成王問周公：「此何也？
」周公曰：「三苗同為一秀，意天下其和而為一乎？
The people took it and offered it as tribute to the king.
」後三年，則越裳氏重譯而朝，曰：「道路悠遠，山川阻深，恐一使之不通，故重三譯而來朝也。
King Cheng consulted with the Duke of Zhou, saying, “What is this?” “Could it be,” replied the duke, “that, when three sprouts form one panicle, the realm will be at peace and come to be united?” Three years later a group of men from the Yue Chang62 came to pay tribute.
」周公曰：「德澤不加，則君子不饗其質；政令不施，則君子不臣其人。
」譯曰：「吾受命於吾國之黃髮：『久矣，天之無烈風淫雨，意中國有聖人耶？
Addressing the throne through a succession of three translators, they said, “The way here is very distant, and the streams and mountains form many barriers; so, fearing that a single emissary might not make himself understood, we came with three translators to pay our respects to your court.” The Duke of Zhou said, “A man of quality does not accept tribute if he has bestowed no favors; a man of quality does not make others into courtiers if he has put no correct laws into effect.” The translator said, “We receive our orders from the white-haired ones of our state. ‘For a long time,’ they said, ‘the heavens have been free of violent winds and excessive rain; surely this must mean that a sage has come to the throne of the Central Kingdom?
有則盍朝之。
』然後周公敬受其所以來矣。
If so, then why should we not pay court to him?’” Only after hearing this did the Duke of Zhou respectfully accept the tribute brought by the Yue Chang delegation.