Classics at a Glance: Side-by-Side Translation: Middle School Edition

Author: Que Xunwu et al. translated and annotated / Country:
Publisher:
Publishing Time: 2002-09-01
Features: [Translation] Ziqi wanted to appoint Yin He as the magistrate of his fief. Ziyuan said, "He is young and I don't know if he can handle it." Ziqi said, "Yin He is loyal and honest, and I really like him. He won't betray me. Let him learn a bit, and he will understand how to govern better." Ziyuan said, "We can't do that. In general, when we love someone, we hope to benefit them. Now, if you love someone, you entrust them with government affairs, just like asking someone who doesn't know how to use a knife to cut things—it will surely cause them harm. Your way of loving them can only harm them, and who would dare to seek your love then? You are like the pillars of the state to Zheng. If the pillars break, the rafters will collapse, and I will be crushed under them. I dare not say these words in full. You have a beautiful piece of silk, yet you don't let anyone learn to make clothes with it. High officials and large fiefs are what people rely on for their lives, yet you ask someone who is learning government to manage them. Isn't it like caring for the beautiful silk more than for high officials and large fiefs? I have only heard that one learns and then governs, not that one governs to teach others. If you really do that, there will surely be harm. For example, in hunting, only those accustomed to shooting arrows and driving chariots can capture game. If someone has never ridden a chariot or shot an arrow, they only worry about being crushed in a fall, and have no mind to think about capturing game." Ziqi said, "What a great saying! I lack vision. I have heard that gentlemen must understand the great and distant matters, while petty people only understand the small and near. I am a petty person, and I know how to take care of my clothes; high officials and large fiefs are what people rely on for their lives, yet I neglect and belittle them. If it weren't for your words, I wouldn't have known. Some time ago, I said, 'You govern Zheng, and I will govern my own fief, so that my body has something to rely on, and that is enough.' Now, after hearing your words, I realize that is not enough. From now on, even though it is my family's matter, I will follow your advice." Ziyuan said, "People's thoughts differ, just as their faces do. How could I dare to think that your face is like my face? However, in my heart, I feel that what you are doing is dangerous, so I speak the truth." Ziqi thought Ziyuan was loyal, so he entrusted the affairs of Zheng to him. As a result, Ziyuan was able to govern Zheng. [Comment] This article describes a conversation between the Zheng state statesman Ziyuan and Ziqi about personnel and governance. Ziyuan gave honest advice, and Ziqi accepted it with humility. Both were open and sincere, making it a fine example of political dialogue. Ziyuan's arguments were both profound and vivid. He explained from two aspects why it was not advisable to send someone without political training to manage major political affairs. On the one hand, he pointed out that poor management could cause great harm to the political situation. On the other hand, he noted that even if the motive was to help someone, the actual effect would be to harm them if they lacked experience. He used numerous metaphors to make the vivid and lively. These metaphors were all very close to life: cutting with a knife, making clothes with precious silk, driving chariots and shooting arrows—all required prior training; if a house collapses, everyone inside will be crushed to death. His profound analysis and vivid metaphors together constituted great persuasive power. [Comment] This article highlights Lu Zhonglian's "righteousness." The "righteousness" refers to upholding justice and having integrity. Why did he oppose honoring Qin as the overlord of the world (emperor)? He said, "That Qin is a country that abandons etiquette and righteousness, valuing military exploits above all. It exploits its officials and enslaves its people. If it acts arrogantly as emperor, passes beyond the proper limits and becomes the overlord of the world, then I will have no choice but to die in the East Sea—I cannot bear to be its subject!" This shows that he viewed the issue from the perspective of upholding human dignity, advocating benevolent governance, and opposing tyrannical rule. He was willing to sacrifice his life to uphold his dignity, but not just for his own sake, but for the sake of all people under heaven. How did he persuade the feudal lords and their ministers who advocated honoring Qin as emperor? First, he explained that if Qin were made emperor, the feudal lords would be in a subordinate position both in name and in reality, at the mercy of the tyrannical Qin. Second, he pointed out that Qin would plant its own trusted agents and spies among the feudal lords, replacing their ministers and endangering their fundamental interests. His analysis was reasonable and persuasive, and he skillfully used historical allusions and vivid metaphors. As a result, Xin Yuanyan, who strongly advocated honoring Qin, had to admire and submit to him. This article portrays Lu Zhonglian's image using various contrasting techniques. First, it contrasts him with Pingyuanjun. Pingyuanjun was a famous virtuous prince in the Warring States period. Faced with a powerful enemy and shameless advocates of humiliating surrender, he was helpless and dared not take action. This contrasts with Lu Zhonglian's calm and fearless demeanor. Second, it contrasts him with Xin Yuanyan. Xin Yuanyan, as a envoy of Wei, tried to take the initiative by urging Lu Zhonglian to leave Handan and stay out of trouble. Lu Zhonglian, however, turned the tables, analyzed the situation layer by layer, and pressed his advantage, making Xin Yuanyan submit. Third, it contrasts him with the Qin general. "When the Qin general heard of this, he withdrew his troops by fifty miles." Later, Lu Zhonglian declined the heavy reward and refused official titles, retiring from the scene of glory, "never to be seen again," adding a brilliant touch to this upright and noble figure. [Translation] I, Sima Qian, your servant, Sima Qian, pay my respects and make this statement to you, Your Excellency: Not long ago, you humbled yourself to write to me, advising me to be cautious in my dealings and to take on the responsibility of recommending talented scholars to the court. Your words and tone were sincere and earnest. If you complain that I did not follow your advice but instead followed the views of ordinary people, I would not dare to do so. Although I am mediocre in ability, I still understand the teachings of this elder. However, I believe that with my disabled body and my lowly status, any action I take will be criticized, and any good deeds I attempt will only bring harm. Therefore, I have been alone in my sorrow and frustration, and who can I turn to for comfort? As the saying goes, "For whom do you work? And who will listen? After Zhongziqi died, Boya never played the lute again. Why is that? Virtuous scholars serve those who understand them, and women dress for those who love them. As my body has been ruined, even if my talent were as rare as the Su Hou Pearl or the He Shi Bi, and my virtue as noble as Xu You or Bo Yi, I would still be ashamed rather than proud, and would only bring disgrace upon myself. Your letter should have been answered promptly, but I happened to return from the east with the emperor and was then burdened with tedious affairs, leaving us with very little time to meet. In my haste, I had no moment to pour out my heart. Now that you have suffered an unexpected crime, and with another month passing, it will soon be the twelfth month, I must follow the emperor to Yong County. I fear that you may suddenly pass away, leaving me unable to express my grief fully and allowing your soul to lament endlessly. Please allow me to briefly state my limited and shallow views. I have not replied for a long time, and I hope you will not blame me. I have heard that cultivating oneself is the mark of wisdom; showing kindness to others is the beginning of benevolence; not taking or giving freely is the embodiment of righteousness; knowing shame is the sign of courage; and establishing a reputation is the pinnacle of virtue. A scholar with these five virtues can then stand in the world and rank among the gentlemen. Therefore, there is no greater calamity than greed for private gain, no greater sorrow than wounded spirit, no greater shame than disgracing ancestors, and no greater disgrace than suffering castration. Those who have been castrated cannot be compared to anyone else in status. This view is not only true today but has been so for a long time. In the past, when King Ling of Wei sat in a carriage with the eunuch Yongqu, Confucius left Wei for Chen; Shang Yang was recommended by the eunuch Jingjian and was summoned; Zhao Xin felt cautious; and the eunuch Zhao Tan sat in the carriage with Emperor Wen of Han, and Yuan Si changed color. Since ancient times, eunuchs have been looked down upon. Ordinary people, when matters concern eunuchs, are never undaunted in spirit, let alone those with great aspirations and strong wills! Now, although the court lacks talent, how could it possibly ask a person who has been punished to recommend the outstanding talents of the world? I rely on the legacy of my ancestors to serve the emperor, and I have been doing so for over twenty years. I have reflected on this: I have not been able to be loyal and trustworthy to the emperor, nor have I gained a reputation for wisdom and outstanding ability, thereby earning the emperor's trust; second, I have not been able to advise the emperor, correct his faults, recommend talented scholars, or discover hidden talents; third, I have not been able to serve in the army, participate in battles, or achieve victories; fourth, I have not been able to accumulate merits daily to earn high rank and wealth, bringing honor to my family and friends. In none of these four areas have I succeeded—I can only follow the crowd and seek favor, with no small contribution to show for it. In the past, I was also part of the lower, accompanying others to discuss matters in the court hall, but I did not take this opportunity to rectify the principles and laws or to exert my thoughts fully. Now that I am disabled and serve as a sweeper of filth, among the lowly, I still want to raise my head and comment on right and wrong, which is too disrespectful to the court and insulting to the scholars of the age! Ah, ah! What can I say about someone like me? What can I say? Moreover, the causes and effects of things are not easily understood. When I was young, I had no extraordinary talent, and when I grew up, I had no reputation in my village. Fortunately, because of my father's connection, the emperor allowed me to contribute my modest talents and to move freely in the palace. I felt that with a pot on my head, how could I see the sky? So I cut off contact with guests and forgot about family matters, thinking day and night about contributing my modest talents and serving diligently to win the emperor's favor and trust. However, things did not go as I wished, and it was not as I had imagined. Li Ling and I were both officials in the palace, but we had no contact with each other in ordinary times. Our aspirations and paths were different, and we had never shared a drink to show friendship. However, I observed that Li Ling was a strict self-requirement: he was filial to his parents, trustworthy with his friends, honest in dealing with money, and fair in giving and taking, able to distinguish between elder and younger, superior and inferior, and respectful to those of lower status. He often thought of risking his life for the urgent needs of the state. I thought his cultivation was that of a national talent. As a subject, to propose a plan that would risk his life for the sake of the state and rush to its urgent needs is already an extraordinary talent. Now, because of one misstep, the ministers who only care about preserving themselves and their families have followed suit, falsely accusing and exaggerating Li Ling's faults. I truly feel pity for Li Ling in private. Moreover, Li Ling led an army of less than five thousand into the territory of the Xiongnu, reached the residence of the Chanyu, and hung bait on the tiger's mouth, challenging the fierce Xiongnu troops in all directions. Facing numerous enemies, he fought continuously for more than ten days, killing more enemies than his own soldiers. The Xiongnu were so busy saving the wounded that their rulers were shocked and terrified. They then mobilized all their left and right Xianwang and all their archers to attack and surround Li Ling with the entire force of the state. Li Ling fought for a thousand miles, ran out of arrows, was cut off from reinforcements, and suffered heavy casualties, with corpses piled up. Yet, when Li Ling raised his arms and called to his troops, they all rose up, moved to tears, covered in blood and tears, and drew their empty bowstrings, rushing toward the north with flashing swords to fight the enemy. As long as Li Ling's army had not been defeated, the messenger brought news of victory, and the feudal lords and ministers of Han raised their cups to congratulate the emperor. A few days later, when the news of Li Ling's defeat came, the emperor lost his appetite, was displeased when handling affairs in court, and the ministers were worried and fearful, not knowing what to do. In private, I did not consider my lowly status, seeing the emperor's grief and sorrow, and I truly wanted to show my loyalty. I believed that Li Ling had always shared the hardships of his soldiers and officers, so he had earned their unwavering loyalty. Even the greatest generals of ancient times could not surpass him. Although he surrendered to the Xiongnu, his intentions seemed to be to find an opportunity to repay Han. The battle was already hopeless; he had already killed a large number of enemies, and his merits were enough to be proclaimed to the world. I wanted to report this to the emperor but did not get the chance. Just then, the emperor summoned me and asked about it, and I expressed this opinion, speaking of Li Ling's merits, trying to comfort the emperor's heart and block the words of slander. I did not make my point clearly, and the emperor misunderstood, thinking that I was intentionally attacking the general Lü Guangli and defending Li Ling, so he handed me over to the prison officials. Thus, my loyal and sincere heart could not defend itself, and I was sentenced to the crime of slandering the emperor. Later, the emperor listened to the opinion of the prison officials and sentenced me to castration. My family is poor, and I do not have enough money to redeem my punishment. My friends do not come to help or visit me, and the close ministers around the emperor do not say a single good word for me. A body is not wood or stone; alone with the officials in charge, deeply imprisoned in the prison, what suffering can I tell anyone? This is exactly what Your Excellency has seen with your own eyes. Is my situation not like this? Li Ling has now surrendered to the Xiongnu, disgracing his family's reputation, and I have been imprisoned in the cocoon room, further mocked by the world. Alas! Alas! It is not easy to explain this matter to ordinary people one by one!