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二曰── |
| | Secondly--
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| | 直諫: |
言極則怒，怒則說者危，非賢者孰肯犯危？而非賢者也，將以要利矣。要利之人，犯危何益？故不肖主無賢者。無賢則不聞極言，不聞極言則姦人比周、百邪悉起，若此則無以存矣。凡國之存也，主之安也，必有以也。不知所以，雖存必亡，雖安必危，所以不可不論也。 |
| | If one speaks too boldly, anger will arise; when anger arises, those who speak become dangerous. Who but the virtuous would dare to risk danger? And if not a virtuous person, they will seek profit instead. A person who seeks profit, what benefit would there be in risking danger? Therefore, an unworthy ruler has no virtuous subjects. Without virtue, one does not hear bold advice; without hearing bold advice, wicked people form factions and all sorts of evils arise. If this occurs, there is no way to survive. For a state to endure, for the ruler to remain secure, there must always be reasons behind it. If one does not understand the reason, then even if the state exists, it will surely perish; even if the ruler is secure, danger is inevitable. Therefore, this cannot be left unexamined.
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| | 直諫: |
齊桓公、管仲、鮑叔、甯戚相與飲酒酣，桓公謂鮑叔曰：「何不起為壽？」鮑叔奉杯而進曰：「使公毋忘出奔在於莒也，使管仲毋忘束縛而在於魯也，使甯戚毋忘其飯牛而居於車下。」桓公避席再拜曰：「寡人與大夫能皆毋忘夫子之言，則齊國之社稷幸於不殆矣。」當此時也，桓公可與言極言矣。可與言極言，故可與為霸。 |
| | Duke Huan of Qi, Guan Zhong, Bao Shu, and Ning Qi were drinking together merrily. Duke Huan said to Bao Shu: "Why don't you rise to offer a toast?" Bao Shu raised his cup and said: "May the Duke never forget his flight to Ju, may Guan Zhong never forget being bound and imprisoned in Lu, and may Ning Qi never forget when he fed oxen while living beneath a cart." Duke Huan left his seat and bowed twice, saying: "If I and my ministers are able to never forget your words, then the state of Qi will be fortunate enough to avoid peril." At this time, Duke Huan could indeed hear bold and sincere counsel. Because he was open to bold and sincere counsel, it was therefore possible for him to become a hegemon.
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荊文王得茹黃之狗，宛路之矰，以畋於雲夢，三月不反；得丹之姬，淫，期年不聽朝。葆申曰：「先王卜以臣為葆，吉。今王得茹黃之狗，宛路之矰，畋三月不反；得丹之姬，淫，期年不聽朝。王之罪當笞。」王曰：「不穀免衣繈褓而齒於諸侯，願請變更而無笞。」葆申曰：「臣承先王之令，不敢廢也。王不受笞，是廢先王之令也。臣寧抵罪於王，毋抵罪於先王。」王曰：「敬諾。」引席，王伏。葆申束細荊五十，跪而加之於背，如此者再，謂「王起矣」，王曰：「有笞之名一也。」遂致之。申曰：「臣聞君子恥之，小人痛之。恥之不變，痛之何益？」葆申趣出，自流於淵，請死罪。文王曰：「此不穀之過也。葆申何罪？」王乃變更，召葆申，殺茹黃之狗，析宛路之矰，放丹之姬。後荊國，兼國三十九。令荊國廣大至於此者，葆申之力也極言之功也。 |
| | King Wen of Jing obtained the Ru Huang hound and the Wanlu zeng (a type of hunting net), and went hunting in Yunmeng, not returning for three months; He acquired a concubine from Dan, became indulgent, and did not attend court for an entire year. Bao Shen said: "The former kings divined that a minister should serve as my guardian, and the omen was auspicious." Now Your Majesty has obtained the Ru Huang hound, the Wanlu zeng, and went hunting for three months without returning; He acquired a concubine from Tan, became indulgent in lust, and did not attend court affairs for an entire year. The King's offense deserves corporal punishment." The king said: "I was spared from swaddling clothes and counted among the feudal lords. I humbly request a change in punishment—please do not 鞭 me." Bao Shen said: "I have inherited the commands of the former kings and dare not abolish them. If Your Majesty refuses corporal punishment, this would mean abandoning the commands of the former kings." I would rather incur guilt before Your Majesty than commit a crime against the former kings." The king said: "Respectfully acknowledged." He brought out the mat, and the King knelt down. Bao Shen tied fifty thin thorns of hawthorn, knelt, and placed them on the King's back. He did this twice, then said, "Your Majesty may rise now." The king said: "This counts as one instance of corporal punishment." Bao Shen proceeded to carry out the punishment accordingly. Shen said: "I have heard that a gentleman is shamed by it, while a petty person feels pain." If shame does not bring about change, what benefit is there in feeling pain? Bao Shen hurriedly left and exiled himself to the depths of a pool, requesting punishment for his death offense. King Wen said: "This is my fault. What crime has Bao Shen committed?" The king then changed his ways, summoned Bao Shen, killed the Ru Huang hound, dismantled the Wanlu zeng net, and sent away the concubine from Dan. Later, Jing State annexed thirty-nine other states. The reason why the state of Jing became so vast and powerful was entirely due to Bao Shen's bold and sincere counsel.
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