In order to make the unconscientious careful, |
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And to repress robbers and oppressors, |
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Who have no fear of the clear will [of Heaven]. |
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Then let us show kindness to those who are distant, |
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And help those who are near; -- |
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Thus establishing [the throne of] our king. |
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The people indeed are heavily burdened, |
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But perhaps a little rest may be got for them. |
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Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom, |
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And make it a gathering-place for the people. |
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Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious, |
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In order to make the noisy braggarts careful, |
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And to repress robbers and oppressors; -- |
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So the people shall not have such sorrow. |
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Do not cast away your [former] service, |
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But secure the quiet of the king. |
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The people indeed are heavily burdened, |
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But perhaps a little relief may be got for them. |
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Let us cherish this capital, |
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To secure the repose of the States in the four quarters. |
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Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious, |
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To make careful those who set no limit to themselves, |
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And to repress robbers and oppressors; -- |
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Not allowing them to act out their evil. |
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Then let us be reverently careful of our demeanour, |
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To cultivate association with the virtuous. |
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The people indeed are heavily burdened, |
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But perhaps a little repose may be got for them. |
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Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom, |
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That the sorrow of the people may be dispelled. |
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Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious, |
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In order to make the multitudes of the evil careful, |
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And to repress robbers and oppressors, |
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So that the right shall not be over thrown. |
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Though you may be [but as] little children, |
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Your work is vast and great. |
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The people indeed are heavily burdened, |
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But perhaps a little tranquillity may be got for them. |
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Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom, |
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That it may not everywhere suffer such wounds. |
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Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious, |
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In order to make the parasites careful, |
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And to repress robbers and oppressors, |
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So that the right shall not be reversed. |
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The king wishes to hold you as [sceptres of] jade, |
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And therefore I thus strongly admonish you. |
Published
by The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, © Copyright 2003
by Anne Kinney and the University of Virginia