Duke Min
夏，六月，季姬及繒子遇於防，使繒子來朝。遇者，同謀也。來朝者，來請己也。朝不言使，言使，非正也。以病繒子也。
In summer, in the sixth month, Ji Ji met the Viscount of Zeng at Fang and had the Viscount of Zeng come to court. “Met” means both sides planned it together. His coming to court was to ask to marry her himself. The text normally does not write “sent” for court visits; if “sent” is written, it is not in accordance with the right way. This is used to blame the Viscount of Zeng.
秋，八月辛卯，沙鹿崩。林屬於山為鹿。沙，山名也。無崩道而崩，故志之也。其日，重其變也。
In autumn, in the eighth month, on xinmao, Shalu collapsed. Forest connected to mountain is called “lu.” Sha is the name of the mountain. It collapsed though there was no reason for it to collapse, so it is recorded. The date is written to show that this anomaly was taken seriously.
三月，公會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯、許男、曹伯，盟於牡丘。兵車之會也。
In the third month, Duke Xi met with the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Viscount of Xu, and the Earl of Cao and made a covenant at Muqiu. This was a meeting with war chariots.
遂次於匡。遂，繼事也。次，止也，有畏也。
Then they camped at Kuang. “Then” means going on to do the next thing. “Camped” means stopping, because they had something to fear.
公孫敖帥師，及諸侯之大夫救徐。善救徐也。
Gongsun Ao led the army and, together with the high officials of the feudal lords, rescued Xu. The text approves of rescuing Xu.
八月，螽。螽，蟲災也。甚則月，不甚則時。
In the eighth month there was a plague of locusts. A locust plague is a plague of insects. If severe, the month is recorded; if not severe, the season is recorded.
己卯，晦，震夷伯之廟。晦，冥也。震，雷也。夷伯，魯大夫也。因此以見天子至於士，皆有廟。天子七廟，諸侯五，大夫三，士二。故德厚者流光，德薄者流卑。是以貴始德之本也。始封必為祖。
On jimao, the day was dark and thunder struck the temple of Yibo. “Dark” means gloomy, and “thunder” means thunderbolt. Yibo was a high official of Lu. From this we can see that from the Son of Heaven down to the scholar, all have temples. The Son of Heaven has seven temples, the feudal lords five, high officials three, and scholars two. So those of thick virtue have long-flowing blessings, and those of thin virtue have low-lying ones. For this reason the founding is valued, for it is the root of virtue. The one who is first enfeoffed is surely regarded as the first ancestor.
十有一月壬戌，晉侯及秦伯戰於韓。獲晉侯。韓之戰，晉侯失民矣。以其民未敗而君獲也。
In the eleventh month, on renxu, the Marquis of Jin fought with the Earl of Qin at Han, and the Marquis of Jin was captured. In the battle at Han, the Marquis of Jin had already lost his people, because the people had not yet been defeated but the ruler was captured.
十有六年春，王正月戊申朔，隕石於宋，五。先隕而後石，何也？隕而後石也。於宋，四竟之內曰宋。後數，散辭也，耳治也。
In the spring of the sixteenth year, on the first day, wushen, of the first month of the Zhou calendar, stones fell from the sky in Song, five in all. “Fell” is written first and then “stones”; why? Because the falling was seen first, and only then was it known they were stones. “In Song” is written because everything within the borders is called Song. The number is written afterward, which is a scattered phrasing, known by the ears.
是月，六鶂退飛，過宋都。是月者，決不日而月也。六鶂退飛過宋都，先數，聚辭也，目治也。子曰：「石，無知之物；鶂微，有知之物。石無知，故日之；鶂微，有知之物，故月之。君子之於物，無所茍而已。石、鶂且猶盡其辭，而況於人乎！故五石六鶂之辭不設，則王道不亢矣！」民所聚曰都。
In this month, six birds flew backward past the capital of Song. “This month” is written because the date was deliberately not recorded, only the month. Six birds flew backward past the capital of Song, with the number written first, which is a gathered phrasing, seen by the eyes. Confucius said: “Stones are things without awareness; the birds, though small, are things with awareness. Stones lack awareness, so the date is recorded; the birds, though small, have awareness, so only the month is recorded. The gentleman, in dealing with things, is only not careless in the slightest. Even for stones and birds the wording must be exhausted, how much more for people! If the wording of the five stones and six birds were not set up, the Way of the king could not be lifted high!” A place where the people dwell together is called a “du.”
三月壬申，公子季友卒。大夫日卒，正也。稱公弟叔仲，賢也。大夫不言公子公孫，疏之也。
In the third month, on renshen, Gongzi Jiyou died. When a high official dies the date is recorded, which is the regular form. He is called “Shuzhong, brother of the duke” because he was worthy. High officials who are not called Gongzi or Gongsun are distanced from the ruler.
秋，七月甲子，公孫茲卒。大夫日卒，正也。
In autumn, in the seventh month, on jiazi, Gongsun Zi died. When a high official dies the date is recorded, which is the regular form.
冬，十有二月，公會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯、許男、邢侯、曹伯於淮。兵車之會也。
In winter, in the twelfth month, Duke Xi met with the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Viscount of Xu, the Marquis of Xing, and the Earl of Cao at Huai. This was a meeting with war chariots.
夏，滅項。孰滅之？桓公也。何以不言桓公也？為賢者諱也。項，國也，不可滅而滅之乎，桓公知項之可滅也，而不知己之不可以滅也。既滅人之國矣，何賢乎？君子惡惡疾其始，善善樂其終。桓公嘗有存亡繼絕之功，故君子為之諱也。
In summer, the state of Xiang was destroyed. Who destroyed it? It was Duke Huan. Why is Duke Huan not named? To conceal it for the worthy. Xiang was a state; was it one that should not have been destroyed yet was? Duke Huan knew Xiang could be destroyed, but did not know that he himself should not destroy it. Having destroyed another's state, where is the worthiness left? The gentleman hates evil deeds and detests their beginnings; he praises good deeds and likes them to have a beginning and an end. Duke Huan once had the merit of preserving ruined states and continuing broken lines, so the gentleman conceals it for him.
秋，夫人姜氏會齊侯於卞。九月，公至自會。
In autumn, the Lady Jiang met the Marquis of Qi at Bian. In the ninth month, Duke Xi returned from the meeting.
冬，十有二月乙亥，齊侯小白卒。此不正，其日之，何也？其不正前見矣。其不正之前見，何也？以不正入虛國，故稱嫌焉爾。
In winter, in the twelfth month, on yihai, Xiaobai, Marquis of Qi, died. His succession was not originally in accordance with the right way, yet the date is recorded here; why? His lack of rightness had been shown before. How had it been shown before? He entered an empty state in an improper way, and so the suspicion had already been pointed out at that time.
十有八年春，王正月，宋公、曹伯、衛人、邾人伐齊。非伐喪也。
In the spring of the eighteenth year, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, the Duke of Song, the Earl of Cao, the people of Wei, and the people of Zhu attacked Qi. This was not an attack that should have been made while Qi was in mourning.
五月戊寅，宋師及齊師戰於甗。齊師敗績。戰不言伐，客不言及。言及，惡宋也。
In the fifth month, on wuyin, the Song army and the Qi army fought at Yan, and the Qi army was greatly defeated. Once battle is joined, an attack is not written separately; the one who is the guest does not normally use “and.” Here “and” is used, because Song is hated.
冬，邢人、狄人伐衛。狄其稱人，何也？善累而後進之。伐衛，所以救齊也。
In winter, the people of Xing and the Di attacked Wei. The Di are called “people”; why? Good deeds accumulated one by one, and only then were they raised one grade. They attacked Wei in order to rescue Qi.
己酉，邾人執繒子，用之。微國之君，因邾以求與之盟。人因己以求與之盟，己迎而執之
On jiyou, the people of Zhu seized the Viscount of Zeng and used him. He was the ruler of a small state who relied on Zhu and sought an alliance. When another relies on you and seeks an alliance, and you go out to meet him and seize him,
惡之，故謹而日之也。用之者，叩其鼻以衈社也。
(The commentary continues:) it is hated, and so the date is recorded with care. What is called “used” means breaking his nose and using the nose blood to smear the altar of the soil.
梁亡。自亡也。湎於酒，淫於色，心昏，耳目塞；上無正長之治，大臣背叛，民為寇盜。梁亡，自亡也。如加力役焉，湎不足道也。梁亡，鄭棄其師，我無加損焉，正名而已矣！梁亡，出惡正也。鄭棄其師，惡其長也。
Liang was lost. It destroyed itself. Sunk in wine and indulging in lust, its mind was dim and its ears and eyes were blocked; above there was no upright officer to govern, the high ministers rebelled, and the people became bandits. Liang was lost; it destroyed itself. If one added being used by others, then sinking in wine would hardly be worth mentioning. Liang was lost, and Zheng abandoned its army; I have not added or subtracted anything in the wording, only set the names straight! “Liang was lost” writes evil as a positive name; “Zheng abandoned its army” hates its general.
二十年春，新作南門。作，為也，有加其度也。言新，有故也，非作也。南門者，法門也。
In the spring of the twentieth year, the south gate was rebuilt. “Built” means made, and means that the scale was enlarged. “New” is said because there was an old one before; it was not made from nothing. The south gate is a gate set up according to the system.
五月乙巳，西宮災。謂之新宮，則近為禰宮；以諡言之，則如疏之然。以是為閔宮也。
In the fifth month, on yisi, the Western Palace caught fire. If one calls it the “new palace,” it comes close to being the father's temple; if one speaks by posthumous title, it seems distancing him. For this reason it is taken as the temple of Duke Min.
秋，齊人、狄人盟於邢。邢為主焉爾。邢小，其為主，何也？其為主乎救齊。
In autumn, the people of Qi and the Di made a covenant at Xing. Xing was the host of this meeting. Xing was small; why could it be the host? Because it was the host in rescuing Qi.
秋，宋公、楚子、陳侯、蔡侯、鄭伯、許男、曹伯會於雩，執宋公以伐宋。以，重辭也。
In autumn, the Duke of Song, the Viscount of Chu, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Cai, the Earl of Zheng, the Viscount of Xu, and the Earl of Cao met at Yu, seized the Duke of Song, and attacked Song. The use of “yi” (using) is a heavy phrasing.
楚人使宜申來獻捷。捷，軍得也。其不曰宋捷，何也？不與楚捷於宋也。
The people of Chu sent Yi Shen to present captives. “Jie” means what is obtained in the army. Why is it not written “Song captives”? Because it disapproves of Chu's obtaining captives in Song.
十有二月癸丑，公會諸侯盟於薄。會者，外為主焉爾。
In the twelfth month, on guichou, Duke Xi met the feudal lords and made a covenant at Bo. The use of “met” shows that the meeting was initiated by the other side.
釋宋公。外釋不志，此其志，何也？以公之與之盟目之也。不言楚，不與楚專釋也。
The Duke of Song was released. When a foreign state releases someone, the text normally does not record it; here it is recorded; why? Because Duke Xi took part in that covenant, so it is pointed out. Chu is not named because the text disapproves of Chu's releasing him by itself.
秋，八月丁未，及邾人戰於升陘。內諱敗，舉其可道者也。不言其人，以吾敗也。不言及之者，為內諱也。
In autumn, in the eighth month, on dingwei, battle was joined with the people of Zhu at Shengjing. Lu conceals its own defeat, writing only the side that can still be spoken of. The name of the other side's general is not written, because our state of Lu lost the battle. “Together with the Viscount of Zhu” is not said, to conceal it for Lu.
冬，十有一月己巳朔，宋公及楚人戰於泓。宋師敗績。日事遇朔曰朔。《春秋》三十有四戰，未有以尊敗乎卑、以師敗乎人者也。以尊敗乎卑、以師敗乎人，則驕其敵。襄公以師敗乎人，而不驕其敵，何也？責之也。泓之戰，以為復雩之恥也。雩之恥，宋襄公有以自取之。伐齊之喪，執滕子，圍曹，為雩之會，不顧其力之不足，而致楚成王。成王怒而執之，故曰：禮人而不答，則反其敬；愛人而不親，則反其仁；治人而不治，則反其知。過而不改，又之，是謂之過。襄公之謂也。古者被甲嬰胄，非以興國也，則以徵無道也。豈曰以報其恥哉！宋公與楚人戰於泓水之上，司馬子反曰：「楚眾我少，鼓險而擊之，勝無幸焉！」襄公曰：「君子不推人危，不攻人厄，須其出。」既出，旌亂於上，陳亂於下。子反曰：「楚眾我少，擊之，勝無幸焉！」襄公曰：「不鼓不成列，須其成列而後擊之。」則眾敗而身傷焉，七月而死。倍則攻，敵則戰，少則守。人之所以為人者，言也；人而不能言，何以為人？言之所以為言也，信也；言而不信，何以為言？信之所以為信者，道也；信而不道，何以為道？道之貴者時，其行勢也。
In winter, in the eleventh month, on the first day, jisi, the Duke of Song fought with the people of Chu at Hong, and the Song army was greatly defeated. The event happened to fall on the first day, so “first day” was written. The Spring and Autumn records thirty-four battles, and never has a noble been defeated by someone lowly, or an army been defeated by “people.” For a noble to be defeated by a lowly one, for an army to be defeated by “people,” is to treat one's enemy with too much arrogance. Duke Xiang of Song's army was defeated by “people,” but this was not treating the enemy arrogantly; why? It is to blame him. The battle at Hong was meant to avenge the shame of being seized at Yu. The shame at Yu was brought on by Duke Xiang of Song himself. He attacked while Qi was in mourning, seized the Viscount of Teng, besieged Cao, convened the meeting at Yu, and, unmindful that his strength was insufficient, summoned King Cheng of Chu. King Cheng became angry and seized him. Therefore it is said: if you are courteous to people and they do not respond, examine your own reverence; if you love people and they are not close, examine your own benevolence; if you govern people and they are not well governed, examine your own wisdom. To have a fault and not change it, and to commit it again, that is what is truly called a fault. This refers to Duke Xiang. In ancient times putting on armor and helmet was either to raise up one's own state or to punish the lawless. How could it be said to be used to avenge a private shame! When the Duke of Song fought the people of Chu on the bank of the Hong River, Sima Zifan said: “The Chu army is many and ours is few; while they are in a dangerous position, beat the drums and attack, and the victory will be no accident!” Duke Xiang said: “The gentleman does not push people when they are in danger and does not attack them when they are in distress; wait until they come out.” When they came out, their banners above were in disorder and their ranks below were in disorder. Zifan said: “The Chu army is many and ours is few; attack now, and the victory will be no accident!” Duke Xiang said: “One does not beat the drum at those who have not yet formed ranks; wait until they have formed ranks and then attack.” And so his troops were defeated and he himself was wounded, and he died after seven months. Attack when you have double the enemy, fight when you are evenly matched, and defend when your numbers are few. What makes a person a person is speech; if a person cannot speak, by what does he count as a person? What makes speech speech is trustworthiness; if one speaks without trust, by what is it called speech? What makes trustworthiness trustworthiness is the Way; if trustworthiness does not accord with the Way, by what is it called the Way? What the Way values is timeliness, and its practice depends on circumstances.
二十有三年春，齊侯伐宋，圍閔。伐國不言圍邑，此其言圍，何也？不正其以惡報惡也。
In the spring of the twenty-third year, the Marquis of Qi attacked Song and besieged Min. When attacking a state, the text normally does not write besieging its town; here “besieged” is written; why? It is dissatisfied that he repaid evil with evil.
夏，五月庚寅，宋公茲父卒。茲父之不葬，何也？失民也。其失民，何也？以其不教民戰，則是棄其師也。為人君而棄其師，其民孰以為君哉！
In summer, in the fifth month, on gengyin, Zifu, Duke of Song, died. Why is Zifu's burial not recorded? Because he lost his people. How did he lose his people? He did not train the people for battle, which means he abandoned his own army. If a ruler abandons his own army, who among the people would still regard him as ruler!
冬，天王出居於鄭。天子無出。出，失天下也。居者，居其所也。雖失天下，莫敢有也。
In winter, the Son of Heaven of Zhou went out and lived in Zheng. There is no such thing as the Son of Heaven “going out.” To write “went out” means he lost the world. “Lived” means he lived where he should live. Even if he lost the world, no one dared to claim it as his own.
二十有五年春，王正月丙午，衛侯毀滅邢。毀之名何也？不正其伐本而滅同姓也。
In the spring of the twenty-fifth year, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, on bingwu, the Marquis of Wei destroyed Xing. Why is the destroyer named? It is dissatisfied that he cut off his own root and destroyed a state of the same surname.
宋蕩伯姬來逆婦。婦人既嫁，不逾竟。宋蕩伯姬來逆婦，非正也。其曰婦，何也？緣姑言之之辭也。
Bo Ji of the Dang family of Song came to fetch a wife. After a woman has married she should not go outside the borders again. That Bo Ji of the Dang family of Song came to fetch a wife was not in accordance with the right way. Why is she called “woman”? It is a phrasing that follows the mother-in-law's side.
宋殺其大夫。其不稱名姓，以其在祖之位，尊之也。
Song killed its high official. His name and surname are not given because he occupied the position of an ancestor, so he is honored.
秋，楚人圍陳，納頓子於頓。納者，內弗受也。圍，一事也；納，一事也；而遂言之，蓋納頓子者，陳也。
In autumn, the people of Chu besieged Chen and brought the Viscount of Dun into Dun. “Brought in” shows the other side did not accept him. “Besieged” is one matter and “brought in” is another, yet they are written running together; probably it was in fact Chen that brought the Viscount of Dun in.
冬，十有二月癸亥，公會衛子、莒慶，盟於洮。莒無大夫，其曰莒慶，何也？以公之會目之也。
In winter, in the twelfth month, on guihai, Duke Xi met with the Viscount of Wei and Ju Qing and made a covenant at Tao. The state of Ju had not appointed high officials; why is “Ju Qing” written here? Because it was the ruler who met with him, so he is pointed out.
二十有六年春，王正月己未，公會莒子、衛寧速盟於向。公不會大夫，其曰寧速，何也？以其隨莒子可以言會也。
In the spring of the twenty-sixth year, in the first month of the Zhou calendar, on jiwei, Duke Xi met with the Viscount of Ju and Ning Su of Wei and made a covenant at Xiang. A ruler does not meet with a high official; why is “Ning Su” written here? Because he accompanied the Viscount of Ju, “met” may be written.
齊人侵我西鄙，公追齊師至巂，弗及。人，微者也。侵，淺事也。公之追之，非正也。至巂，急辭也。弗及者，弗與也，可以及而不敢及也。其侵也，曰人；其追也，曰師。以公之弗及，大之也。弗及，內辭也。
The people of Qi invaded the western border town of our state of Lu, and Duke Xi pursued the Qi army as far as Xi, but did not catch up with it. “People” is used for people of low rank. Invading is a minor matter. For the ruler to pursue in person is not in accordance with the right way. “Arrived at Xi” is an urgent phrasing. “Did not catch up with” means they did not fight, and could have caught up but dared not pursue. When they invaded they are written as “people,” and when pursued as “army,” because the ruler did not catch them, the other side is written large. “Did not catch up with” is a phrasing from the Lu side.
衛人伐齊。公子遂如楚乞師。乞，重辭也。何重焉？重人之死也，非所乞也。師出，不必反；戰，不必勝，故重之也。
The people of Wei attacked Qi. Gongzi Sui went to Chu to request troops. “Beg” is a heavy word. Where is the weight? The weight is in the death of others, which is not something one should go to beg for. When an army goes out, it does not necessarily come back; in battle, one does not necessarily win, so this matter is written heavily.
秋，楚人滅夔，以夔子歸。夔，國也。不日，微國也。以歸，猶愈乎執也。
In autumn, the people of Chu destroyed Kui and took the Viscount of Kui home. Kui was a state. The date is not recorded because it was a small state. “Took home” is slightly better than writing “seized.”
冬，楚人伐宋圍閔。伐國不言圍邑，此其言圍，何也？以吾用其師、目其事也，非道用師也。
In winter, the people of Chu attacked Song and besieged Min. When attacking a state, the text normally does not write besieging its town; here “besieged” is written; why? Because our state of Lu used their army, so this matter is pointed out. Using troops this way is not in accordance with the right way.
公以楚師伐齊，取谷。以者，不以者也。民者，君之本也。使民以其死，非其正也。
Duke Xi took the Chu army to attack Qi and seized Gu. The use of “yi” (using) precisely shows that they should not have been used in this way. The people are the root of the ruler. To make the people fight to the death for oneself is not in accordance with the right way.
公至自伐齊。惡事不致，此其致之，何也？危之也。
Duke Xi returned from the campaign against Qi. When something is evil the text normally does not record the return to the state; here it is recorded; why? It is to feel concern for him.
冬，楚人、陳侯、蔡侯、鄭伯、許男圍宋。楚人者，楚子也，其曰人，何也？人楚子，所以人諸侯也。其人諸侯，何也？不正其信夷狄而伐中國也。
In winter, the people of Chu, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Cai, the Earl of Zheng, and the Viscount of Xu besieged Song. “The people of Chu” were in fact the Viscount of Chu, but the text calls them “people”; why? To write the Viscount of Chu as “people” is also to write the feudal lords as “people.” Why write the feudal lords as “people”? It is dissatisfied that they listened to the barbarians and attacked the Central States.
公子買戍衛，不卒戍，刺之。先名後刺，殺有罪也。公子啟曰：「不卒戍者，可以卒也。」可以卒而不卒，譏在公子也，刺之可也。
Gongzi Mai went to garrison Wei but did not complete his tour of garrison duty and was killed. His name is written first and then “executed,” showing that the one killed was guilty. Gongzi Qi said: “What is called not completing the tour was one that could have been completed.” If it could have been completed and was not, the criticism lies on Gongzi Mai, and it is permissible to kill him.
三月丙午，晉侯入曹，執曹伯，畀宋人。入者，內弗受也。日入，惡入者也。以晉侯而斥執曹伯，惡晉侯也。畀，與也。其曰人，何也？不以晉侯畀宋公也。
In the third month, on bingwu, the Marquis of Jin entered Cao, seized the Earl of Cao, and handed him over to the people of Song. The use of “entered” shows the other side did not accept him. The date is recorded because the one entering is hated. The Marquis of Jin, a marquis, is written as directly seizing the Earl of Cao, which hates the Marquis of Jin. “Gave” means give. He is called “people”; why? It does not wish to write that the Marquis of Jin handed someone to the Duke of Song.
夏，四月己巳，晉侯、齊師、宋師、秦師，及楚人戰於城濮，楚師敗績。
In summer, in the fourth month, on jisi, the Marquis of Jin, the Qi army, the Song army, and the Qin army fought the people of Chu at Chengpu, and the Chu army was greatly defeated.
五月癸丑，公會晉侯、齊侯、宋公、蔡侯、鄭伯、衛子、莒子，盟於踐土。諱會天王也。
In the fifth month, on guichou, Duke Wen met the Marquis of Jin, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Cai, the Earl of Zheng, the Viscount of Wei, and the Viscount of Ju, and made a covenant at Jiantu. This conceals the fact that they in fact had an audience with the Son of Heaven.
公朝於王所。朝不言所；言所者，非其所也。
Duke Xi went to where the Son of Heaven was to pay court. For court visits the text normally does not write the place; here the place is written because it was not a place where one should pay court.
六月，衛侯鄭自楚復歸於衛。自楚，楚有奉焉爾。復者，復中國也。歸者，歸其所也。鄭之名，失國也。
In the sixth month, Zheng, Marquis of Wei, returned to Wei from Chu. “From Chu” is written to show that Chu had escorted and helped him. “Returned” means returned to the Central States. “Came back” means returned to where he should return. Zheng is named directly because he lost his own state.
冬，公會晉侯、宋公、蔡侯、鄭伯、陳子、莒子、邾子、秦人於溫。諱會天王也。
In winter, Duke Xi met with the Marquis of Jin, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Cai, the Earl of Zheng, the Viscount of Chen, the Viscount of Ju, the Viscount of Zhu, and the people of Qin at Wen. This conceals the fact that they in fact had an audience with the Son of Heaven.
天王守於河陽。全天王之行也，為若將守而遇諸侯之朝也，為天王諱也。水北為陽，山南為陽。溫，河陽也。
The Son of Heaven made a tour of inspection at Heyang. This completes the dignity of the Son of Heaven's outing, writing it as though he were just about to tour and the feudal lords happened to come to court, concealing it for the Son of Heaven. North of water is called yang, and south of a mountain is called yang. Wen is Heyang.
壬申，公朝於王所。朝於廟，禮也；於外，非禮也。獨公朝，與諸侯盡朝也。其日，以其再致天子，故謹而日之。主善以內，目惡以外。言曰公朝，逆辭也，而尊天子。會於溫，言小諸侯。溫，河北地，以河陽言之，大天子也。日系於月，月繫於時，「壬申，公朝於王所」，其不月，失其所繫也。以為晉文公之行事，為已傎矣！
On renshen, Duke Xi went to where the Son of Heaven was to pay court. To pay court in the Grand Temple is in accordance with ritual; to pay court outside is not in accordance with ritual. It writes only that Duke Xi paid court, but in fact all the feudal lords paid court. The date is recorded because he summoned the Son of Heaven a second time, so the day is recorded with care. It assigns the good to the Lu side and points out the evil outside. Writing “the duke paid court” is originally an inverted phrasing, yet it also honors the Son of Heaven. Writing “met at Wen” makes the feudal lords small. Wen is north of the river, and to say “Heyang” instead makes the Son of Heaven large. The day is tied to the month, and the month tied to the season, but “on renshen, the duke paid court at the king's place” does not record the month, having lost what it is tied to. The text considers what Duke Wen of Jin did here to be already too inverted!
晉人執衛侯，歸之於京師。此入而執，其不言入，何也？不外王命於衛也。歸之於京師，緩辭也，斷在京師也。
The people of Jin seized the Marquis of Wei and sent him back to the capital. This was a seizure made after entering Wei; why is “entered” not written? So as not to make the king's order seem to be foreign in Wei. “Sent him back to the capital” is a relaxed phrasing, with the judgment made at the capital.
衛元咺自晉復歸於衛。自晉，晉有奉焉爾。復者，復中國也。歸者，歸其所也。
Yuan Xuan of Wei returned to Wei from Jin. “From Jin” is written to show that Jin escorted and helped him. “Returned” means returned to the Central States. “Came back” means returned to where he should return.
曹伯襄復歸於曹。復者，復中國也。天子免之，因與之會。其曰復，通王命也。
Xiang, Earl of Cao, returned to Cao. “Returned” means returned to the Central States. The Son of Heaven pardoned him, and so he took part in the covenant. “Returned” is written to carry through the Son of Heaven's command.
二十有九年春，介葛盧來。介，國也。葛盧，微國之君，未爵者也。其曰來，卑也。
In the spring of the twenty-ninth year, Ge Lu of Jie came. Jie was a state. Ge Lu was the ruler of a small state and did not yet have a rank by decree. “Came” is written because his standing was low.