Xu Wugui(7)
徐無鬼(七)
1 Guanzhong is dying for illness. Duke Huang of Qi went to see him. The anxiety-ridden duke asked in front of his bed, “In case you left, whom would I appoint as the ministry?”
管仲病危，齊桓公前往探視。在病床前，桓公憂心忡忡地問：「萬一先生不幸，我應將宰相一職授與誰呢？」
管仲有病，桓公問之，曰：「仲父之病病矣，可不謂，云至於大病，則寡人惡乎屬國而可？」
2 Forcing to opening his eyes, Guanzhong looked at the duke and asked, “Who do you think is the most proper one?”
管仲勉強睜開眼，看了看桓公，問道：「桓公心目中是否已經有了適當的人選呢？」
管仲曰：「公誰欲與？」
3 Duke Huang answered, “What about Baoshu Ya?”
桓公說：「你覺得鮑叔牙這人怎樣？」
公曰：「鮑叔牙。」
4 Shaking his head, Guanzhong whispered, “Baoshu Ya is discriminated in evilness and goodness. He estranges the ones whom he distain. He keeps others’ err in his mind, always mentioning, and never pardons them.
管仲搖搖頭，低聲說：「鮑叔牙這個人善惡分明，凡是他看不起的人，就不跟他們親近。別人只要犯了一點過錯，他就會牢記在心，老是重複提起，永遠也不會原諒別人
曰：「不可。其為人潔廉善士也。其於不己若者不比之。又一聞人之過，終身不忘。
5 If you appoint him as the ministry, his would carp at you all day and his verbosity would make you uneasy and annoyed.
如果你將宰相的位子交給他，那今後你的日子就難過了。他會天天挑你的毛病，嘮嘮叨叨地念個不停;
6 He would regard his ideas as the only standard and impose them on people, totally neglecting the people’s actual requirement. Under this kind of government, the people would live in a bad life. So, even if you appointed him as the ministry, you would fall out with him sooner or later.”
他會將他自己的那一套觀念視為經典，強施於民，完全不理會百姓的要求; 這樣一來，老百姓的日子肯定也不會好過。所以，就算你真的讓他做了宰相，你們兩個鬧翻，也是遲早的事。」
使之治國，上且鉤乎君，下且逆乎民。其得罪於君也，將弗久矣！」
7 Hearing Guanzhong’s analysis, Duke Huang felt it was very reasonable. Hence he asked again, “Who do you think is better?”
桓公聽了管仲這樣的分析，覺得蠻有道理，因此又問：「那你認為，應讓誰出來當宰相會比較恰當呢？」
公曰：「然，則孰可？」
8 Guanzhong said, “Xipeng is eligible. In my opinion, Xipeng is amiable and clean-handed. Once he has power, I believe, he will self-restraint and uses it carefully. He will not swollen-headed for his high position, not to mentioning exploits his underling and people in his prefecture as he likes.
管仲說：「我認為，隰朋這傢伙還可以考慮。隰朋這個人平易近人，貪念不高。他不會拿著雞毛當令箭，他不會因身居高位而得意忘形; 更不會將自己的部屬以及轄區內的百姓當成囊中之物，動輒隨意榨取。
9 He is modest to learn from the one who is more learned than him. He cares and sympathizes with one who is worse than him in aptitude and virtue, and always be ready to help them.
對於比自己高明的人，他虛心學習，承認自己不如對方。對於比自己能力低，甚至是品德較差的人，他則以同情以及呵護的心態去對待他們，並且希望能有機會幫助他們。
對曰：「勿已，則隰朋可。其為人也，上忘而下畔，愧不若黃帝，而哀不己若者。
10 We call the one who treats others by his perfect and lofty virtue a sage, and the one who helps others at any time with his wealth, aptitude and knowledge a wise man.
以自己崇高完善的品德待人的人，我們說他是聖人。而以自己的財力，能力及學識等隨時準備幫助別人的，我們則稱他為賢人。
以德分人謂之聖，以財分人謂之賢。
11 Nobody likes the one who thinks that he is wiser, richer and more incorruptible than others and looks down on others. This kind of man, he has no support from the masses.
自以為比別人高明、廉潔、優秀、富有，並且看不起比自己差的人; 這種人在社會上是不受歡迎的，是沒有群眾基礎的；
12 To the contrary, the one, who is called wise man, always helps others at any time with his wealth, aptitude and knowledge; he will soon drum up support for his management.
相反的，那些以自己的財力及能力，以及學識等; 真誠地、謙虛地、熱心地幫助別人的人，這種人的群眾基礎及支持度就明顯的高出許多了。
以賢臨人，未有得人者也；以賢下人，未有不得人者也。
13 Therefore, if Xipeng is appointed as the ministry, the country would be prosperous, peaceful and people would live in safety.”
所以，選用隰朋這樣的人為相，則齊國就肯定會昇平和樂，國泰而民安了！」
其於國有不聞也，其於家有不見也。勿已，則隰朋可。」