2.18 [43] 景公登路寢臺不終不悅晏子諫

齊景公攀登路寢臺不能到達終點不高興，晏子進諫

【原文】

景公登路寢之臺，不能終，而息乎陛，忿然而作色，不說，曰：“孰為高臺？病人之甚也！”晏子曰：“君欲節于身而勿高，使人高之而勿罪也。今高，從之以罪，卑亦從以罪，敢問使人如此可乎？古者之為宮室也，足以便生，不以為奢侈也，故節于身，（謂）〔調〕于民。及夏之衰也，其王桀背棄德行，〔作〕為璇室玉門。殷之衰也，其王紂作為傾宮靈臺，卑狹者有罪，高大者有賞，是以身及焉。今君高亦有罪，卑亦有罪，甚于夏、殷之王；民力殫乏矣，而不免于罪，嬰恐國之流失，而公不得亨也！”公曰：“善！寡人自知誠費財勞民，以為無功，又從而怨之，是寡人之罪也！非夫子之教，豈得守社稷哉！”遂下，再拜，不果登臺。

【今譯】

齊景公攀登路寢的高臺，不能到達終點，中途在臺階上休息，他生氣地變了臉色，不高興地說：“誰修建的高臺？把人坑害的不淺啊！”晏子說：“您要想節省體力就不要把它修這么高，既然讓人把它修這么高就不要怪罪。現在修的高了有罪，修的低了也有罪，敢問有這樣役使別人的嗎？古時候修建宮室，是為了便于生活，不是為了奢侈享樂，因此自身節儉，百姓也受到教育。等到夏朝衰敗的時候，它的王桀背棄了圣人的德行，建造了美玉裝飾的宮室，白玉雕砌的大門。商朝衰敗的時候，它的王紂建造了巍峨的宮殿和精美的臺閣，修的低小的有罪，修的高大的有賞，因此災禍殃及自身。現在您命人修臺，修高了有罪，修低了也有罪，比桀、紂二王還要嚴苛；民力已經耗盡，還免不了受罰，我擔心百姓離散，您就再也不能享樂了！”景公說：“好！我自知這實在是勞民傷財又沒有什么用處，又因此怪罪筑臺的人，這是我的罪過！如果不是您的教誨，我又怎么能守住國家呢！”于是走下臺來，向晏子拜了兩拜，沒有登上臺頂。

Duke Jing ascended the terrace over the Road Bedchamber,and,unable to reach the top,he rested on the steps. The Duke was displeased and flushed w ith anger. He said: “Who built such a high terrace? It is extremely exhausting.”

Yanzi said: “If you,my Lord,wanted this to be modest for your purposes,you would have not let it be built so high; but since you had people build it high,you should not blame them for it. But now,since it is high,you pursue them in blame; and if it were low,you would blame them also—I presume to ask,is it proper to employ people under such circumstances? In ancient times,the purpose of building palaces was to make life com fortable,rather than to demonstrate extravagance. Thus,we see that the ancients were thrifty themselves and taught^[1] the people to act the same. But when the Xia declined and its King Jie turned his back on virtuous conduct,he built houses of precious stones and gates of jade. W ith the decline of the Yin,King Zhou built the Towering-Leaning Palace^[2] and the Sacred Terrace. Those who built low and narrow structures were found guilty,and those who built high and large structures were rewarded. Therefore,disaster struck them. But now you,my Lord,blame both those who build high and those who build low; this is worse than the example of the kings of the Xia and Yin. The strength of the people is completely exhausted,and still they cannot evade blame. I am afraid that our state w ill be swept away and lost and you will not be able to enjoy the pleasures^[3] of rule.”

The Duke said: “Well argued. I myself know that I really wasted a great deal of resources and overworked the people. I considered the people to be of no merit and,furthermore,I resented them. This is my fault. How could I protect the altars of soil and grain without your instructions,Master?”

Thereupon he descended,bowed twice,and did not act upon his desire to ascend the terrace.

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注釋

[1]謂→誨 follow ing Mozi,1.6/6/24,which reads: 節于身誨于民.

[2]The present “Towering-Leaning Palace” should not be confused w ith the “Towering-Leaning Palace” built by King Ling of Chu,mentioned in Item 2.7 [57].

[3]亨→享 (YZCQ-ICS,17,n. 7).