2.23 [48] 景公欲以人禮葬走狗晏子諫

齊景公打算用人的禮節(jié)安葬獵狗，晏子進(jìn)諫

【原文】

景公走狗死，公令外共之棺，內(nèi)給之祭。晏子聞之，諫。公曰：“亦細(xì)物也，特以與左右為笑耳。”晏子曰：“君過矣！夫厚藉斂不以反民，棄貨財而笑左右，傲細(xì)民之憂，而崇左右之笑，則國亦無望已。且夫孤老凍餒，而死狗有祭，鰥寡不恤，而死狗有棺，行辟若此，百姓聞之，必怨吾君，諸侯聞之，必輕吾國。怨聚于百姓，而權(quán)輕于諸侯，而乃以為細(xì)物，君其圖之?！惫唬骸吧??！比も抑喂罚詴瘜?。

【今譯】

齊景公的獵狗死了，景公下令在宮外給它準(zhǔn)備棺材，在宮內(nèi)給它準(zhǔn)備祭品。晏子聽說后，前來進(jìn)諫。景公說：“這只不過是一件小事，特意拿來和身邊的人取樂的。”晏子說：“您錯了！加重賦稅聚斂財富而不回饋百姓，舍棄財物而與身邊的人取笑為樂，輕視百姓的憂愁，重視近臣的玩樂，那么國家就沒什么希望了。況且孤兒老人受冷受餓，而死狗卻享有祭祀，鰥夫寡婦不知撫恤，而死狗卻擁有棺材，行為邪僻到這個樣子，百姓聽說的話，一定會怨恨您，諸侯聽說的話，一定會輕視我們的國家。百姓聚積怨恨，諸侯輕視國家，卻認(rèn)為是小事，請您好好考慮吧?！本肮f：“好。”于是命令廚師殺狗烹肉，用來會宴群臣。

One of Duke Jing’s hunting hounds died. The Duke ordered that a coffin to be supplied for it from outside the court and a sacrifice be made for it w ithin the court. Yanzi heard of this and remonstrated.

The Duke said: “This is only an insignificant matter. I merely wanted to use this occasion to amuse my entourage.”

Yanzi said: “You,my Lord,are w rong. If one taxes lavishly and returns none of the revenue to the people,if one wastes property and goods in order to amuse one’s entourage,if one arrogantly disregards the worries of the common people and values highly the laughter of one’s entourage,then there w ill surely be no hope for one’s state. Furthermore,when orphans and the elderly freeze and starve,yet sacrifice is made to a dead dog; and w idowers and w idows are not treated with compassion,but dead dogs receive a coffin—if such perverse conduct becomes known to the people,they w ill certainly feel resentment towards you,my Lord; and if the regional princes hear of it,they certainly w ill think little of our state. When the resentments accumulate among the people and the regional princes take lightly your authority,yet you still regard this as an insignificant matter —you should give it your careful consideration,my Lord.”

The Duke said: “Well argued.” Then he urged the cook to prepare the dog and w ith this dish he met his ministers in a court audience.

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注釋

[1]For a comp letely different,sentimental attitude towards the death of a one’s dog,see Liji,4.65/29/23,where Confucius instructs Zigong regarding the proper way to bury Confucius’ own pet dog.