古有行大公者,帝堯是也。
貴為天子,富有天下,得舜而傳之,不私於其子孫也。
去天下若遺躧。
Among those who practiced impartiality in ancient times, the High Lord Yao2 is an example.
於天下猶然,況其細於天下乎?
非帝堯孰能行之?
Though occupying the exalted position of Son of Heaven and with all the riches of the realm in his possession, he bequeathed all this to Shun, as soon as he discovered him, without showing partiality to his own sons and grandsons.
孔子曰:「巍巍乎!
惟天為大,惟堯則之。
」易曰:「無首吉。
One might say that, if he could relinquish all the realm as if it were a leftover shoe, with how much less concern must he have relinquished things smaller than the realm.
」此蓋人君之公也。
夫以公與天下,其德大矣。
Who, aside from the High Lord Yao, could have acted thus?
推之於此,刑之於彼,萬姓之所戴,後世之所則也。
彼人臣之公,治官事則不營私家,在公門則不言貨利,當公法則不阿親戚,奉公舉賢則不避仇讎,忠於事君,仁於利下,推之以恕道,行之以不黨, 伊、呂是也。
故顯名存於今,是之謂公。
Kongzi said, “How grand!
詩云:「周道如砥,其直如矢。
君子所履,小人所視。
」此之謂也。
Heaven alone is great, and Yao exemplifies it.