2.8 [33] 景公春夏游獵興役晏子諫

齊景公春夏之交巡游打獵興起勞役，晏子進諫

【原文】

景公春夏游獵，又起大臺之役。晏子諫曰：“春夏起役，且游獵，奪民農(nóng)時，國家空虛，不可。”景公曰：“吾聞相賢者國治，臣忠者主逸。吾年無幾矣，欲遂吾所樂，卒吾所好，子其息矣。”晏子曰：“昔文王不敢盤游于田，故國昌而民安。楚靈王不廢乾溪之役，起章華之臺，而民叛之。今君不革，將危社稷，而為諸侯笑。臣聞忠不避死，諫不違罪。君不聽臣，臣將（游）〔逝〕矣。”景公曰：“唯唯，將弛罷之。”未幾，朝韋冏解役而歸。

【今譯】

齊景公在春夏之交外出游獵，又開始修建大臺。晏子進諫說：“春夏之間發(fā)起勞役，而且外出游獵，會侵奪百姓耕作的時間，使國家空虛，這是不可以的。”景公說：“我聽說相國賢良國家就能太平，臣子忠誠君主就能安逸。我也活不了幾年了，就想滿足自己的樂趣，實現(xiàn)自己的喜好，您還是別管我了。”晏子說：“以前周文王不敢迷戀于游玩和打獵，因此國家昌盛、百姓安樂。楚靈王不肯停止修建乾溪臺的勞役，又修建章華臺，所以百姓反叛。現(xiàn)在您如果不改變這些做法，就會危及社稷，被天下諸侯恥笑。我聽說忠臣不怕死，進諫不怕獲罪。您不聽我的諫言，我就要離開您了。”景公說：“是的是的，我馬上就停止這些做法。”很快，景公就召見韋冏解除民工的勞役而使他們各自回家。

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.

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注釋

[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 書經(jīng),43/39/19.

[3]An unidentified figure.