how) Yin superseded the appointment of Hsiâ. Now, indeed, ye say further, '(The officers of) Hsiâ were chosen and employed in the royal court (of Shang), and had their duties among the mass of its officers.' (But) I, the One man, listen only to the virtuous, and employ them; and it was with this view that I ventured to seek you in your capital of Shang (once sanctioned by) Heaven, (and removed you here to Lo.) I thereby follow (the ancient example), and have pity on you. (Your present non-employment) is no fault of mine;—it is by the decree of Heaven."*
'The king says, "Ye numerous officers, formerly, when I came from Yen[1], I greatly mitigated the penalty and spared the lives of the people of your four states[2]. At the same time I made evident the punishment appointed by Heaven, and removed you to this distant abode, that you might be near the ministers who had served in our honoured (capital)[3], and (learn) their much obedience."
'The king says, "I declare to you, ye numerous officers of Yin, now I have not put you to death, and therefore I reiterate the declaration of my charge[4]. I have now built this great city here in
- ↑ Yen was the name of a territory, corresponding to the present district of Khü-fâu, in Shan-tung. The wild tribe inhabiting it, had joined with Wû-kăng and the king's uncles a few years before; and the crushing of the Yen had been the last act in the suppression of their rebellion.
- ↑ The royal domain of Yin, which had been allotted to Wû-kăng and the king's three uncles.
- ↑ Hâo. There were, no doubt, at this time many ministers and officers from Hâo in Lo; but the duke had intended that they should in the mass remove from the old to the new capital.
- ↑ The charge which had been delivered on the first removal of many of them to the neighbourhood of Lo.
