古诗：烝民 中英对照

Heaven ， in giving birth to the multitudes of the people ，

To every faculty and relationship annexed its law .

The people possess this normal nature ，

And they [consequently] love its normal virtue .

Heaven beheld the ruler of Zhou ，

Brilliantly affecting it by his conduct below ；

And to maintain him ， its Son ，

Gave birth to Zhong Shan-fu .

The virtue of Zhong Shan-fu ，

Is mild and admirable ， according as it ought to be .

Good is his deportment ； good his looks ；

The lessons of antiquity are his law ；

He is strenuously attentive to his deportment .

In full accord with the Son of Heaven ，

He is employed to spread abroad his bright decrees .

The king gave charge to Zhong Shan-fu ： ——

'Be a pattern to all the princes ；

Continue [the services of] your ancestors .

You have to protect the royal person ；

Give out the royal decrees ， and report on them .

Be the king's throat and tongue ；

Spread his government abroad ，

So that in all quarters it shall be responded to . '

Most dignified was the king's charge ，

And Zhong Shan-fu carries it into execution .

In the States ， the princes ， be they good or bad ，

Are clearly distinguished by Zhong Shan-fu .

Intelligent is he and wise ，

Protecting his own person ；

Never idle ， day or night ，

In the service of the One man .

The people have a saying ： ——

'The soft is devoured ，

And the hard is ejected from the mouth . '

But Zhong Shan-fu ，

Does not devour the soft ，

Nor eject the powerful .

He does not insult the poor or the widow ；

He does not fear the strong or the oppressive .

The people have a saying ： ——

'Virtue is light as a hair ，

But few are able to lift it . '

When I think of the matter ，

It is only Zhong Shan-fu that can lift it .

I love him ， but can do nothing to help him .

Any defects in the king's duties ，

Are supplied by Zhong Shan-fu .

Zhong Shan-fu went forth ， having sacrificed to the Spirit of the road .

His four steeds were strong ；

His men were alert ；

He was always anxious lest he should not be equal to his commission ；

His steeds went on without stopping ，

To the tinkling of their eight bells .

The king had given charge to Zhong Shan-fu ，

To fortify the city there in the east .

With his four steeds so strong ，

And their eight bells ， all tinkling ，

Zhong Shan-fu proceeded to Qi ； ——

And he will soon return .

I ， Yin Ji-fu ， have made this song ： ——

May it enter like a quiet wind ，

Among the constant anxieties of Zhong Shan-fu ，

To soothe his mind ！

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天生烝民、有物有则。

民之秉彝、好是懿德。

天监有周、昭假于下、保兹天子、生仲山甫。

仲山甫之德、柔嘉维则。

令仪令色、小心翼翼。

古训是式、威仪是力、天子是若、明命使赋。

王命仲山甫、式是百辟。

缵戎祖考、王躬是保。

出纳王命、王之喉舌。

赋政于外、四方爰发。

肃肃王命、仲山甫将之。

邦国若否、仲山甫明之。

既明且哲、以保其身。

夙夜匪解、以事一人。

人亦有言、柔则茹之、刚则吐之。

维仲山甫、柔亦不茹、刚亦不吐、不侮矜寡、不畏疆御。

人亦有言、德輶如毛、民鲜克举之。

我仪图之、维仲山甫举之、爱莫助之。

衮职有阙、维仲山甫补之。

仲山甫出祖、四牡业业、征夫捷捷、每怀靡及。

四牡彭彭、八鸾锵锵。

王命仲山甫、城彼东方。

四牡骙骙、八鸾喈喈。

仲山甫徂齐、式遄其归。

吉甫作诵、穆如清风。仲山甫永怀、以慰其心。