1.8 [8] 景公信用饞佞賞罰失中晏子諫

齊景公信賴任用讒佞小人賞罰喪失公平，晏子進諫

【原文】

景公信用讒佞，賞無功，罰不辜。晏子諫曰：“臣聞明君望圣人而信其教，不聞聽饞佞以誅賞。今與左右相說頌也，曰：‘比死者勉為樂乎！吾安能為仁而愈黥民耳矣！’故內寵之妾，迫奪于國，外寵之臣，矯奪于鄙，執法之吏，并荷百姓。民愁苦約病，而奸驅尤佚，隱情奄惡，蔽謟其上，故雖有至圣大賢，豈能勝若饞哉！是以忠臣（之）常有災傷也。臣聞古者之士，可與得之，不可與失之；可與進之，不可與退之。臣請逃之矣?！彼毂蓿ǘR）〔馬而〕出。公使韓子休追之，曰：“孤不仁，不能順教，以至此極。夫子休國焉而往，寡人將從而后?！标套铀毂揆R而返。

其仆曰：“向之去何速？今之返又何速？”晏子曰：“非子之所知也，公之言至矣?！?/p>

【今譯】

齊景公聽信奸佞之臣的讒言，賞賜無功的人，懲罰無罪的人。晏子進諫說：“我聽說賢明的君主仰慕圣人的德行，信奉他們的教誨，沒聽說過聽信奸佞之臣的讒言來誅殺或賞賜。現在國君和左右的近臣相互取悅稱頌，說：‘那些快要死去的人尚且盡力尋找快樂，我怎么能為了仁義而過得僅勝于罪犯呢！’所以宮內受寵的姬妾在國都內放肆掠奪，朝堂上受寵的臣子在地方上強行聚斂，執法的官吏，一起苛刻虐待百姓，百姓憂愁苦悶貧病交加，而隱藏的奸佞之人更加猖狂，他們隱瞞真相掩蓋罪惡，蒙蔽欺騙國君，所以即使有至圣大賢，也難以勝過這些善于進讒言的奸佞之徒！所以忠誠的臣子常常有災禍。我聽說古時候做官的人，能與國君相處就輔佐他，不能與國君相處就離開他；國君可以相處，他們就做官；不可以相處，他們就隱退。我請求離開這里了?！庇谑顷套硬唏R揚鞭離開了朝廷。景公命韓子休追趕晏子，說：“我不仁義，不能順從先王的教誨，因此到了極端昏庸的地步。您丟下國家要到哪里去，我就在后邊跟您到哪里去?！标套佑谑遣唏R返回。

晏子的仆人問他說：“剛剛您離去時怎么那么急？現在返回怎么又這么迅速？”晏子說：“這不是你所能理解的，國君的話說的太到位了?！?/p>

Duke Jing entrusted slanderers and sycophants. He rewarded those who were lacking in merit and punished the innocent.

Yanzi remonstrated w ith him,saying: “I have heard that the enlightened ruler looks up to the sages and believes in their moral instructions. I have not heard that he listens to slanderers and sycophants in meting out punishments and rewards. But now you and your entourage take pleasure in singing each other songs of praise: ‘With death at hand let us apply all our energy to amusements.^[1] There is no way for us to practice humaneness and care for the common people.’^[2] Therefore,favored concubines in the palace relentlessly plunder the capital; beyond the palace,favored ministers vigorously plunder the border towns; and the officials who execute the laws lay their yoke^[3] on the people. The people grow miserable and sorrow ful,poor and sick,while the w icked and the devious^[4] enjoy the pinnacle of leisure. The actual state of affairs is obscured and evil is concealed.^[5] They hoodw ink their superiors,so that even a perfect sage or a great worthy could not possibly stand up to these slanderers. And so,the loyal ministers are often struck by personal disaster. I have heard that in ancient times,if the ruler could ally himself with the officer,he would win him over—if not,he would lose him. If the ruler could ally himself w ith an officer,he would advance the officer’s career—if not,he would hold him back. I request to escape from all this.” Thereupon,he whipped his horses and departed.

The Duke ordered Han Zixiu^[6] to pursue him,saying: “I am not humane and am incapable of acting in accordance w ith your instructions. Thus,we have reached this extreme state of affairs. If you,my Master,w ithdraw from the capital and leave,I w ill follow right behind you.”

Thereupon,Yanzi whipped his horses and turned back. His servant said: “Why did you hastily disappear before,and why do you now just as hastily turn back?”

Yanzi answered: “This is beyond your understanding. The Duke’s words were perfect.”

---

注釋

[1]Cf. Bible,Isaiah 22:13: “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die.”

[2]黥→黔 (YZCQ-ICS,3,n. 3).

[3]荷→苛 (JS,31/8).

[4]驅→匿 (JS,31/10).

[5]掩→奄 (JS,31/11).

[6]An unidentified figure.