On Swordplay (1)
說劍(一)
1 King Wen of Zhao was fond of swordplay. Swordsmen under the sun all took pride in being praised by the king. The State of Zhao hosted three thousand more swordsmen from all direction. They matched for swordplay all day. Every year people of a hundred more died in the match. The society therefore, went into mess, affecting the operation of trade and manufacture.
趙文王喜歡劍術，天下有名的劍客都以得到文王的誇獎為榮。趙國經常聚集三千多名來自各地的劍客，他們一天到晚地比劍。每年因械鬥而死的人數總在百人以上。社會因而秩序大亂，貿易製造等行業都受影響。
昔趙文王喜劍，劍士夾門而客三千餘人，日夜相擊於前，死傷者歲百餘人，好之不厭。
2 King Wen was in power for three years. Civil economy went stagnant because he indulged himself into swordplay match. Other neighboring countries found the situation of Zhao, covet to occupy it. The king neglected the bad situation and still had mania for swordplay.
文王上任三年來，因為國內風迷鬥劍，民生日漸凋敝。臨近諸國看準這種情勢，都準備要趁機併吞趙國。趙文王不理會這樣的情勢發展，仍然不改他喜愛劍術的嗜好。
如是三年，國衰，諸侯謀之。
3 Prince Kui was a sober young man. He cared much about his country.
太子悝是一位明理的年輕人，他深為趙國的安危擔心。
4 One day, he told his consultant, “Who can dissuade my father from the swordsmen and make him bend to state affairs, I will award him gold of a thousand liang.
有一天，他告訴幕僚：「有誰能說服我父王停止整天與劍客們廝混，將心擺在國事上，我就賞他黃金千兩。」
太子悝患之，募左右曰：「孰能說王之意止劍士者，賜之千金。」
5 His consultant suggested, “Chuang Tzu can do it.”
幕僚們說：「莊子有這個能耐。」
左右曰：「莊子當能。」
6 The prince sent his messenger with gold of a thousand liang to Chuang Tzu’s house. Chuang Tzu didn’t accept the gold but he would like to see the prince, accompanied by the messenger.
太子就派使者捧著黃金千兩到莊子家，請求他出馬解趙之危。莊子沒有接受這些黃金，但是他同意跟隨使者去見太子。
太子乃使人以千金奉莊子。
7 Chuang Tzu came straight to the point. He asked the prince, “Why do you invite me to do it? Why do you give me the gold?”
莊子開門見山地問太子：「你為什麼找我做這件事？為什麼要送我黃金千兩？」
莊子弗受，與使者俱，往見太子，曰：「太子何以教周，賜周千金？」
8 The prince replied, “I heard that you are a wise and able man. I specially gave gold of a thousand liang to your servant and expected them to serve you well. Now that you don’t accept it, I feel small to ask you to do something.”
太子回答說：「聽說先生賢能，我特地派人送上黃金千兩給你的僕人，希望他們能好好地侍候你。先生不肯接受，那我也不好意思開口要求先生做什麼了。」
太子曰：「聞夫子明聖，謹奉千金以幣從者。夫子弗受，悝尚何敢言﹗」
9 Chuang Tzu said, “Alas! Please speak frank in front of a reasonable person. I know you want me to persuade your farther from mania of sword and to attend state affairs. This is good. However, in regarding of the reward, if I persuaded but failed, I couldn’t make him correct, which mean that I didn’t accomplish your assignment. Thus I would lose my life. How could I spend the gold then?
莊子說：「哎！明人面前不說暗話。我知道你的用意是想要我去說服你父王，放棄他嗜劍之好，專心朝政。這是好事啊！有什麼不好意思說的。不過假如我跑去規勸你父王，說的不妥當，不能使他改掉這個禍國殃民的愛好; 同時又沒有完成你太子交待的任務。我看我的小命就不保了，屆時哪裡還能享用你的黃金？
10 If I succeed in persuading, which mean that I accomplish your assignment. What may I not ask for from the king? Gold of a thousand liang is petty to me then.
如果我說服成功，又圓了你太子的心願。那我向文王要什麼沒有啊！這千兩黃金又算什麼？
11 That is why I refuse your gold but I still am at your call.”
這才是我拒受你的黃金，而仍然願意來聽你差遣的緣故。」
莊子曰：「聞太子所欲用周者，欲絕王之喜好也。使臣上說大王而逆王意，下不當太子，則身刑而死，周尚安所事金乎？使臣上說大王，下當太子，趙國何求而不得也！」
12 The prince said delightedly, “That’s great! But my father only gives audience to swordsman. Can you play sword?
太子高興的說：「那太好了！不過我父王只接見會使劍的俠客，你會使劍嗎？」
太子曰︰「然。吾王所見，唯劍士也。」
13 Chuang Tzu said, “Yes! No problem. I have excellent swordplay.”
莊子說：「哦！沒問題！我的劍術好的很。」
莊子曰：「諾。周善為劍。」
14 Prince said, “Your clothes and dressing up are improper. Those people whom he meets are like bandit, with helmet on head and long hair disheveling on shoulders. Tassels on helmets are puffy and big; upper clothes are short, half belly exposing. They speak unclearly and loudly, eyes round and eyebrow rising. I am afraid that you have difficulty in audience because you look gentle.
太子又說：「可是你的服裝、打扮也不行。我父王接見的那些人，長得都跟土匪似的。他們戴著頭盔，長長的頭髮自頭盔中亂蓬蓬地散在肩上; 盔上的纓綴粗而蓬鬆; 衣服都很短，露出半個肚子; 講起話來橫眉豎眼，語焉不詳。像你莊子這樣文謅謅地恐怕有問題。」
太子曰：「然吾王所見劍士，皆蓬頭突鬢，垂冠，曼胡之纓，短後之衣，瞋目而語難，王乃說之。今夫子必儒服而見王，事必大逆。」
15 “It is easy! You make a costume like that for me.”
莊子說：「那簡單！你就比照著也給我做一套那樣的衣服就行了。」
莊子曰：「請治劍服。」
16 The prince ordered his men to make a set of clothes of swordsman within three days. Chuang Tzu dressed it and had his hair disheveling, and then put on armor. He looked like a swordsman.
太子令人三天內趕製了一套劍服。莊子穿上劍服，將頭髮散開; 再穿上盔甲。看起來與一般劍客已有幾分神似。
治劍服三日，乃見太子。
17 Chuang Tzu in the swordsman clothes went to see the prince. The prince felt contented at the sight of him. So, he took Chuang Tzu to court for audience with King Wen of Zhao.
莊子就這樣去見太子。太子一看甚為滿意。就帶著莊子上殿，晉見趙文王去了。
18 Eunuch called the prince with Chuang Tzu to have an audience with the king in court. King Wen knew that the prince had an intention to keep him from the swordsmen. To threat the lobbyist, King Wen pulled out his accompanying sword and put it on the visible place of desk, by which he made it clear that if anyone wanted to ask him to give up sword, the man had better give up this idea, or he would be killed
宦官通知太子帶莊子上殿晉見。趙文王知道太子想勸他遠離劍客的心意，為了嚇阻說客，趙文王特別將隨身的寶劍抽出來擺在桌子上明顯的地方。其用意甚為清楚，想要勸我棄劍，就請免開尊口。惹我生氣，我可是要殺人的。
太子乃與見王，王脫白刃待之。
19 The prince and Chuang Tzu came up to the court. With head up and chest lifting, Chuang Tzu strode to the king in a soldier liked way. Before the king’s desk, he just bid a simple salute of warrior to him and then stood steadily there, feet posing as T-shape. The prince stood aside, having done a solute of kneeling. Seeing Chuang Tzu’s arrogance, the prince rather cared about him. He was much afraid that Chuang Tzu would be killed for his impoliteness.
太子與莊子來到殿前。莊子抬頭挺胸，放開大步，雄糾糾，氣昂昂地對著趙文王走去。到了文王桌前，他只簡單地行個武士禮就以丁字步，穩穩地站在那兒。太子行跪拜禮後也站在一旁。他看莊子傲慢的樣子，真為他捏了一把冷汗。深怕他失禮被父王一刀給殺了。
莊子入殿門不趨，見王不拜。
20 King Wen of Zhao instead admired Chuang Tzu’s attitude, because, he thought that a swordsman should be like this. A man must be of dignity. It was not a man if he knelt at sight of others.
趙文王對莊子的態度倒是頗為佩服。他覺得一位劍客本來就應該這樣，男兒膝下有黃金，見人就跪算什麼男子漢？
21 The king’s heart of exclusion softened somewhat. He asked Chuang Tzu, “What do you want to tell me? Why do you have to be introduced by the prince and why not see me directly? As you know, I favor swordsman. You look like a good warrior.”
文王排斥之心開始有些鬆動。他對莊子說：「你有什麼事想告訴我，為什麼不直接找我，非得要太子引見呢？你知道我最愛劍客了。看來你是一名不錯的勇者。」
王曰：「子欲何以教寡人，使太子先﹖」
22 Chuang Tzu answered, “I heard that Your Majesty like swordplay so I asked the prince to introduce me. I just want to exchange with you on swordplay. That’s all.”
莊子說：「我聽說大王喜歡劍術，因此要求太子為我引見，來跟大王切磋一下劍術，沒有其他意思。」
曰：「臣聞大王喜劍，故以劍見王。」
23 “What’s the speciality of your swordplay?” The king asked.
趙文王問：「你的劍術有什麼特別的地方嗎？」
王曰：「子之劍何能禁制？」
24 “I can kill a person within ten steps, once my sword is pulled out. I would win all matches in my journey of a thousand li.” Chuang Tzu boasted.
莊子說：「我的劍一出鞘，十步殺一人，行走千里沒有人不應聲而倒的。」
曰：「臣之劍，十步一人，千里不留行。」
25 Hearing this, the king was very delighted. He said to himself that a wonderful play is coming. He said, “So, you should be the invincible warrior under the sun?”
文王一聽這麼厲害，高興的不得了。心想這下又有好戲可看了。他說：「那你應該是天下無敵了。」
王大說，曰：「天下無敵矣﹗」
26 Chuang Tzu explained, “Swordplay must depends on brain, muscle is not enough. In match, you should disguise your weakness and give your rival an opportunity to attack. And then you wait his attacking, because we are ready while our rival devotes to attack and neglects defense. Then we start later but attack earlier. We thus win and cut off our rival’s head. Do you want to arrange a match for me to show my swordplay?”
莊子說：「使劍是要用腦袋的，光用蠻力不行; 在比劍時應該故意地賣一點破綻，讓對方以為有機可趁，然後以逸待勞等他遞招過來。因為我們有準備，而對方全心放在攻擊上，疏忽了防守; 我們此時以後發而先至之勢，取下對方首級。大王要不要安排一場比劍讓我表演給大王看？」
莊子曰：「夫為劍者，示之以虛，開之以利，後之以發，先之以至。願得試之。」
27 The king was more delighted. He said, “Sir, you may have a rest in hotel now. When I have arranged all things of competition, I will inform you.”
趙文王興緻更高了。他說：「先生您先回旅舍休息，等我安排好細節再通知你出場比賽。」
王曰：「夫子休，就舍待命，令設戲請夫子。」
28 King Wen of Zhao convened all swordsmen in his country and divided them into groups to hold elimination games that lasted for seven days. Procedure of matches was throat-cut and cruel. So, the games took a toll of sixty swordsmen’s death. At last, there were the best thirty swordsmen attended the final match.
趙文王立刻召集境內所有的劍客們，將他們分組進行一連七天的淘汰賽。比賽過程非常慘烈，因比賽而死傷的人數高達六十餘人。最後選出最精銳的劍客三十位進行決賽。
29 In the morning, King Wen called up the thirty swordsmen gathered outside the court. They carried their own swords, standing in a row. And then he sent for Chuang Tzu.
這天一早，趙文王召集這三十位劍客在殿外集合，各帶自己的兵器一字排開，然後派人去請莊子。
王乃校劍士七日，死傷者六十餘人，得五六人，使奉劍於殿下，乃召莊子。
30 Chuang Tzu in swords clothes strode to the court. Pointing to the outside swordsmen, King Wen told Chuang Tzu, “I’ve selected thirty best swordsmen to compete with you.”
莊子穿著劍服闊步地來到殿前。趙文王指著殿外的劍客對莊子說：「我送了三十位頂尖高手供先生試劍。」
王曰：「今日試使士敦劍。」
31 Chuang Tzu replied without any fear, “I hunger for it for long.”
莊子毫無懼色地回答說：「我盼望這一天已經很久了。」
莊子曰：「望之久矣！」
32 Then King Wen found that Chuang Tzu seemed not to carry his sword. How to compete without sword? King Wen asked him, “If you don’t have sword, please use mine. What kind do you like? Longer one or shorter one? I’ve collected many swords. You may choose whatever you want.”
這時趙文王才注意到莊子好像沒有配戴寶劍，沒劍怎麼比賽啊？趙文王關心地問：「先生沒帶劍那就用我的吧！您喜歡用什麼樣的劍？是長的，還是短的？我這兒收藏頗豐，你講的出來的我這兒都有。」
王曰：「夫子所御杖，長短何如？」
33 Chuang Tzu replied, “Don’t care it. Any one is acceptable. But as for sword, I have three ones. I bet that you don’t have them. I wonder which sword you like. Before match, let me talk about the three swords.”
莊子說：「無所謂了！什麼劍都行。不過說到劍我倒有三把，相信大王的收藏品中一定沒有。這三種劍不知大王喜歡哪一種？在比賽之前就讓我先談談這三把劍吧！」
曰：「臣之所奉皆可。然臣有三劍，唯王所用，請先言而後試。」
34 King Wen had been taking pride in his collected swords. Now there were three swords that he never heard. He felt very curious. He told Chuang Tzu, “Well! Tell me the three swords.”
趙文王一向以自己收藏寶劍之豐自豪，今天突然跑出三把他沒聽過的寶劍，好奇心大起。他對莊子說：「好！就先講講你那三把劍吧！」
王曰：「願聞三劍。」
35 “The swords have their names as: Sword of Emperor, Sword of Marquis, and Sword of the Common Man respectively.” Said Chuangt Tzu.
莊子說：「這三把劍有個名號，分別是天子之劍，諸候之劍，庶人之劍。」
曰：「有天子劍，有諸侯劍，有庶人劍。」
36 “What’s the Sword of Emperor?” King Wen of Zhao asked earnestly.
趙文王聚精會神地問：「什麼是天子之劍？」
王曰：「天子之劍何如？」
37 Chuang Tzu replied seriously, “Its tip is Shicheng City and Yanxi City; its blade is Tai Mountain in the State of Qi; its back is the State of Jin and the State of Wei; its ring is the State of Zhou and the State of Song. Its handle is the State of Han and the State of Wei; its sheath is four seasons and the outside countries; its fringe is Bo Sea and Chang Mountain.
莊子神態嚴肅地回答說：「天子之劍以燕谿石城為鋒，以齊岱為劍刃，晉魏為劍脊，周宋為劍環，韓魏為劍柄，四夷四時為劍鞘，渤海常山做為帶穗。
曰：「天子之劍，以燕谿石城為鋒，齊岱為鍔，晉衛為脊，周宋為鐔，韓魏為夾；包以四夷，裹以四時；繞以渤海，帶以常山；
38 The principle of five elements interaction is used to make it; the rule of award and punishment to turn it; the principle of Yin and Yang to pull and close it; the warmth of spring and summer to hold it; the cold of winter and autumn to wield it.
用五行生剋之道來掌制，用賞罰剛柔之術來轉動，用陰陽虛實之理來開合，用春夏溫和之氣來持劍，用秋冬嚴肅之氣來揮舞。
制以五行，論以刑德；開以陰陽，持以春夏，行以秋冬。
39 This sword is invincible everywhere. When wielding up, nobody can escape; when stabbing down, nobody can ward off. When playing it, nobody dare come up. It can cleave cloud in the sky and chop off all obstacles. He who uses this sword can overwhelm marquis and rule all countries. This is the Sword of Emperor.”
此劍使用起來所向無敵，高揮沒有人能夠逃開，低搠沒有人能倖免，舞將起來沒有人敢近身。上可以劈天上的浮雲，下可以斬除地上所有的障礙。使用此劍者可以降伏諸候，統御天下。這就是我說的天子之劍。」
此劍，直之無前，舉之無上，案之無下，運之無旁，上決浮雲，下絕地紀。此劍一用，匡諸侯，天下服矣。此天子之劍也。」
40 King Wen thought over on Chuang Tzu’s description of the Sword of Emperor. He started to introspect: Why doesn’t he find such a distinguished sword before?
趙文王細細地玩味莊子對天子之劍的描述，悵然若失地開始反省，怎麼自己沒有注意到，世間尚有這麼尊貴的寶劍呢？
41 After his mood calmed down, he raised head to look at Chuang Tzu. “What about the Sword of Marquis.”
趙文王的神情開始沉穩下來，他抬起頭看著莊子說：「那諸候之劍又怎麼樣呢？」
文王芒然自失，曰：「諸侯之劍何如？」
42 Chuang Tzu explained, “Smart and brave man is its tip; incorrupt man its edge; kind and loyal man its ring; wise man its handle.
莊子說：「諸候之劍用聰明勇敢的人做尖鋒，清直廉潔的人做稜角，忠信善良的人做劍環，智力過人的人做劍柄。
曰：「諸侯之劍，以知勇士為鋒，以清廉士為鍔，以賢良士為脊，以忠聖士為鐔，以豪傑士為夾。
43 The sword is invincible too. When wielding up, nobody can escape; when stabbing down, nobody can ward off. When playing it, nobody can come up.
這佩劍使用起來也是所向無敵，高揮沒有人能夠逃避，低搠沒有人能倖免，舞動起來沒有人能近身。
44 Heaven is its rule in the order of sun, moon and star. Earth is its rule in the order of four seasons. It integrates people’s will to settle down the countries of all directions. Its wielding carries the power of thunder of ten thousand tons. Each one in the surrendered countries obeys the wielder’s order. This is the Sword of Marquis.”
它上以天為法則，順日月星辰的次序，下以地為法則，順應春夏秋冬四時的理，綜合人民的意志以安四方。這劍一揮有雷霆萬鈞之勢，四境之內莫不臣服，全都聽命於此人的指揮。這叫做諸候之劍。」
此劍，直之亦無前，舉之亦無上，案之亦無下，運之亦無旁；上法圓天，以順三光，下法方地，以順四時，中和民意，以安四鄉。此劍一用，如雷霆之震也，四封之內，無不賓服而聽從君命者矣。此諸侯之劍也。」
45 King Wen lightly put back the sword on the desk and asked him to sit down by gesture. Taking off the heavy armor, Chuang Tzu sat down immodestly beside the desk in good taste.
趙文王輕輕地將桌上的劍收起來，示意莊子坐下。莊子也不客氣將笨重的盔甲脫下來，大大方方地在邊桌坐了下來。
46 King Wen asked, “What about the Sword of the Common Man?”
趙文王問：「那什麼是庶人之劍呢？」
王曰：「庶人之劍何如？」
47 Taking a drink of tea, Chuang Tzu replied, “The Sword of the Common Man is seen everywhere. Wielder holds a sword and wears armor, with long hair disheveling on the shoulders. Tassels on helmets are puffy and big; upper clothes are short, half belly exposing. They speak unclearly and loudly, eyes round and eyebrow rising. In match, he chops up rival’s head and stabs down to rival’s liver. Their fighting is like cock fighting. When careless, they are stabbed to death. They are helpless to the country and society. Now you are a king but you like the vulgar sword of the common man. I really feel unworthy for you.”
莊子喝了口茶回答道：「庶人之劍就普通了。舞劍的人手持寶劍，穿戴盔甲，長長的頭髮自頭盔中亂蓬蓬地散在肩上; 頭盔上的纓綴粗而蓬鬆，衣服都很短露出半個肚子; 講起話來橫眉豎眼，語焉不詳。比劍時上斬敵人的頸項，下刺敵人的肝腑，打鬥起來就跟鬥雞沒有兩樣，一不留意就被刺死，丟了性命。這人對國家社會毫無助益。現在大王身為天子，反而喜歡那低俗的庶人之劍，我真為大王不值。」
曰：「庶人之劍，蓬頭突鬢，垂冠，曼胡之纓，短後之衣，瞋目而語難，相擊於前，上斬頸領，下決肝肺。此庶人之劍，無異於鬥雞，一旦命已絕矣，無所用於國事。今大王有天子之位而好庶人之劍，臣竊為大王薄之。」
48 Nodding after listening, King Wen stood up and stepped up to Chuang Tzu. Chuang Tzu stood up politely too. Hand in hand, King Wen said to Chuang Tzu, “Go. Let’s go to the rear palace and ask my chef to make some dishes. Let’s talk there.”
趙文王聽罷頻頻點頭。他自座位上站了起來，走到莊子桌前。莊子禮貌性地也站了起來。趙文王牽著莊子的手對莊子說：「走，我們到後宮去。我叫御廚做幾道菜，我倆好好地聊聊。」
王乃牽而上殿。
49 After Chuang Tzu sat down, King Wen was still thinking over the description on sword, walking around the table. He walked and walked, without stopping after three circles. Chuang Tzu said, “What I said is over. Your Majesty, please sit and calm down; when having dinner, we better not think about the swordplay anymore.”
莊子坐定後。趙文王圍著餐桌，低頭繼續思索莊子有關劍的描述。他一圈一圈地走，走了三圈還不停下來。莊子對趙文王說：「我要說的已說完了，大王坐下來凝凝神吧！我們吃飯就不要再想劍術了。」
宰人上食，王三環之。莊子曰：「大王安坐定氣，劍事已畢奏矣！」
50 After Chuang Tzu left, King Wen retrospected the details of the Sword of Emperor, the Sword of Marquis and the Sword of the Common Man alone. He felt shameful to his past when he sought for the humble but deserted the noble, sought for the small but deserted the great. Since then, he ignored the swordsman and no longer financing their cost of living.
莊子離開後，文王一個人又將莊子的天子之劍，諸候之劍，庶人之劍仔細地回味一遍。對過去自己捨貴求賤，捨大求小的不智感到慚愧。自此，他不再理會那些劍客，也不再支助他們的生活費用。
51 These swordsmen left one after another under the condition that they had no living support and were despised. Some of them, who had nowhere to go, committed suicide.
這些劍客在衣食無著，又不受重視的情形下紛紛離開。無處可走者也有自盡身亡的。
52 After these bellicose swordsmen went away, state of Zhao picked up its prosperity and peace again.
這些好鬥的俠客們散盡後，趙國社會這才又恢復了往日的繁榮及平靜。
於是文王不出宮三月，劍士皆服斃其處也。