| | 公输: |
公输盘为楚造云梯之械，成，将以攻宋。子墨子闻之，起于齐，行十日十夜而至于郢，见公输盘。公输盘曰：“夫子何命焉为？”子墨子曰：“北方有侮臣，愿藉子杀之。”公输盘不说。子墨子曰：“请献十金。”公输盘曰：“吾义固不杀人。”子墨子起，再拜曰：“请说之。吾从北方，闻子为梯，将以攻宋。宋何罪之有？荆国有馀于地，而不足于民，杀所不足，而争所有馀，不可谓智。宋无罪而攻之，不可谓仁。知而不争，不可谓忠。争而不得，不可谓强。义不杀少而杀众，不可谓知类。”公输盘服。子墨子曰：“然，乎不已乎？”公输盘曰：“不可。吾既已言之王矣。”子墨子曰：“胡不见我于王？”公输盘曰：“诺”。 |
| Gong Shu: |
Gong Shu Ban had completed the construction of Cloud-ladders for Chu and was going to attack Song with them. Mozi heard of it and set out from Qi. He walked ten days and ten nights and arrived at Ying. He saw Gong Shu Ban. The latter asked him what he wanted of him. Mozi said: Some one in the north has humiliated me. I would like to have you kill him. Gong Shu Ban was displeased. Mozi persisted, offering him ten jin. Finally Gong Shu Ban said: "My principle is incompatible with murdering people." Thereupon Mozi rose and bowed twice and spoke: Now, let me explain myself. While in the north I heard you were building ladders to attack Song. Now, of what is Song guilty? The state of Jing has land to spare but is short of people. To destroy what is scarce in order to strive for what is already plenty cannot be said to be wise. Since Song is innocent, to attack it cannot be said to be magnanimous. To fail to make an effort according to what you know cannot be said to be loyal. To make the effort without obtaining (the desired result) cannot be said to be effective. To hold a principle that forbids the killing of few but allows that of many cannot be said to be understanding the fundamental categories. Gong Shu Ban became convinced. Mozi argued further: Then why would you not stop it? Gong Shu Ban said that could not be done as he had already promised the Lord. Mozi said: Why not then present me to the Lord? Gong Shu Ban agreed. |
| | 公输: |
子墨子见王，曰：“今有人于此，舍其文轩，邻有敝舆，而欲窃之；舍其锦绣，邻有短褐，而欲窃之；舍其粱肉，邻有糠糟，而欲窃之。此为何若人？”王曰：“必为窃疾矣。”子墨子曰：“荆之地，方五千里，宋之地，方五百里，此犹文轩之与敝舆也；荆有云梦，犀兕麋鹿满之，江汉之鱼鳖鼋鼍为天下富，宋所为无雉兔狐狸者也，此犹粱肉之与糠糟也；荆有长松、文梓、楩楠、豫章，宋无长木，此犹锦绣之与短褐也。臣以三事之攻宋也，为与此同类，臣见大王之必伤义而不得。”王曰：“善哉！虽然，公输盘为我为云梯，必取宋。” |
| Gong Shu: |
Mozi saw the Lord and said: Suppose there is a man who, putting aside his elegant carriage, desires to steal his neighbour's shattered sedan; putting aside his embroidery and finery, desires to steal his neighbour's short jacket; putting aside his meat and grains desires to steal his neighbour's husks. What kind of a man would this be? The Lord said that he must be suffering from kleptomania. Mozi continued: The land of Jing amounts to five thousand li square while that of Song is only five hundred, this is similar to the contrast between the elegant carriage and the shattered sedan. Jing possesses Yun Meng which is full of rhinoceroses and deer. The fish, tortoises and crocodiles in the Yangtse and the Han Rivers are the richest in the empire. While Song is said to possess not even pheasants, rabbits, or foxes. This is similar to the contrast between meat and grains and husks. In Jing there are tall pines, spruces, cedars and camphor trees, while Song has no tall trees at all. This is similar to the contrast between embroidery and finery and the short jacket. When your ministers and generals set out to attack Song, it seems to me there is the same strategy. I can see, my Lord, you will be violating righteousness to no advantage. The Lord said: "That is all very well. But Gong Shu Ban has already constructed the Cloud-ladders for me, and I must capture Song." |
| | 公输: |
于是见公输盘，子墨子解带为城，以牒为械，公输盘九设攻城之机变，子墨子九距之，公输盘之攻械尽，子墨子之守圉有馀。公输盘诎，而曰：“吾知所以距子矣，吾不言。”子墨子亦曰：“吾知子之所以距我，吾不言。”楚王问其故，子墨子曰：“公输子之意，不过欲杀臣。杀臣，宋莫能守，可攻也。然臣之弟子禽滑厘等三百人，已持臣守圉之器，在宋城上而待楚寇矣。虽杀臣，不能绝也。”楚王曰：“善哉！吾请无攻宋矣。” |
| Gong Shu: |
And he turned to Gong Shu Ban. Mozi untied his belt and laid out a city with it, and used a small stick for weapon. Gong Shu Ban set up nine different machines of attack. Mozi repulsed him nine times. Gong Shu Ban was at an end with his machines of attack while Mozi was far from being exhausted in defence. Gong Shu Ban felt embarassed and declared: "I know how I can put you down, but I would not tell." Mozi also said: "I know how you can put me down, but I would not tell." The Lord of Chu asked what it was. Mozi replied: Gong Shuzi's idea is just to have me murdered. (Apparently,) when I was murdered, Song would be powerless at defence. And she would be subject to your attack. However, my disciples Qin Hua Li and others numbering three hundred are already armed with my implements of defence waiting on the city wall of Song for the bandits from Chu. Though I be murdered, you cannot exhaust (the defence of Song). The Lord of Chu said: "Well, then let us not attack Song any more." |
| | 公输: |
子墨子归，过宋，天雨，庇其闾中，守闾者不内也。故曰：“治于神者，众人不知其功，争于明者，众人知之。” |
| Gong Shu: |
On his way back, Mozi passed through Song. It was raining and he sought shelter in a pass. But the guard of the pass would not let him in. Thus it is said: "The merit of the man who cultivates himself before the spirits is not recognized by the multitude. On the other hand, he who strives in the open is recognized." |
