3.5 [55] 景公問圣王其行若何晏子對以衰世而諷

齊景公問圣王的德行是什么樣的，晏子用世道衰敗來回答，進而諷諫

【原文】

景公外傲諸侯，內輕百姓，好勇力，崇樂以從嗜欲，諸侯不說，百姓不親。公患之，問于晏子曰：“古之圣王，其行若何？”晏子對曰：“其行公正而無邪，故讒人不得入；不阿黨，不私色，故群徒之卒不得容；薄身厚民，故聚斂之人不得行；不侵大國之地，不耗小國之民，故諸侯皆欲其尊；不劫人以兵甲，不威人以眾強，故天下皆欲其強；德行教誨加于諸侯，慈愛利澤加于百姓，故海內歸之若流水。今衰世君人者，辟邪阿黨，故讒（謟）〔諂〕群徒之卒繁；厚身（飬）〔養〕，薄視民，故聚斂之人行；侵大國之地，耗小國之民，故諸侯不欲其尊；劫人以兵甲，威人以眾強，故天下不欲其強；災害加于諸侯，勞苦施于百姓，故讎敵進伐，天下不救，貴戚離散，百姓不（興）〔與〕。”公曰：“然則何若？”敚曰：“請卑辭重幣，以說于諸侯，輕罪省功，以謝于百姓，其可乎？”公曰：“諾。”于是卑辭重幣，而諸侯附，輕罪省功，而百姓親，故小國入朝，燕魯共貢。墨子聞之曰：“晏子知道，道在為人，而失為己。為人者重，自為者輕。景公自為，而小國不（為）與，（在）為人，而諸侯為役，則道在為人，而行在反己矣，故晏子知道矣。”

【今譯】

齊景公對外傲視諸侯，對內輕視百姓，喜好勇武有力的猛士，追求享樂放縱嗜欲，諸侯不高興，百姓不親附。景公很憂慮，向晏子詢問道：“古時候的圣王，他們的行為是什么樣的？”晏子回答說：“他們的行為公平正直而且沒有邪念，因此讒諛的人無機可乘；不結黨營私，不偏愛美色，因此拉幫結派的人不被容忍；自身節儉而對百姓寬厚，因此聚斂財物的人不能胡作非為；不侵奪大國的土地，不損耗小國的百姓，因此諸侯們都希望他地位尊貴；不靠武力強大劫掠別人，不靠人多勢眾威脅別人，因此天下人都希望他強大；德行教訓施加給諸侯，慈愛恩澤施加給百姓，因此四海之內的人都像流水入海一樣歸附他。現在在衰敗世道做國君的人，乖謬不正，結黨營私，因此讒諛奸佞，拉幫結派的人多；重視自身的享受，輕視百姓的生計，因此聚斂財物的人大行其道；侵占大國的土地，消耗小國的百姓，因此諸侯們不希望他地位尊貴；靠武力強大劫掠別人，靠人多勢眾威脅別人，因此天下人都不希望他強大；把災禍損害帶給諸侯，把勞累苦難帶給百姓，因此仇敵來攻伐時，天下無人援救，王公貴族離散，百姓也不支持。”景公說：“這樣的話那要怎么辦？”晏子回答說：“請您用謙遜的語言和厚重的禮物來游說諸侯，減輕刑徒免去勞役來向百姓謝罪，這樣可以嗎？”景公說：“好。”于是用謙遜的語言和厚重的禮物游說而諸侯歸附，減輕刑徒免去勞役而百姓親附，因此小國來朝見，燕國和魯國也一起來進貢。墨子聽說這件事之后說：“晏子懂得治國的道理，得道在于為別人，而失道在于為自己。為別人著想的人被尊重，為自己著想的人被輕視。景公為自己著想，而小國不親附，為別人著想，而諸侯們都被他役使，這就是在道義上為了別人，而行為上不為自己，所以說晏子懂得治國的道理啊。”

Duke Jing behaved arrogantly toward the external regional princes and thought little of the state’s residents. He favored the courageous and the strong,placed supreme value on pleasures and,accordingly,indulged his desires. The regional princes were displeased,and the people felt no kinship w ith him. The Duke was troubled by this,and he asked Yanzi: “What characterized the conduct of the sage-kings of ancient times?”

Yanzi replied: “Their conduct was upright and not corrupt,and therefore slanderers could not have insinuated themselves. They did not cater to factions and did not indulge in illicit sex,and therefore followers of partisan groups were not tolerated. They restrained themselves,but enriched the people,and therefore the venal tax-collectors were unable to act. They did not invade the territories of large states,and they did not exhaust the people of small states,and therefore all the regional princes wanted them to be honored. They did not devastate people through armed force and did not overawe them through numerical superiority and strength,and therefore everyone in the realm w ished them to be strong. They bestowed their virtuous conduct and moral instructions upon the regional princes; their compassion and beneficence were bestowed upon the common people,and therefore people everywhere rushed to them like a torrent. But now,the rulers of the present era of decline are evil and cater to factions. Therefore,the followers of partisan groups of slanderers and flatterers are numerous. They enrich themselves amply,but restrain the people,and therefore the venal tax-collectors are able to act. They invade the territories of large states and they exhaust the people of small states; therefore,the regional princes do not w ish them to be honored. They devastate people through armed force and overawe other people w ith numbers and strength; therefore,the realm does not w ish them to be strong. Their calamities affect the regional princes,and they impose hardships on the people. Therefore,when enemies mount an attack them,the realm w ill not come to their rescue,ministers of ducal blood w ill disperse,and the people will not support them.”

The Duke said: “If so,what can be done about this?”

Yanzi replied: “M y request is that you seek favor w ith the regional princes by using humble words and lavish gifts. A lleviate punishments,reduce com pu lsory labor,and thereby m ollify the peop le. Is this acceptable?”

The Duke said: “Very well.”

Thereupon,the Duke used humble words and lavish gifts,and the regional princes allied themselves w ith him. He alleviated punishments and reduced compulsory labor,and the people cleaved to him. Hence,small states came to his court and both the states of Yan and Lu offered him tribute.

When Mozi heard about this,he said: “Yanzi knew the Way. The Way lies in deeds on behalf of others,but is lost in deeds on one’s own behalf. Those who act on behalf of others carry considerable weight,and those who act on behalf of themselves carry little weight. When Duke Jing acted on his own behalf,small states did not support him,but when he acted on behalf of others,the regional princes served him. Thus,the Way is found through acting on behalf of others,and its practice is in examining one’s self critically. Yanzi knew the Way.”