柏常騫曰：「為臺甚急，臺成君何為不通焉？
Bo Chang Chuang said, “Your Lordship was very anxious to have this tower constructed; now that it is complete, why don’t you go into it?” “It is just as you say,” replied Lord Jing.
」公曰：「然。
“There is an owl that calls at night; it produces every sort of sound.
梟昔者鳴，其聲無不為也。
吾惡之甚，是以不通焉。
I detest that bird; that is why I haven’t gone into the tower.” Bo Chang Chuang said, “Please allow me to conduct a sacrifice that will get rid of it.” “What will you use?” asked Lord Jing.
柏常騫曰：「臣請禳而去之。
“A new structure must be built so that bai mao reeds may be placed in it” was the reply.
」公曰：「何具？
Lord Jing had the structure built, and, upon its completion, bai mao reeds were placed there.
」對曰：「築新室為置白茅焉。
Bo Chang Chuang performed a sacrifice there during the night.
」公使為室，成，置白茅焉。
柏常騫夜用事。
“Did you hear the owl hooting last night?” he asked Lord Jing the next day.
明日，問公曰：「今昔聞梟聲乎？
“I heard the bird emit one call, then heard nothing more,” Lord Jing replied.
」公曰：「一鳴而不後聞。
He had men go and survey the scene.
」使人往視之，梟當陛布翼，伏地而死。
The owl spread its wings on a terrace, then tumbled dead to the ground.
公曰：「子之道若此其明也，亦能益寡人壽乎？
」對曰：「能。
“If your methods are as effective as this,” said Lord Jing, “can you also add to my span of years?” “I can” was the reply.
」公曰：「能益幾何？
“By how much?” asked Lord Jing.
」對曰：「天子九，諸侯七，大夫五。
“Nine years for a Son of Heaven, seven years for a regional lord, and five years for a court officer” was the reply.
」公曰：「亦有徵兆之見乎？
“Will a sign occur to confirm this?” asked Lord Jing.
」對曰：「得壽，地且動。
」公喜，令百官趣具騫之所求。
“If additional years of life are obtained,” said Bo Chang Chuang, “the earth will shake.” Lord Jing was pleased with this and ordered his officers to get everything requested by Bo Chang Chuang in readiness.
柏常騫出，遭晏子於塗，拜馬前，辭曰：「騫為君禳梟而殺之。
After going out from the palace, Bo Chang Chuang met Yanzi41 on the road.
君謂騫曰：『子之道若此其明也，亦能益寡人壽乎？
He bowed to him before his horse and addressed him as follows: “I performed a sacrifice to get rid of owls and killed them on his lordship’s behalf.
』騫曰：『能。
』今且大祭，為君請壽，故將往以聞。」
His lordship said to me, ‘If your methods are as effective as this, can you also add to my span of years?’ I said, ‘I can.’ Now I shall conduct a great sacrifice in order to pray that his lordship may receive additional years of life, so I was about to go and let you hear of this.