| | 楚武鄧曼: |
鄧曼者，武王之夫人也。王使屈瑕為將，伐羅。屈瑕號莫敖，與群帥悉楚師以行。鬥伯比謂其御曰：「莫敖必敗。舉趾高，心不固矣。」見王曰：「必濟師。」 |
| | Deng Man was a consort of King Wu. The king appointed Qu Xia as general and sent him to attack Luo. Qu Xia, who was known as Mao Ao, marched with the commanders and led the entire Chu army on campaign. Dou Bobi said to his charioteer, "Mao Ao will surely be defeated." "He lifts his feet too high; his mind is not steady anymore." He said to the king, "The army must be saved."
|
| | 楚武鄧曼: |
王以告夫人鄧曼，曰：「大夫非眾之謂也，其謂君撫小民以信，訓諸司以德，而威莫敖以刑也。莫敖狃於蒲騷之役，將自用也，必小羅。君若不鎮撫，其不設備乎！於是王使賴人追之，不及。莫敖令於軍中曰：「諫者有刑。」及鄢，師次亂濟。至羅，羅與盧戎擊之，大敗，莫敖自經荒谷，群師囚於冶父以待刑。王曰：「孤之罪也。」皆免之。君子謂鄧曼為知人。《》云：「」此之謂也。 |
| | The king informed his wife, Deng Man, saying, "The official is not referring to the common people. He means that you should govern the people with trustworthiness, instruct your officials with virtue, and impose discipline on Mao Ao through punishment." "Mao Ao has grown complacent from the campaign at Pusao; he will rely too much on his own judgment and surely underestimate Luo." "If you do not calm and reassure him, won't he fail to prepare properly?" Thus the king sent someone from Lai to pursue him, but failed to catch up. Mao Ao issued an order in the army: "Those who offer advice will be punished." When they reached Yan, the troops halted in disorder at Ji. By the time they arrived at Luo, the people of Luo and the Lu Rong attacked them, causing a great defeat. Mao Ao committed suicide in Huanggu Valley, while the commanders were imprisoned at Yefu to await punishment. The king said, "This is my fault." He pardoned them all. The gentlemen considered Deng Man to be a person who could discern others' abilities. "The Book of Songs" says: "If such advice is not heeded, the great mandate will collapse." This is what it refers to.
|
| | 楚武鄧曼: |
王伐隨且行，告鄧曼曰：「余心蕩，何也？」鄧曼曰：「王德薄而祿厚，施鮮而得多。物盛必衰，日中必移。盈而蕩，天之道也。先王知之矣，故臨武事，將發大命，而蕩王心焉。若師徒毋虧，王薨於行，國之福也。」王遂行，卒於樠木之下。君子謂鄧曼為知天道。《》曰：「日中則昃，月盈則虧，天地盈虛，與時消息。」此之謂也。 |
| | While the king was marching against Sui, he told Deng Man, "My heart feels unsettled; why is that?" Deng Man said, "Your virtue is slight but your blessings are great, and you give little yet receive much." "When things reach their peak, they must decline; when the sun reaches its zenith, it must move on." "Fullness leading to unrest is the way of Heaven." The former kings understood this, so when facing military affairs and about to issue great commands, they unsettled the king's mind. "If our army suffers no loss, and the king passes away on campaign, it would be a blessing for the state." The king proceeded with his journey and died under the Lanmu tree. The gentlemen considered Deng Man to understand the principles of Heaven. "The Book of Changes" says: "When the sun reaches its zenith, it begins to set; when the moon is full, it must wane. The heavens and earth experience cycles of abundance and decline, waxing and waning with time."
|
| | 楚武鄧曼: |
頌曰：楚武鄧曼，見事所興，謂瑕軍敗，知王將薨，識彼天道，盛而必衰，終如其言，君子揚稱。 |
| | Ode: Deng Man of King Wu of Chu, foresaw the rise and fall of events. She predicted Qu Xia's military defeat and knew that the king would soon die. Understanding the principles of Heaven, she recognized that prosperity must inevitably give way to decline. In the end, her words proved true, and gentlemen praised her highly.
|
