Declination to Throne (15)
讓王(十五)
1 In the early stage of Zhou dynasty, the country was prosperous under the helm of King Wu. Boyi and Shuqi lived in Guzhu. They were happy to hear the news and curious about how King Wu governed his country. For this reason, they decided to have a fact-finding trip to Zhou.
從前周朝剛興起時，武王當政，天下一片欣欣向榮。伯夷及叔齊住在孤竹，聽到這樣的信息很高興。他倆研究後，決定到周那兒去，看看這位大家認為有道的君王到底做的怎麼樣？
昔周之興，有士二人處於孤竹，曰伯夷、叔齊。二人相謂曰：「吾聞西方有人，似有道者，試往觀焉。」
2 When they arrived at Qiyang—a border city of Zhou, the local officials reported to King Wu that there are two sages coming from Guzhu. The new country hungered for talents at this primary stage of governing. Therefore, King Wu sent Shudan to arrange an interview with those two gentlemen in Qiyang.
他倆到了岐陽，當地地方官向武王報告，有兩位來自孤竹的賢達人士來訪。武王正在擴編政府組職，亟需人才；因此就派叔旦到岐場來見伯夷及叔齊。
至於岐陽，武王聞之，使叔旦往見之。
3 Shudan expressed welcome to them on behalf of the king and wished that they could join in their team to construct the State of Zhou. Shudan gave them good treatment that they were entitled as first-class officer and gave them a salary second only to the King himself. To be earnest for the promise, he intentionally took out the official seal and applied chicken blood on it for credit.
叔旦表示歡迎他倆來到周境，並希望他倆能投入建設周國的行列。叔旦開出的條件是，官拜一級，奉祿二等。叔旦為慎重起見，特別將任官令拿出來，塗上雞血以示信守。
與之盟曰：「加富二等，就官一列。」血牲而埋之。
4 When Shudan bustled in preparing the official seal, Boyi and Shuqi discussed the situation in private. Boyi laughed, “Queer! How is it so? A government of Tao should not take this way to appoint its officials.
就在叔旦忙著準備任官令時，伯夷及叔齊兩人私下對這樣的發展討論了一番。伯夷笑著說：「怪了！怎麼是這樣呢？有道的政府不應該是這樣來任官的吧！
二人相視而笑，曰：「嘻，異哉！此非吾所謂道也。
5 When Shengnong Shi was in power, in the sacrifice ceremony, they just prayed for the operation of Nature: they accepted wind when it had to wind; accepted rain when it must rain; four seasons altered in order based on the natural way. They never prayed for good harvest every year and bliss great fortune as big as the East Sea.
從前神農氏主政的時候，他們祭祀時只求按自然之道運行，該風就風，該雨就雨，春夏秋冬依序運行。他們不會為著自己的利益求什麼年年豐收，福如東海。
昔者神農之有天下也，時祀盡敬而不祈喜；
6 He, who worked for government focuses only on doing things well, never mentioning salary. Work for people just is because he wishes to work for them. That’s all. He doesn’t drive others off because they can’t do well, and he himself takes over. He doesn’t exaggerate other’s shortcoming and publicize it so as to show his loftiness and greatness. He doesn’t replace other’s position for personal interest when other is in danger.
在政府做事的人都以將事做好為唯一宗旨，從來不問報酬多少; 為大眾做事只是希望為大眾服務，如此而已。他不會因為別人做的不好，刻意將別人趕下來，自己接手；他不會將別人的缺點加油添醋的擴大宣傳，以張顯自己的清高偉大；他不會趁別人危難之時，取而代之，以圖個人私利。
其於人也，忠信盡治而無求焉。樂與政為政，樂與治為治。不以人之壞自成也，不以人之卑自高也，不以遭時自利也。
7 Today, Zhou overthrew Yin Dynasty by force when Yin was week, disordered and depressive. They used tactic to acquire the resource of country; they suppressed local people by strong force; they killed chicken and applied its blood on something to propagate their credit; they ballyhoo their merit that attained support of people; they stroke rival by force to make interest. All what they do is to substitute a new disorder for the old one. In the eye of us, they are similar, actually no big difference.
今天周是因為發現殷朝衰敗混亂，國力羸弱。因此出兵將之打倒，自己取而代之。這種利用謀略以獲取國家資源，依靠強勢兵力，鎮壓當地百姓；以殺雞塗血來保證其信用; 宣揚自己的優點，來爭取百姓的支持；並且利用武力打擊對手，以謀其利的所有這些作法，都是以一種混亂取代另一種混亂；在我們看來是半斤八兩，實在沒有什麼大的區別。
今周見殷之亂而遽為政，上謀而下行貨，阻兵而保威，割牲而盟以為信，湯行以說眾，殺伐以要利。是推亂以易暴也。
8 In the past, man of practice told us that we may come out to be office in government when the country is peaceful and government is uncorrupt; if society is in turbulence and government is disordered, we should lead a reclusive life, not dragging out an ignoble existence in the society.
從前修行的人告訴我們，天下太平，政治清明的時候，我們可以出來擔任公職。如果政情混亂，社會動盪不安，我們就應該隱居起來，不要在這樣的社會苟且偷安的混日子。
吾聞古之士，遭治世不避其任，遇亂世不為苟存。
9 Nowadays, the governance of Zhou is far from Shennong Shi’s, and also out of accordance with Tao. Why do we stay in this place so as to distain our virtue? Let’s leave here as soon as possible.”
如今周朝朝綱與神農氏時實施的政策相去已遠，也不符道的要求，我倆為什麼要處身在這樣的環境之中，沾污我們的德性呢？我看我倆還是早早地離開此地吧！」
今天下闇，周德衰，其並乎周以塗吾身也，不如避之，以潔吾行。」
10 The two hence, gave up the positions offered by King Wu and went to hide in Shouyang Mountain. Owing to lack of food in the mountain, they finally starved to death.
兩人於是放棄了武王的官職，跑到首陽山隱居起來。在山上食物缺乏，最終不幸餓死。
二子北至於首陽之山，遂餓而死焉。
11 When we summarize the virtue of these two gentlemen, we would say: they are lofty and aloof but are queer on behavior. They enjoy their lives and ideas; they don’t do cause and don’t seek for worldly honor.
總結這兩位先生的德性，我們可以說，他們情操清高，但行為乖張。他們不做事業，不求世榮，但求獨樂其志。
若伯夷、叔齊者，其於富貴也，苟可得已，則必不賴。高節戾行，獨樂其志，不事於世。此二士之節也。