2.18 [43] 景公登路寝台不终不悦晏子谏

齐景公攀登路寝台不能到达终点不高兴，晏子进谏

【原文】

景公登路寝之台，不能终，而息乎陛，忿然而作色，不说，曰：“孰为高台？病人之甚也！”晏子曰：“君欲节于身而勿高，使人高之而勿罪也。今高，从之以罪，卑亦从以罪，敢问使人如此可乎？古者之为宫室也，足以便生，不以为奢侈也，故节于身，（谓）〔调〕于民。及夏之衰也，其王桀背弃德行，〔作〕为璇室玉门。殷之衰也，其王纣作为倾宫灵台，卑狭者有罪，高大者有赏，是以身及焉。今君高亦有罪，卑亦有罪，甚于夏、殷之王；民力殚乏矣，而不免于罪，婴恐国之流失，而公不得亨也！”公曰：“善！寡人自知诚费财劳民，以为无功，又从而怨之，是寡人之罪也！非夫子之教，岂得守社稷哉！”遂下，再拜，不果登台。

【今译】

齐景公攀登路寝的高台，不能到达终点，中途在台阶上休息，他生气地变了脸色，不高兴地说：“谁修建的高台？把人坑害的不浅啊！”晏子说：“您要想节省体力就不要把它修这么高，既然让人把它修这么高就不要怪罪。现在修的高了有罪，修的低了也有罪，敢问有这样役使别人的吗？古时候修建宫室，是为了便于生活，不是为了奢侈享乐，因此自身节俭，百姓也受到教育。等到夏朝衰败的时候，它的王桀背弃了圣人的德行，建造了美玉装饰的宫室，白玉雕砌的大门。商朝衰败的时候，它的王纣建造了巍峨的宫殿和精美的台阁，修的低小的有罪，修的高大的有赏，因此灾祸殃及自身。现在您命人修台，修高了有罪，修低了也有罪，比桀、纣二王还要严苛；民力已经耗尽，还免不了受罚，我担心百姓离散，您就再也不能享乐了！”景公说：“好！我自知这实在是劳民伤财又没有什么用处，又因此怪罪筑台的人，这是我的罪过！如果不是您的教诲，我又怎么能守住国家呢！”于是走下台来，向晏子拜了两拜，没有登上台顶。

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.

注释

[1]谓→诲 follow ing Mozi,1.6/6/24,which reads: 节于身诲于民.

[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).