2.11 [36] 景公為臺成又欲為鐘晏子諫

齊景公修筑好高臺又打算鑄造大鐘，晏子進諫

【原文】

景公為臺，臺成，又欲為鐘。晏子諫曰：“君國者不樂民之哀。君不勝欲，既筑臺矣，今復〔欲〕為鐘，是重斂于民，民必哀矣。夫斂民之哀，而以為樂，不祥，非所以君國者。”公乃止。

【今譯】

齊景公修建了一座高臺，建好之后，又想鑄造大鐘。晏子進諫道：“當國君的人不應樂于見到百姓的哀痛。您不能克制自己的欲望，已經修筑了高臺，現在又要鑄造大鐘，這樣不斷加重對百姓的征斂，百姓一定會痛苦不堪。加重百姓的賦稅使他們哀痛，以此換來自己的快樂，這是不祥之兆，不是當國君的人應該做的事。”景公于是停止鑄鐘。

Duke Jing built a terrace and when it was completed,he wanted to cast a bell in addition.

Yanzi remonstrated and said: “He who rules a state should not delight in the people’s suffering. You,my Lord,have given free rein to your desires and have built a terrace,and now you want to have a bell cast as well; this w ill only mean oppressive taxes for the people,and they w ill certainly suffer. To compound the people’s suffering and to take delight in it is inauspicious and is not the way in which one rules a state.”

Thereupon,the Duke desisted.

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注釋

[1]Item 2.11 [36] ? Shuoyuan,9.15/72/11.