IV. Fourth year.

 昭公四年
經四年.
  1. 春.王正月.大雨雹.
  2. 夏.楚子.蔡侯.陳侯.鄭伯.許男.徐子.滕子.頓子.胡子.沈子.小邾子.宋世子.佐淮夷會于申.
  3. 楚人執徐子.
  4. 秋.七月.楚子.蔡侯.陳侯.許男.頓子.胡子.沈子.淮夷.伐吳.
  5. 執齊慶封.殺之.
  6. 遂滅賴.
  7. 九月.取鄫.
  8. 冬.十有二月.乙卯.叔孫豹卒.
 IV. Fourth year.
1. In the [duke's] fourth year, in spring, in the king's first month, there was a great fall of hail.
2. In summer, the viscount of Chu, the marquises of Cai and Chen, the earl of Zheng, the baron of Xu, the viscounts of Xu, Teng, Dun, Hu, Shen, and Little Zhu, Zuo, heir-son of Song, and [the chiefs of] the wild tribes of the Huai, had a meeting in Shen.
3. The people seized and held the viscount of Xu.
4. In autumn, in the seventh month, the viscount of Chu, the marquises of Cai and Chen, the baron of Xu, the viscounts of Dun, He, and Shen, aud [the chiefs of] the wild tribes of the Huai, invaded Wu.
5. They seized Qing Feng of Qi, and put him to death.
6. They then went on to extinguish Lai.
7. In the ninth month, we took Zeng.
8. In winter, in the twelfth month, on Yimao, Shusun Bao died.
 傳四年. COMMENTARY
 春.王正月.許男如楚.楚子止之.遂止鄭伯.復田江南.許男與焉.使椒舉如晉求諸侯.二君待之椒舉致命曰.寡君使舉曰.日君有惠.賜盟于宋.曰.晉楚之從.交相見也.以歲之不易.寡人願結驩於二三君.使舉請間.君若苟無四方之虞.則願假寵以請於諸侯.晉侯欲勿許.司馬侯曰.不可.楚王方侈.天或者欲逞其心.以厚其毒而降之罰.未可知也.其使能終.亦未可知也.晉楚唯天.所相不可與爭.君其許之.而脩德以待其歸.若歸於德.吾猶將事之.況諸侯乎.若適淫虐.楚將棄之.吾又誰與爭. 'In the 1st month, the baron of Xu went to Chu, where the viscount detained him, going on also to detain the earl of Zheng, with whom he again hunted on the south of the Jiang, having the baron of Xu with them. [At the same time] he sent Jiao Ju to Jin, to ask from that Power the attendance of the States, the above two princes waiting in Chu for the answer. Jiao Ju delivered his message in the following terms:——"My ruler has sent me to say in his own words, 'Formerly your lordship's kindness granted the covenant of Song, by which it was agreed that the States which adhered to Jin and Chu respectively should appear at the courts of both. Because of the troubles occurring from year to year, I wish to knit more closely a good understanding with the princes, and have sent Ju to ask from you an opportunity to do so. If your lordship have no anxiety in regard to the States around you, I wish to borrow your favour to make a request of the various princes." The marquis of Jin wanted to give a refusal to this application, but the marshal Hou said to him, "Do not do so. The [course of the] king of Chu is extravagant. Heaven perhaps wishes, by gratifying his ambition, to increase the poison of his [mood], and send down punishment on him. That we cannot know, nor can we know whether it means to grant him a [peaceful] end. But Jin and Chu depend on the aid of Heaven for the superiority of the one over the other. Let us not quarrel with it, but let your lordship grant the [king's] request, and cultivate your virtue, while we wait and see to what he will turn. If he turn to virtue, even we will serve him, and how much more will the States do so! If he go on to licentiousness and oppression, Chu itself will abandon him, and we shall have no one to contend with."
 曰.晉有三不殆.其何敵之有.國險而多馬.齊楚多難.有是三者.何鄉而不濟.對曰.恃險與馬.而虞鄰國之難.是三殆也.四獄三塗.陽城大室.荊山中南.九州之險也.是不一姓.冀之北土.馬之所生.無興國焉.恃險與馬.不可以為固也.從古以然.是以先王務脩德音.以亨神人.不聞其務險與馬也.鄰國之難.不可虞也.或多難以固其國.啟其疆土.或無難以喪其國.失其守宇.若何虞難.齊有仲孫之難.而獲桓公.至今賴之.晉有里丕之難.而獲文公.是以為盟主.衛邢無難.敵亦喪之.故人之難.不可虞也.恃此三者.而不脩政德.亡於不暇.又何能濟.君其許之.紂作淫虐.文王惠和.殷是以隕.周是以興.夫豈爭諸侯. 'The marquis said, "Jin has three securities against peril, and needs not to fear an enemy. There are the mountainous passes of the State; its many horses; and the many troubles of Qi and Chu. With these three securities, we must be successful in every direction." The marshal replied, "Trust in mountains and in horses, and to calculate on the difficulties of neighbouring States, are three sources of peril. The four Yue, Santu, Yangcheng, Taishi, mount Jing, and Zhongnan, are the most difficult mountains of the 9 provinces, and they do not all belong to one surname. The northern region of Ji is most noted for its production of horses, but no [distinguished] State has there arisen. A trust in mountains and horses cannot be considered a sure one. So it has been from of old, and therefore the ancient kings made the cultivation of virtue their object, in order to affect both Spirits and men. I have not heard that they made it their object to have difficult mountains and horses. And [the result of] the difficulties of neighbouring States cannot be calculated on. They may have many difficulties, which will issue [only] in strengthening them and the enlargement of their boundaries; or they may have no difficulties, and the result will be their ruin, and their losing the boundaries of which they were in charge. How is it possible to foresee the [issue of such] difficulties? Qi had the troubles with Zhongsun (The Gongsun Wuzhi, who was marquis of Qi for a month; see the 9th year of duke Zhuang), and the result was that it got duke Huan, whose influence on it extends till now. Jin had the troubles of Li and Pi (Li Ke and Pi Zheng; see the 9th and other years of duke Xi), and the result was that it got duke Wen, through whom it became lord of covenants. Wey and Xing had no troubles [of the same kind], and yet their enemies brought them to ruin. The difficulties of others therefore cannot be calculated on. If you trust in the three things you have mentioned, and do not diligently attend to the duties of government and to virtue, we shall find that the danger of ruin leaves us no leisure for anything but to escape from it:—how can you speak of our being sure of success? Let your lordship grant the request [of Chu]. Zhou acted licentiously and oppressively, while king Wen behaved kindly and harmoniously, and the result was the fall of Yin and the rise of Zhou. How then should you quarrel about the States?"
 乃許楚使.使叔向對曰.寡君有社稷之事.是以不獲春秋時見諸侯.君實有之.何辱命焉.椒舉遂請昏.晉侯許之. 'Accordingly, [it was resolved to] grant the request of Chu, and Shuxiang was appointed to give the following reply, "Our ruler, being occupied with the business of his altars, has not been able always to visit [your court] in spring and autumn. Your ruler in fact has the States; there was no necessity to take the trouble of your message." Jiao Ju then proceeded to beg a marriage with a daughter of Jin [on the part of his king], to which the marquis agreed.
 楚子問於子產曰.晉其許我諸侯乎.對曰.許君.晉君少安.不在諸侯.其大夫多求.莫匡其君.在宋之盟.又曰如一.若不許君.將焉用之.王曰.諸侯其來乎.對曰.必來.從宋之盟.承君之歡.不畏大國.何故不來.不來者.其魯衛曹邾乎.曹畏宋.邾畏魯.魯衛偪於齊而親於晉.唯是不來.其餘君之所及也.誰敢不至.王曰.然則吾所求者.無不可乎.對曰.求逞於人.不可.與人同欲.盡濟. 'The viscount of Chu asked Zichan whether Jin would grant him the States. "It will," said that minister. "The ruler occupies himself only with small matters, and does not think about the States. His great officers have many desires of their own, and not one seeks to correct his ruler's [errors]. At the covenant of Song it said also that [Jin and Chu] were as one. If it do not grant your request, of what use will that [covenant] have been?" The king further asked whether the States would come [at his call]. "They are sure to come," replied Zichan. "In obedience to the covenant of Song; to gratify your lordship; not standing in fear of the great State:—why should they not come? Perhaps Lu, Wey, Cao, and Zhu may not come. Cao stands in fear of Song; Zhu stands in fear of Lu; Lu and Wey are pressed on by Qi, and the best-affected to Jin. Only these will not come. The others, are under your influence;—what one of them will not come?" The king said, "Then, may I succeed in all that I seek for?" "Not," was the reply, "if you seek from others for your own gratification; but if you seek what they and you wish and can share together, you will be entirely successful."
 大雨雹.季武子問於申豐曰.雹可禦乎.對曰.聖人在上.無雹.雖有不為災.古者日在北陸.而藏冰西陸.朝覿而出之.其藏冰也.深山窮谷.固陰沍寒.於是乎取之.其出之也.朝之祿位.賓食喪祭.於是乎用之.其藏之也.黑牡秬黍.以享司寒.其出之也.桃弧棘矢.以除其災.其出入也.時食肉之祿.冰皆與焉.大大命婦.喪浴用冰.祭寒而藏之.獻羔而啟之.公始用之.火出而畢賦.自命夫命婦.至於老疾.無不受冰.山人取之.縣人傳之.輿人納之.隸人藏之.夫冰以風壯.而以風出.其藏之也周.其用之也遍.則冬無愆陽.夏無伏陰.春無凄風.秋無苦雨.雷出不震.無菑霜雹癘疾不降.民不夭札.今藏川池之冰.棄而不用.風不越而殺.雷不發而震.雹之為菑.誰能禦之.七月之卒章.藏冰之道也.  There was a great fall of hail. Ji Wuzi asked Shen Feng whether the hail could be stopped, and was answered, "When a sage is in the highest place, there is no hail; or if some should happen to fall, it does not amount to a calamity. Anciently, they stored up the ice, when the sun was in his northern path; and they brought it out when he was in his western, and [the Kui (奎) constellation] was seen [in the east] in the morning. At the storing of the ice, they took it from the low valleys of the deep hills, where the cold was most intense and as it were shut in; and when it was brought out, the dignitaries and place-men of the court, in their entertainment of guests, for their food, on occasions of death and of sacrifice, shared in the use of it. At the storing of it, a black bull and black millet were presented to the Ruler of cold; and when it was brought out, a bow of peach wood and arrows of thorn were employed to put away calamitous influences. For the delivery and the storing of it there were their seasons; and it was given to all who were entitled by their station to eat flesh. Great officers and their declared wives used it in their washings on occasions of death. It was deposited with a sacrifice to the [Ruler of] cold; the depositories were opened with the offering of a lamb. The duke first used it, and when the [star] Huo made its appearance, it was distributed. From the commissioned [great] officers and their wives, down to officers retired from age or illness, all received the ice. The commissioners of hills took it; the officers of districts sent it on; the cart-men received it; and the inferior servants stored it. Now it is the [cold] wind which makes the ice strong; and it was when the [warm] winds [prevailed], that it was brought forth. The depositories were made close; the use of it was very extensive. In consequence there was no heat out of course in the winter; no lurking cold in the summer; no biting winds in the spring; and no pitiless rains in the autumn. When thunder came, it was not with a shaking crash. There were no calamitous hoarfrosts and hail. Pestilences did not descend [on the land]. The people died no premature deaths.
 今藏川池之冰.棄而不用.風不越而殺.雷不發而震.雹之為菑.誰能禦之.七月之卒章.藏冰之道也. 'But now the ice of the streams and pools is what is stored up; [much also] is cast away and not used. The winds go abroad as they ought not to do and carry death with them; so does the thunder come with shaking crash. Who can put a stop to this plague of hail? The last stanza of the Qi yue (Shi, I. xv. ode I.) shows the method of storing ice."
 夏.諸侯如楚.魯.衛.曹.邾.不會.曹邾辭以難.公辭以時祭.衛侯辭以疾.鄭伯先待于申.六月丙午.楚子合諸侯于申. 'In summer, the [other] princes of the States went to Chu, but those of Lu, Wey, Cao and Zhu did not attend the meeting, Cao and Zhu declining on account of troubles, the duke on the ground of the seasonal sacrifice, and the marquis of Wey on the ground that he was ill. The earl of Zheng preceded the others, and was waiting at Shen, where in the sixth month, on Bingwu, the viscount of Chu assembled the States.
 椒舉言於楚子曰.臣聞諸侯無歸.禮以為歸.今君始得諸侯.其慎禮矣.霸之濟否.在此會也.夏啟有鈞臺之享.商湯有景亳之命.周武有孟津之誓.成有岐陽之蒐.康有酆宮之朝.穆有塗山之會.齊桓有召陵之師.晉文有踐土之盟.君其何用.宋向戌.鄭公孫僑.在諸侯之良也.君其選焉.王曰.吾用齊桓. 'Jiao Ju said to him "I have heard that with the States the thing which regulates their preference and adhesion is the ceremonies which are observed to them. Your lordship has now got them for the first time, and must be careful of your ceremonies. Whether you will secure the presidency of the States or not depends on this meeting. Qi of the Xia dynasty gave the entertainment of Juntai; Tang of the Shang dynasty gave his commands at Jingbo; Wu of Zhou issued his declaration at Mengjin; [king] Cheng had the review at Qiyang; [king] Kang held his audience in the palace of Feng; [king] Mu had the meeting at mount Tu; Huan of Qi had the campaign of Shaoling; and Wen of Jin had the covenant of Jiantu:—the ceremonies of which of those occasions will your lordship use? Xiang Xu of Song and Gongsun Qiao of Zheng are both here, the best men of all the States. Let your lordship make a choice." The king said, "I will use those employed by Huan of Qi."
 王使問禮於左師與子產.左師曰.小國習之.大國用之.敢不薦聞.獻公合諸侯之禮六.子產曰.小國共職.敢不薦守.獻伯子男會公之禮六.君子謂合左師善守先代.子產善相小國.王使椒舉侍於後以規過.卒事不規.王問其故.對曰.禮吾未見者有六焉.又何以規. 'The king sent to ask the master of the Left and Zichan about the ceremonies. The master of the Left said, "They are what a small State practises, what a large State employs. I will describe them according to my knowledge." He then exhibited six ceremonies for a duke assembling the States. Zichan said, "A small State [like ours] discharges its duties. I will describe what we have observed." He then exhibited six ceremonies to be observed by earls, viscounts, and barons, at meetings with a duke. A superior man will say that the master of the Left—he of He—knew well how to guard [the rules of] former dynasties, and that Zichan knew well how to aid and direct a small State. The king caused Jiao Ju to stand behind him, to regulate any errors [which they might make]; but the whole thing was concluded without any correction. The king asked him the reason, and he replied, "Those six ceremonies I had never seen; how could I make any correction?"
 宋大子佐後至.王田於武城.久而弗見.椒舉請辭焉.王使往曰.屬有宗祧之事於武城.寡君將墮幣焉.敢謝後見.徐子吳出也.以為貳焉.故執諸申.楚子示諸侯侈.椒舉曰.夫六王二公之事.皆所以示諸侯.禮也.諸侯所由用命也.夏桀為仍之會.有緡叛之.商紂為黎之蒐.東夷叛之.周幽為大室之盟.戎狄叛之.皆所以示諸侯.汏也.諸侯所由棄命也.今君以汏.無乃不濟乎. 'The eldest son of [the duke of] Song was late in arriving, and the king was then hunting in Wucheng, so that he was long in giving him an interview. Jiao Ju begged that he would send an explanation [of the delay], on which the king sent him to say, "It happens that we are engaged in the business of the ancestral temple at Wucheng. My ruler must bury the offerings set forth [in the temple]:—I venture to apologize for the delay in seeing you." The viscount of Xu was the son of a daughter of Wu; and [the viscount of Chu], thinking that he was disaffected, caused him to be seized in Shen. He also displayed his extravagance to all the princes. Jiao Ju said to him, "The instances of the six kings and two dukes, [which I adduced], all illustrated the courtesy which they showed to the States, and were the reason of the States' accepting their commands. Jie of the Xia dynasty held the meeting of Reng, and, the prince of Min revolted from him. Zhou of the Shang dynasty held the review of Li, and the Yi of the east revolted from him. You of Zhou made the covenant of Taishi, and the Rong and the Di revolted from him. In all these cases, [those kings] showed to the States the extravagance [of their aims], and so it was that the States cast their commands away from them. Since your majesty is now showing your extravagance, will it not interfere with your success?"
 王弗聽.子產見左師曰.吾不患楚矣.汏而愎諫.不過十年.左師曰.然.不十年侈.其惡不遠.遠惡而後棄.善亦如之.德遠而後興. 'The king would not listen to him; and Zichan, seeing the master of the Left, said to him, "I am not troubled about Chu. So extravagant, and deaf to remonstrance, [the king] will not endure more than ten years. The master of the Left replied, "Yes, but without ten years' extravagance his wickedness will not have reached far. When that has reached far, he will be cast off. So it is with goodness. When goodness has reached far, there ensue advancement and prosperity."
 秋‧七月.楚子以諸侯伐吳.宋大子鄭伯先歸.宋華費遂鄭大夫從. 'In autumn, in the 7th month, the viscount of Chu, taking the princes [who had been present at Shen] with him, invaded Wu. The prince of Song, however, and the earl of Zheng returned to their States, before [the expedition set out]; but Hua Feisui of Song and a great officer of Zheng accompanied it.
 使屈申圍朱方.八月.甲申.克之.執齊慶封而盡滅其族.將戮慶封.椒舉曰.臣聞無瑕者可以戮人.慶封惟逆命.是以在此.其肯從於戮乎.播於諸侯.焉用之.王弗聽.負之釜鉞.以徇於諸侯.使言曰.無或如齊慶封.弒其君.弱其孤.以盟其大夫.慶封曰.無或如楚共王之庶子圍.弒其君兄之子麇(jūn)而代之.以盟諸侯.王使速殺之.遂以諸侯滅賴.賴子面縛銜璧.士袒輿櫬.從之.造於中軍.王問諸椒舉.對曰.成王克許.許僖公如是.王親釋其縛.受其璧.焚其櫬.王從之.遷賴於鄢.楚子欲遷許於賴.使鬥韋龜與公子棄疾.城之而還. '[The viscount] made Qu Shen lay siege to Zhufang, which was reduced in the 8th month on Jiashen. Qing Feng was then seized (See the Zhuan on IX. xxviii. 6) and the members of his clan exterminated. When [the viscount] was about to execute Qing Feng, Jiao Ju said to him, "I have heard that [only] he who is without flaw may [safely] execute another [publicly]. Qing Feng is here because of his opposition to [his ruler's] orders:—will he be willing to submit [quietly] to be executed? Of what use is it to publish his case before the States?" The king would not listen to this counsel, but made Feng go round [the encampment of] the various States, with an axe upon his shoulder, and ordered him to say, "Let no one follow the example of Qing Feng of Qi, who murdered his ruler, despised the weakness of his young successor, and imposed a covenant on the great officers." Qing Feng, however, said, "Let no one follow the example of Wei, son by a concubine to king Gong of Chu, who murdered Jun, his ruler and the son of his elder brother, and went on to impose a covenant upon the States." The king caused him to be quickly put to death; and then he proceeded with [the forces] of the States to extinguish Lai. The viscount of that State repaired to the army of the centre, with his hands bound behind him, and a bi in his mouth, followed by officers with the upper part of their bodies half-bared, and by a carriage with a coffin in it. The king asked Jiao Ju [what this meant], and was answered, "When king Cheng reduced Xu (See the Zhuan at the end of V. vi.), duke Xi of Xu appeared before him in this manner. The king loosed his bonds, received his bi, and burned his coffin." The king followed this example, and removed [the prince and people of] Lai to Yan. As he wished to remove Xu to Lai, he made Dou Weigui and the Gongzi Qiji wall the city [for Xu], and returned [to Chu].
 申無宇曰.楚禍之首.將在此矣.召諸侯而來.伐國而克.城竟莫校.王心不違.民其居乎.民之不處.其誰堪之.不堪王命.乃禍亂也. 'Shen Wuyu said, "The beginning of Chu's calamity will be here. [The king] called the princes, and came with them here, invading States and vanquishing them, and walling cities on the borders, while no one offered any opposition. The king will allow no resistance to his will; but will the people dwell [here quietly]? When the people refuse to dwell [quietly], who will be able to endure him? From that inability to endure the king's commands, calamity and disorder will ensue."
 九月.取鄫.言易也.莒亂.著丘公立而不撫鄫.鄫叛而來.故曰取.凡克邑.不用師徒曰取. '[The words] that "in the 9th mouth we took Zeng," indicate the ease [with which the thing was done]. Ju had been in confusion, and when duke Zhuqiu obtained the rule of it, he showed no kindly treatment to Zeng. In consequence of this, [the commandant of] Zeng revolted, and came with it to Lu. Hence it is said, "We took it." Any reduction of a city where soldiers were not employed is expressed by this phrase.'
 鄭子產作丘賦.國人謗之.曰.其父死於路.己為蠆尾.以令於國.國將若之何.子寬以告.子產曰.何害.苟利社稷.死生以之.且吾聞為善者不改其度.故能有濟也.民不可逞.度不可改.詩曰.禮義不愆.何恤於人言.吾不遷矣. 'Zichan of Zheng made [new and harder regulations for the] contributions from the qiu (See on VIII. i. 4], on which the people of the State reviled him, saying, "His father died on the road, and he himself is a scorpion's tail. Issuing such orders for the State, what will the State do under them?" Zikuan reported these remarks to Zichan, who said, "There is no harm in it. If it only benefit the altars, I will either live or die. Moreover, I have heard that when the good-doer does not change his measures, he can calculate on success. The people are not to be gratified in this; the measure must not be altered. The ode (A lost ode) says, 'If one's rules and righteousness be not in error, Why regard the words of people.' I will not change it."
 渾罕曰.國氏其先亡乎.君子作法於涼.其敝猶貪.作法於貪.敝將若之何.姬在列者.蔡及曹滕.其先亡乎.偪而無禮.鄭先衛亡.偪而無法.政不率法.而制於心.民各有心.何上之有. Hun Han (Zikuan) said, "The Guo, I apprehend, will be the first [of the families of Zheng] to perish. The superior man makes laws with slight requirements. The danger is of his still desiring more. If he makes his laws at first under the influence of that desire, what will the danger not be? Of the Ji among the various States, Cai, with Cao and Teng, are likely to perish first. They are near [to great States], and observe no rules of propriety. Zheng will perish before Wey, for it is near [to the great States], and has no [good] laws. If the government do not follow the [established] laws, but one may make new ones according to his own mind, every one of the people has a mind of his own;—what place will be left for the ruler?"
 冬.吳伐楚入.棘.櫟.麻.以報朱方之役.楚沈尹射奔命於夏汭.咸尹宜咎城鍾離.薳啟疆城巢.然丹城州來.東國水.不可以城.彭生罷賴之師. 'In winter, Wu invaded Chu, and entered [the cities of] Ji, Li, and Ma:—in return for the campaign of Zhufang. She, director of Shen, hurried away with orders [from the King] to Xiarui. Yijiu, director of Remonstrances, fortified Zhongli. Wei Qiqiang fortified Chao. Ran Dan fortified Zhoulai. The places in the east of the State could not be fortified because of the water. Pengsheng withdrew the troops from Lai.'
 初.穆子去叔孫氏.及庚宗.遇婦人.使私為食而宿焉.問其行.告之故.哭而送之.適齊娶於國氏.生孟丙仲壬.蔓天壓己.弗勝.顧而見人.黑而上僂.深目而豭喙.號之曰.牛助余.乃勝之.旦而皆召其徒.無之.且曰.志之. 'At an early period [of his life], Muzi left [his brother], the Head of the Shusun family, [and went to Qi]. When he had got to Gengzong [on his way], he met a woman, whom he asked to prepare some food for him, and then passed the night with her. She asked him where he was going; and when he told her all about it, she wept and escorted him [part of the way]. He then went to Qi, and married there a lady of the Guo family, by whom he had Mengbing and Zhongren. [One night], he dreamt that the sky came down upon him, and [when he tried to hold it up], he was not able to do so. Looking round, he saw a man, black and hump-backed, with deepset eyes, and a pig's mouth, to whom he called out, "Niu, help me!" and on this he was able to hold the sky up. In the morning, he called all his followers, but there was no such man among them. He told them, however, to remember the circumstances, [which he had mentioned].
 及宣伯奔齊.饋之.宣伯曰.魯以先子之故.將存吾宗.必召女.召女何如.對曰.願之久矣.魯人召之.不告而歸. 'When [his brother] Xuanbo fled to Qi, he supplied him with food. Xuanbo said to him, "Out of regard to [the services of] our father, Lu will preserve our ancestral temple, and is sure to call you back to it. If it call you, what will you do?" "It is what I have desired for long," was the reply. The people of Lu did call him, and he returned, without informing [his brother].
 既立.所宿庚宗之婦人.獻以雉.問其姓.對曰.余子長矣.能奉雉而從我矣.召而見之.則所夢也.未問其名.號之曰牛.曰唯.皆召其徒.使視之.遂使為豎.有寵.長使為政. 'When he had been appointed [a minister], the woman of Gengzong, with whom he had spent the night, [came and] presented him with a pheasant; and when he asked her whether she had a son, she replied, "My son is a big boy; he was able to carry the pheasant and follow me." Muzi called for him, and as soon as he saw him, lo! it was the person he had seen in his dream. Without asking him, he called out to him,—Niu!" and the boy answered, "Here I am!" He then called all his followers, and made them look at him, after which he made him his waiting boy. The lad became a favourite with him, and, when grown up, was entrusted with the management of his house.
 公孫明知叔孫於齊.歸.未逆國姜.子明取之.故怒其子.長而後使逆之. 'The Gongsun Ming had known Shusun in Qi, and when, after his return [to Lu], he did not send for [his wife] Guo Jiang, Ziming took her to himself. This enraged Shusun, and it was not till his sons [by her] were grown up, that he sent for them.
 田於丘蕕.遂遇疾焉.豎牛欲亂其室而有之.強與孟盟.不可.叔孫為孟鍾曰.爾未際.饗大夫以落之.既具.使豎牛請.日入弗謁.出命之日.及賓至.聞鍾聲.牛曰.孟有北婦人之客.怒將往.牛止之.賓出.使拘而殺諸外. 'Having hunted [on one occasion] in Qiuyou, he became ill in consequence. The waiting-boy Niu had wanted to create a confusion in the house and get possession of it, and tried to force Meng to act with him, but he refused to do so. [Now], Shusun made a bell for Meng, [to celebrate the declaration of him as his successor], and said to him, "You have not yet had any intercourse with the great officers. Invite them to an entertainment at which you may consecrate it." When all was made ready for this, [Mengbing] sent Niu to ask his father to fix a day for the entertainment. Niu went in to the house, but did not see Shusun, and then came out and appointed a day. When the guests arrived, [Shusun] heard the sound of the bell, and Niu said to him, "Meng has got [the husband of] your northern wife as his guest." The father, in a rage, wanted to go [to Meng's apartment], but Niu prevented him. However, when the guests were gone, he caused him to be seized and put to death outside [the house].
 牛又強與仲盟.不可.仲與公御萊書.觀於公.公與之環.使牛入示之.入不示.出命佩之.牛謂叔孫見仲而何.叔孫曰.何為.曰不見.既自見矣.公與之環而佩之矣.遂逐之.奔齊. 'Niu then tried likewise to force the second son to act with him, but he [also] refused. [Once], this Zhong was looking about the duke's palace with the duke's charioteer, Laishu, when the duke [saw him, and] gave him a ring. He sent Niu with it to show it to his father, and Niu went into the house, but did not show it; and when he came out, he told Zhong, [as from his father], to wear it at his girdle. Niu then said to Shusun, "Why did you introduce Zhong [at the court]?" "What do you mean?" asked Shusun. Niu replied, "If you did not introduce him, he has introduced himself. The duke gave him a ring, and he wears it at his girdle." On this Shusun drove out Zhongren, who fled to Qi.
 疾急.命召仲.牛許而不召.杜洩見.告之飢渴.授之戈.對曰.求之而至.又何去焉. 'When his illness became severe, he ordered [Niu] to call Zhong [from Qi]. Niu promised, but did not do it. Du Xie went to see Shusun, who told him how he was suffering from hunger and thirst, and gave him a spear, [with which to kill Niu]. But Xie replied, "If you desire anything it will be brought you. Why must you seek to make away with him?"
 豎牛曰.夫子疾病.不欲見人.使寘饋于個而退.牛弗進.則置虛命徹.十二月.癸丑.叔孫不食.乙卯.卒.牛立昭子而相之. 'Niu, giving out that the master was very ill and did not wish to see any one, made the attendants place the food in the two side-chambers, and retire; while he himself, instead of taking it in, emptied the dishes, replaced them, and ordered them to be removed. From Guichou of the 12th month to Yimao, when he died, Shusun had nothing to eat, Niu raised [his son by a concubine], Zhaozi, to his place, and acted as manager and helper to him.
 公使杜洩葬叔孫.豎牛賂叔仲昭子與南遺.使惡杜洩於季孫而去之.杜洩將以路葬.且盡卿禮.南遺謂季孫曰.叔孫未乘.路葬焉.用之.且冢卿無路.介卿以葬.不亦左乎.季孫曰.然.使杜洩舍路.不可.曰.夫子受命於朝.而聘于王.王思舊勳為賜之路.復命而致之君.君不敢逆王命.而復賜之.使三官書之.吾子為司徒.實書名.夫子為司馬.與工正書服.孟孫為司空以書勳.今死而弗以.是棄君命也.書在公府而弗以.是廢三官也.若命服.生弗敢服.死又不以.將焉用之.乃使以葬. 'The duke commissioned Du Xie to bury Shusun, but the waiting-boy Niu bribed Shuzhong Zhaozi and Nan Yi, and got them to make Xie odious to Jisun, and have him removed. Xie was going to convey the coffin to the grave in the carriage [which the king had given to Muzi], and to use all the ceremonies proper to a minister. Nan Yi, however, said to Jisun, "Shusun never rode in this carriage; what is the use of employing it at his funeral? A carriage moreover, is not used at the funeral of our chief minister; is it not improper to use it at the funeral of an assistant-minister? Jisun said, "Yes," and ordered Xie to leave the carriage out. But that officer would not do so. "The master," he said, "received his commission in the court, and went on a complimentary mission to the king. The king, thinking of the ancient services of his family, conferred this carriage upon him. When he returned with the report of his mission, he surrendered it to our ruler; but he did not dare to go against the king's order, and returned it, making the three [great] officers make a record of the matter. You were minister of Instruction, and wrote the name. My master was minister of War, and made the chief of his subordinate officers write the royal gifts. Mengsun was minister of Works, and recorded [my master's] service. If now that he is dead we do not use the carriage, we shall be casting away our ruler's orders. Since the record is in the public repository, if we do not use it, we shall be setting at nought the three [great] officers. When alive he did not presume to wear the robes given to him by the king, and if we do not put them on him, now that he is dead, of what use were they?" Accordingly, the carriage was used at the funeral.
 季孫謀去中軍.豎牛曰.夫子固欲去之. 'Jisun took counsel to do away with the army of the Centre; and Niu said, "The master did certainly wish to do away with it."

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