1.6 [6] 景公夜聽新樂而不朝晏子諫

齊景公夜里聽新作之樂而不上朝，晏子進諫

【原文】

晏子朝，杜扃望羊待子朝。晏子曰：“君奚故不朝？”對曰：“君夜發不可以〔朝〕。”晏子曰：“何故？”對曰：“梁丘據扃入歌人虞，變齊音。”晏子退，命宗祝修禮而拘虞，公聞之而怒曰：“何故而拘虞？”晏子曰：“以新樂淫君。”公曰：“諸侯之事，百官之政，寡人愿以請子。酒醴之味，金石之聲，愿夫子無與焉。夫樂，何（夫必）〔必夫〕（攻）〔故〕哉？”對曰：“夫樂亡而禮從之，禮亡而政從之，政亡而國從之。國衰，臣懼君之逆政之行。有歌，紂作北里，幽厲之聲，顧夫淫以鄙而偕亡。君奚輕變夫故哉？”公曰：“不幸有社稷之業，不擇言而出之，請受命矣。”

【今譯】

晏子上朝，杜扃走來走去在朝堂前等待。晏子問：“國君為什么不上朝？”杜扃說：“國君昨夜興致很高，徹夜未眠，因此不能上朝。”晏子問道：“國君為何興致很高？”回答說：“梁丘據進獻了一個叫虞的歌者，他更改了齊國的古音。”晏子離開，命令宗祝根據禮法規定拘捕了虞，齊景公聽說后大怒道：“為什么要拘捕虞？”晏子說：“因為他用新樂迷惑國君。”景公說：“諸侯國之間的事務，各級官員的政務，我愿意向您請教。（但我）品味美酒，欣賞音樂這些事，希望您就不要干涉了。音樂，為什么一定要聽古音呢？”晏子說：“音樂失傳了，禮法也就廢棄了，禮法廢棄了，政事也就荒怠了，政事荒怠了，國家也就離滅亡不遠了。國家衰敗，我害怕您有違逆政教的行為。過去曾有這樣的歌，（夏桀作東歌南音），商紂作北里之曲，周幽王、厲王作的樂曲，都是淫靡鄙陋之音，他們也和這些樂曲一起滅亡了。您怎么能輕易更改古樂呢？”景公說：“我僥幸擁有國家的基業，口不擇言說出了那些話，我愿意接受您的教誨了。”

When Yanzi went to the court for an audience,Du Jiong^[1] was already there waiting for his own audience,gazing into the distance.

Yanzi said: “Why does the Duke not hold court?”

Du Jiong answered: “The Duke was awake all night and therefore he cannot hold court.”

Yanzi said: “How did this come about?”

Du Jiong answered: “Liangqiu Ju^[2] has brought in the singer Yu,who altered the sound of a traditional Qi melody.”

Yanzi retired from the audience hall and ordered the M aster of Sacrifices and the Invocator to implement the rules of the rites and to seize Yu.

When the Duke heard this,he was furious and said: “Why did you have Yu arrested?”

Yanzi replied: “Because the new music led you into debauchery,my Lord.”

The Duke said: “I w ish to consult w ith you concerning affairs of the regional princes and the affairs of the various governmental offices. However,Master,I do not w ish you to meddle w ith my taste in w ine and sweet liquor and the sound of bronze and stone instruments. Why does music always have to be played in accordance with the old fashion?”

Yanzi answered: “When music perishes,the rites follow suit; when the rites perish,the government follows suit; when the government perishes, the state follows suit and declines.^[3] I am fearful that you,my Lord,have carried out a perverse policy.^[4] The debauched and vulgar character of the composition of the Northern-District Dances,commissioned by Zhou,^[5] as well as the music of You and Li,^[6] makes it clear why they all perished. How then can you,my Lord,change the music of antiquity so frivolously?”^[7]

The Duke said: “It is my m isfortune to be responsible for the grand enterprise of the altars of soil and grain. I uttered my words w ithout choosing them correctly. I request to receive your instructions.”^[8]

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注釋

[1]An unidentified figure.

[2]Liangqiu Ju 梁丘據 (fl. 530–510 BCE) w as a high officer in Qi w ho exercised corrupt influence on Duke Jing. He appears in eighteen items of the YZCQ in which he always plays the role of Yanzi’s main adversary.

[3]Read: 政亡而國從之衰,om itting 國 before 衰 (JS,25/9).

[4]Om it 有歌 (JS,25/10).

[5]For the licentious nature of the music composed by Master Juan 師涓 for Zhou,the last tyrant of Shang dynasty,see Shiji,105.

[6]Kings Li and You of the Zhou dynasty reigned between the years 893–864 BCE and 781–771 BCE,respectively.

[7]The conservative attitude expressed here regarding music sharply contrasts the attitude expressed in Mencius,2.1/7.

[8]Notably,Mencius (Mencius,2.1/7/3-32.),during his audience w ith the King of Qi,expressed his opinion that popular music and the music of antiquity were alike,and that the King’s emotional involvement w ith this “modern” music potentially offers hope to the state of Qi.