玄德曰：“要吾僭居尊位，吾必不敢。
"But you desire me to usurp a place of great honor in the state, and I dare not.
可再商议长策。”
Let there be more delay and discussion."
诸将齐言曰：“主公若只推却，众心解矣。”
But with one voice they said, "Our lord, if you reject this, the hearts of the people will turn from you!"
今有荆襄、两川之地，可暂为汉中王。”
If you really object to the most honored title, then, since you have Jingzhou, Yizhou, and Hanzhong, take temporarily the title of 'Prince of Hanzhong'."
玄德曰：“汝等虽欲尊吾为王，不得天子明诏，是僭也。”
"Gentlemen, though you may desire to honor me by the title of Prince, yet, without an edict from the Emperor, such action would be usurpation."
孔明曰：“今宜从权，不可拘执常理。”
Said Zhuge Liang, "The time demands recognition of the actual state of authority, and not a rigid adherence to all the rules of propriety."
张飞大叫曰：“异姓之人皆欲为君，何况哥哥乃汉朝宗派！
And Zhang Fei roared out, "All sorts of people with all sorts of names are making themselves rulers: How much more ought you, brother, who are of the dynastic stock?”
玄德叱曰：“汝勿多言！”
"Brother, say no more," said Liu Bei, roughly.
孔明曰：“主公宜从权变，先进位汉中王，然后表奏天子，未为迟也。”
"My lord," said Zhuge Liang, "it is fitting to follow political changes and suit one's conduct to circumstances.
Wherefore first take the princedom, and then memorialize the Throne."
玄德再三推辞不过，只得依允。
Liu Bei declined two or three times; but as there seemed no other option, he listened and complied.
建安二十四年秋七月，筑坛于沔阳，方圆九里，分布五方，各设旌旗仪仗。
In the twenty-fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 219), in the seventh month, an altar was set up at Mianyang, half a square mile, which was set around with the proper flags and banners and symbols.
群臣皆依次序排列。
In the presence of all his civil and military officers assembled according to their rank,
许靖、法正请玄德登坛，进冠冕玺绶讫，面南而坐，受文武官员拜贺为汉中王。
and at the request of the two Ministers Xu Jing and Fa Zheng, Liu Bei received the headdress and seat of a prince.
Then he took his seat, facing the south as a ruler should, and received the salutes and felicitations of all his officers as the Prince of Hanzhong.
封许靖为太傅，法正为尚书令；诸葛亮为军师，总理军国重事。
Xu Jing was given the title of Imperial Guardian; Fa Zheng that of Chair of the Secretariat.
Zhuge Liang was reappointed Directing Instructor of the Forces, with the additional powers of control over the whole state policy.
封关羽、张飞、赵云、马超、黄忠为五虎大将，魏延为汉中太守。
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Ma Chao were the Five Tiger Generals.
Wei Yan was made Governor of Hanzhong,
其余各拟功勋定爵。
and all the others who had assisted were given ranks and offices.
玄德既为汉中王，遂修表一道，差人赍赴许都。
As soon as the investiture was completed, Liu Bei composed a memorial and sent it to Capital Xuchang.
表曰：“备以具臣之才，荷上将之任，总督三军，奉辞于外，不能扫除寇难，靖匡王室，久使陛下圣教陵迟，六合之内，否而未泰，惟忧反侧，疢如疾首。
This is the document: "I, Liu Bei, have but ordinary talents, yet was I made a general of high rank and led a great army.
Though I received a commission to purge the empire of rebels, I was unable to cleanse it and so renew the tranquillity to Your Majesty's house and restore the dynasty.
Too long have I delayed to spread Your Majesty's sacred governance.
The world is evil and not in good case, and as I sorrowfully think it over and over, I am distressed as one in severe pain.
赖陛下圣德威临，人臣同应，或忠义奋讨，或上天降罚，暴逆并殪，以渐冰消。
Strong in faith in Your Majesty's sacred virtue and inspiring presence, many banded together to help.
The loyal exerted themselves to destroy the rebels, but others of them were smitten of heaven.
The fierce and the contumacious have been exterminated, and gradually rebellion has melted away.
惟独曹操，久未枭除，侵擅国权，恣心极乱。
"Only Cao Cao now remains, too long unpunished.
He has arrogated to himself the authority of the state.
His wicked heart is very rebellious.
臣昔与车骑将军董承图谋讨操，机事不密，承见陷害。
Once I, with General Dong Cheng, the State Uncle, conspired against him, but the plot was discovered and my fellow conspirator suffered.
臣播越失据，忠义不果，遂得使操穷凶极逆，主后戮杀，皇子鸩害。
Thenceforward I was a wanderer and my loyalty availed nothing.
It only allowed Cao Cao further license and liberty to do evil, till he dared even to accomplish the death of the Empress and the destruction of her sons.
虽纠合同盟，念在奋力，懦弱不武，历年未效。
Although we might band together and form associations, yet, with all our energy, we had to recognize that we were too weak for war.
常恐殒没，辜负国恩，寤寐永叹，夕惕若厉。
Wherefore the years passed and nothing was accomplished.
In constant fear of destruction, we even fear more lest our duty to the state be forgotten.
Waking and sleeping we sighed, and our nights were times of anxiety.