2.8 [33] 景公春夏游猎兴役晏子谏

齐景公春夏之交巡游打猎兴起劳役，晏子进谏

【原文】

景公春夏游猎，又起大台之役。晏子谏曰：“春夏起役，且游猎，夺民农时，国家空虚，不可。”景公曰：“吾闻相贤者国治，臣忠者主逸。吾年无几矣，欲遂吾所乐，卒吾所好，子其息矣。”晏子曰：“昔文王不敢盘游于田，故国昌而民安。楚灵王不废乾溪之役，起章华之台，而民叛之。今君不革，将危社稷，而为诸侯笑。臣闻忠不避死，谏不违罪。君不听臣，臣将（游）〔逝〕矣。”景公曰：“唯唯，将弛罢之。”未几，朝韦冏解役而归。

【今译】

齐景公在春夏之交外出游猎，又开始修建大台。晏子进谏说：“春夏之间发起劳役，而且外出游猎，会侵夺百姓耕作的时间，使国家空虚，这是不可以的。”景公说：“我听说相国贤良国家就能太平，臣子忠诚君主就能安逸。我也活不了几年了，就想满足自己的乐趣，实现自己的喜好，您还是别管我了。”晏子说：“以前周文王不敢迷恋于游玩和打猎，因此国家昌盛、百姓安乐。楚灵王不肯停止修建乾溪台的劳役，又修建章华台，所以百姓反叛。现在您如果不改变这些做法，就会危及社稷，被天下诸侯耻笑。我听说忠臣不怕死，进谏不怕获罪。您不听我的谏言，我就要离开您了。”景公说：“是的是的，我马上就停止这些做法。”很快，景公就召见韦冏解除民工的劳役而使他们各自回家。

2.8 [33] DUKE JING CONDUCTED A HUNTING EXCURSION DURING THE SPRING AND SUMM ER AND CONSCRIPTED A CORPS OF LABORERS. YANZ I REMON STRATED.

Duke Jing went on a hunting excursion during the spring and summer and,in addition,conscripted a corps of laborers to build a large terrace.

Yanzi remonstrated and said: “To raise a corps of conscript laborers and to conduct hunting excursions in the spring and summer is to rob the people of their busy seasons in the fields and deplete the resources of the state. This is not appropriate.”

Duke Jing said: “I have heard that when the prime minister is worthy,the state is well ordered; when the ministers are loyal,the ruler is at ease. M y years are numbered and I would like to achieve that which gives me pleasure and bring to completion what is to my liking. Master,you had better rest yourself.”

Yanzi said: “In the past,King Wen[1] did not presume to spend his time in excursions and hunts;[2] therefore,the state was prosperous and the people were at peace. King Ling of Chu did not stop the Qianxi campaign and raised the Zhanghua Terrace,and the people rose up against him. Now if you,my Lord,do not change,you will endanger the altars of soil and grain and w ill become the laughingstock of the regional princes. I have heard that the loyal do not shun death and the remonstrator does not fear recrimination. If you,my Lord,do not listen to me,I w ill leave.”

Duke Jing said: ‘Yes,yes,I w ill stop it.”

A fter a short while,Duke Jing summoned Wei Jiong[3] to court,released the conscript laborers,and returned.

注释

[1]The virtuous King Wen 文王 (1231–1135 BCE),whose son was King Wu 武王(1169–1116 BCE),the first sovereign of the Zhou dynasty.

[2]For an identical reference about King Wen’s reserved attitude towards excursions and hunts,see Shujing 书经,43/39/19.

[3]An unidentified figure.

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