2.23 [48] 景公欲以人礼葬走狗晏子谏

齐景公打算用人的礼节安葬猎狗，晏子进谏

【原文】

景公走狗死，公令外共之棺，内给之祭。晏子闻之，谏。公曰：“亦细物也，特以与左右为笑耳。”晏子曰：“君过矣！夫厚藉敛不以反民，弃货财而笑左右，傲细民之忧，而崇左右之笑，则国亦无望已。且夫孤老冻馁，而死狗有祭，鳏寡不恤，而死狗有棺，行辟若此，百姓闻之，必怨吾君，诸侯闻之，必轻吾国。怨聚于百姓，而权轻于诸侯，而乃以为细物，君其图之。”公曰：“善。”趣庖治狗，以会朝属。

【今译】

齐景公的猎狗死了，景公下令在宫外给它准备棺材，在宫内给它准备祭品。晏子听说后，前来进谏。景公说：“这只不过是一件小事，特意拿来和身边的人取乐的。”晏子说：“您错了！加重赋税聚敛财富而不回馈百姓，舍弃财物而与身边的人取笑为乐，轻视百姓的忧愁，重视近臣的玩乐，那么国家就没什么希望了。况且孤儿老人受冷受饿，而死狗却享有祭祀，鳏夫寡妇不知抚恤，而死狗却拥有棺材，行为邪僻到这个样子，百姓听说的话，一定会怨恨您，诸侯听说的话，一定会轻视我们的国家。百姓聚积怨恨，诸侯轻视国家，却认为是小事，请您好好考虑吧。”景公说：“好。”于是命令厨师杀狗烹肉，用来会宴群臣。

One of Duke Jing’s hunting hounds died. The Duke ordered that a coffin to be supplied for it from outside the court and a sacrifice be made for it w ithin the court. Yanzi heard of this and remonstrated.

The Duke said: “This is only an insignificant matter. I merely wanted to use this occasion to amuse my entourage.”

Yanzi said: “You,my Lord,are w rong. If one taxes lavishly and returns none of the revenue to the people,if one wastes property and goods in order to amuse one’s entourage,if one arrogantly disregards the worries of the common people and values highly the laughter of one’s entourage,then there w ill surely be no hope for one’s state. Furthermore,when orphans and the elderly freeze and starve,yet sacrifice is made to a dead dog; and w idowers and w idows are not treated with compassion,but dead dogs receive a coffin—if such perverse conduct becomes known to the people,they w ill certainly feel resentment towards you,my Lord; and if the regional princes hear of it,they certainly w ill think little of our state. When the resentments accumulate among the people and the regional princes take lightly your authority,yet you still regard this as an insignificant matter —you should give it your careful consideration,my Lord.”

The Duke said: “Well argued.” Then he urged the cook to prepare the dog and w ith this dish he met his ministers in a court audience.

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注释

[1]For a comp letely different,sentimental attitude towards the death of a one’s dog,see Liji,4.65/29/23,where Confucius instructs Zigong regarding the proper way to bury Confucius’ own pet dog.