| | 秦誓: |
秦穆公伐郑，晋襄公帅师败诸崤，还归，作《》。 |
| | 秦誓: |
公曰：“嗟！我士，听无哗！予誓告汝群言之首。古人有言曰：‘民讫自若，是多盘。’责人斯无难，惟受责俾如流，是惟艰哉！我心之忧，日月逾迈，若弗云来。 |
| Speech of the Marquis...: |
The duke said, 'Ah! my officers, listen to me without noise. I solemnly announce to you the most important of all sayings. (It is this which) the ancients have said, "Thus it is with all people, they mostly love their ease. In reproving others there is no difficulty, but to receive reproof, and allow it to have free course, this is difficult." The sorrow of my heart is, that the days and months have passed away, and it is not likely they will come again, (so that I might pursue a different course.) |
| | 秦誓: |
惟古之谋人，则曰未就予忌；惟今之谋人，姑将以为亲。虽则云然，尚猷询兹黄发，则罔所愆。”番番良士，旅力既愆，我尚有之；仡仡勇夫，射御不违，我尚不欲。惟截截善谝言，俾君子易辞，我皇多有之！ |
| Speech of the Marquis...: |
'There were my old counsellors. I said, "They will not accommodate themselves to me," and I hated them. There were my new counsellors, and I would for the time give my confidence to them. So indeed it was with me; but hereafter I will take advice from the men of yellow hair, and then I shall be free from error. That good old officer! - his strength is exhausted, but I would rather have him (as my counsellor). That dashing brave officer! - his shooting and charioteering are faultless, but I would rather not wish to have him. As to men of quibbles, skilful at cunning words, and able to make the good man change his purposes, what have I to do to make much use of them? |
| | 秦誓: |
昧昧我思之，如有一介臣，断断猗无他技，其心休休焉，其如有容。人之有技，若己有之。人之彦圣，其心好之，不啻若自其口出。是能容之，以保我子孙黎民，亦职有利哉！人之有技，冒疾以恶之；人之彦圣而违之，俾不达是不能容，以不能保我子孙黎民，亦曰殆哉！ |
| Speech of the Marquis...: |
'I have deeply thought and concluded. Let me have but one resolute minister, plain and sincere, without other ability, but having a straightforward mind, and possessed of generosity, regarding the talents of others as if he himself possessed them; and when he finds accomplished and sage men, loving them in his heart more than his mouth expresses, really showing himself able to bear them: such a minister would be able to preserve my descendants and people, and would indeed be a giver of benefits. But if (the minister), when he finds men of ability, be jealous and hates them; if, when he finds accomplished and sage men, he oppose them and does not allow their advancement, showing himself really not able to bear them: such a man will not be able to protect my descendants and people; and will he not be a dangerous man? |
| | 秦誓: |
邦之杌陧，曰由一人；邦之荣怀，亦尚一人之庆。” |
| Speech of the Marquis...: |
'The decline and fall of a state may arise from one man. The glory and tranquillity of a state may also arise from the goodness of one man.' |
