Declination to Throne (7)
讓王(七)
1 King Zhao of Chu exiled himself for losing the war. Tu Yang Yue followed him.
楚昭王因敗戰流亡，屠羊說也跟著昭王出走他鄉。
2 After a few years, the king reoccupied his land and came into power again. To thank those faithful fellows who followed him in the exile, he decided to give them an audience and some rewards.
幾年後，昭王收復失土，又回到國內主持政務。昭王感謝這些跟著他流亡國外的忠心人士，決定召見他們，並給予一定的獎勵。
楚昭王失國，屠羊說走而從於昭王。昭王反國，將賞從者。
3 When he sent an envoy to Tu Yang Yue, asking him to the palace for audience, Tu Yang Yue; however, declined it.
當他派人去約見屠羊說時，屠羊說卻拒不前往。
4 He said, “The king lost his country which made me unemployed. Now the king comes into power, I am employed again. Now that I have job and income, I am satisfied. What do I asked for?”
他說：「大王失國，我也失去了工作。大王返國，我也回到工作崗位。如今我有工作，有收入，已經很滿意了，我還求什麼呢？」
及屠羊說。屠羊說曰：「大王失國，說失屠羊；大王反國，說亦反屠羊。臣之爵祿已復矣，又何賞之有！」
5 Disagreeing with Tu Yang Yue, King Zhao insisted that Tu Yang Yue has to come for audience and reward asking.
昭王不同意屠羊說的推辭，堅持屠羊說一定要來求賞。
6 Tu Yang Yue’s explained: “The king losing his power has nothing to do with me, a small potato, so losing power is not my fault. Also, I can’t take the credit on for the king coming into power, so I should not receive the King’s reward.
屠羊說又說：「大王失國，跟我這小百姓無關。所以，失國一節不能定我的罪。大王返國，這樣的功勞也算不到我頭上。所以，大王的獎賞我不敢領受。」
王曰：「強之！」屠羊說曰：「大王失國，非臣之罪，故不敢伏其誅；大王反國，非臣之功，故不敢當其賞。」
7 The king didn’t give up yet and insisted on giving Tu Yang Yue an audience. Then Tu Yang Yue explained it again. He said, “According to the law of the state of Chu, only a man who made great contribution to the state is qualified to be received an audience by the king and to receive handsome rewards. I, a small potato, have no enough bravery to defend our state. When enemy attacked our city, I fled because of fear, not because I was loyalty, faith, and dutiful to the King. Now the king breaches the regulation and the rule of state to give me an audience exceptionally. I don’t think it is right and expect the king to think it over again.”
昭王還是不肯罷休，一定堅持要見屠羊說。這時我們這位先生又講了。他說：「根據楚國的法律，必須要為國立下大功，才有資格晉見大王，接受重賞。我這個小老百姓，沒有治國之才以報國，也沒有十足的勇氣捍衛國家。當敵軍攻打我們的城府時，我是因為害怕才逃亡的。並不是真正的什麼忠貞之士，一定要跟大王走。今天大王要違背國家的典章制度，以特例來召見我，我想這件事情是非常不妥的，還望大王三思。」
王曰：「見之。」屠羊說曰：「楚國之法，必有重賞大功而後得見。今臣之知不足以存國，而勇不足以死寇。吳軍入郢，說畏難而避寇，非故隨大王也。今大王欲廢法毀約而見說，此非臣之所以聞於天下也。」
8 King Zhao insisted again. He sent Sima Ziqi to persuade Tu Yang Yue. The king said to Sima Ziqi, “I think Tu Yang Yue’s views and ideas are very insightful though he is a peddler who slays and sells mutton in the market. With the dignity of high position, please represent me to visit him in person. You tell him that I want to promote him to a high position and ask him to work for our state.”
楚昭王還是不死心。他又請司馬子綦去說服屠羊說。昭王對司馬子綦說：「屠羊說雖然只是市場一名殺羊，賣羊肉的小販，可是我覺得他的看法，想法都極有見地。請你以司馬之尊親自走一趟。就說，我想提拔他坐上三公的位子，為國家效力。」
王謂司馬子綦曰：「屠羊說居處卑賤而陳義甚高，子綦為我延之以三旌之位。」
9 Sima Ziqi went and persuaded Tu Yang Yue. However, he didn’t change his idea. Tu Yang Yue said, “I know that the high position really is much dignified than I as a butcher of mutton and its salary is higher than mine. But I can’t make the king be reproached for abuse of appointment because of my greed. Please go back and tell the king that I really dare not accept his kindness. Let me be a common person all the same.”
司馬子綦啣命來勸說屠羊說。我們這位先生依然不改初衷。他說：「我知道三公的位置確實比我這個殺羊的尊貴，其奉祿也比我賣羊肉的收入好很多。可是我怎麼可以因為自己貪婪爵祿而陷楚王於妄施官位之名呢？請你回去告訴昭王，小民實在不敢領受他的好意，還是讓我做個小老百姓吧！」
10 The king found no way to persuade the stubborn and stiff guy to act as official in his government, so he gave up the appointment eventually.
昭王無法，只得放棄這個又臭又硬的老頑固，打消邀其出仕的念頭。
屠羊說曰：「夫三旌之位，吾知其貴於屠羊之肆也；萬鍾之祿，吾知其富於屠羊之利也；然豈可以貪爵祿而使吾君有妄施之名乎！說不敢當，願復反吾屠羊之肆。」遂不受也。