昭王大怪之，使聘問孔子。
King Zhao thought this very strange and sent an emissary to question Kongzi concerning it.
孔子曰：「此名萍實，令剖而食之。
Kongzi said, “What you saw is called a ‘duckweed bulb.’105 It can be broken open and eaten; only alliance chiefs can obtain it.
惟霸王者能獲之，此吉祥也。
This is an auspicious omen.” Later on a bird with only one leg appeared in Qi.
」其後齊有飛鳥，一足，來下，止於殿前，舒翅而跳。
It alighted before the palace courtyard, spread its wings, and hopped about.
齊侯大怪之，又使聘問孔子。
Thinking this very strange, the Qi marquis too sent an emissary to consult with Kongzi about the matter.
孔子曰：「此名商羊，急告民，趣治溝渠，天將大雨。
Kongzi said, “This creature is called shangyang.
」於是如之。
天果大雨，諸國皆水，齊獨以安。
The people must be given an urgent directive to dig ditches and sluices; there will soon be heavy downpours.” This was done, and there were in fact heavy rains.
孔子歸，弟子請問。
All the states suffered flooding; only Qi escaped with no damage.
孔子曰：「異哉！
After Kongzi returned, one of his disciples questioned him concerning these matters.
小兒謠曰：『楚王渡江，得萍實。
Kongzi said, “It’s strange!
大如拳，赤如日，剖而食之，美如蜜。
There was a children’s ditty107 the lyrics of which went: ‘The Chu king crossed the river— / He gets a duckweed bulb. / Big as a fist, / Red as the sun, / He cracks the rind and eats it. / It is fine as honey.’ That foreshadowed the event in Chu.
』此楚之應也。
“There was also a group of children who jumped about in pairs with one bent leg, making a long chain as they sang, ‘Great rains will come; / The shangyang will arise and dance.’ Now Qi has obtained one of these birds, so this event had its foreshadowing as well.
兒又有兩兩相牽，屈一足而跳，曰：「天將大雨，商羊起舞。
“Ditties of this sort, let us note, are always followed by events that reflect their content.
今齊獲之，亦其應也。
Thus, a man of sagelike wisdom not only adheres to the Way, but also remembers all that he observes.
」夫謠之後，未嘗不有應隨者也。
」故聖人非獨守道而已也，睹物記也，即得其應矣。
In this way he detects the foreshadowing of things.