前出师表 诸葛亮 | The First Memorial, Prior to the Northward Expedition Zhuge Liang |
先帝创业未半而中道崩殂，今天下三分，益州疲弊，此诚危急存亡之秋也。然侍卫之臣不懈于内，忠志之士忘身于外者，盖追先帝之殊遇，欲报之于陛下也。诚宜开张圣听，以光先帝遗德，恢弘志士之气，不宜妄自菲薄，引喻失义，以塞忠谏之路也。 | The Late Emperor demised before half completing his pioneering cause. Now the land under heaven is divided into three, and the State of Yi becomes weak. This is really a critical time for our survival or perishing. Nevertheless, internally the courtiers responsible for your service and guarding are not slackening their efforts, while externally the loyal and devoted army men are giving brave military performance. This is because they keep in mind the Late Emperor’s special favors and want to repay them to Your Majesty. I advise that Your Majesty should solicit opinions of the court, so as to carry forward the virtues of the Late Emperor and encourage people of great aspirations, rather than improperly belittle yourself and make inappropriate statements to block the way of faithful admonition. |
宫中府中，俱为一体，陟罚臧否，不宜异宫中府中，俱为一同。若有作奸犯科及为忠善者，宜付有司论其刑赏，以昭陛下平明之理，不宜偏私，使内外异法也。 | As the courtiers close around the emperor and the ministers under the prime minister are an organic whole, their award or punishment, and their praise or blame, should be executed according to the same criteria. In the case of breach of law, or in the case of meritorious and faithful deeds, they should be taken up with the competent authorities for punishment or award, so as to show Your Majesty’s impartiality. It would not be right to show bias, for this could result in different applications of law. |
侍中、侍郎郭攸之、费祎、董允等，此皆良实，志虑忠纯，是以先帝简拔以遗陛下。愚以为宫中之事，事无大小，悉以咨之，然后施行，必能裨补阙漏，有所广益。 | Privy counselors and assistant ministers such as Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun and others are all trustworthy men of virtue. They behave honestly and think loyally, and that is why the Late Emperor selected them for Your Majesty’s assistance. I humbly propose that all the affairs of the court, major or minor, should only be implemented after their advice is solicited, so as to make up for negligence or omissions to the benefit of governance. |
将军向宠，性行淑均，晓畅军事，试用于昔日，先帝称之曰能，是以众议举宠为督。愚以为营中之事，悉以咨之，必能使行阵和睦，优劣得所。 | General Xiang Chong, a man of good disposition, is proficient in military affairs. When he was on trial appointment in the past, the Late Emperor regarded him as competent and, therefore, the ministers recommended him to be a military commander. I humbly propose that he should be consulted with about all military affairs, so that the army will be commanded harmoniously, and men of different competence will be given their right place. |
亲贤臣，远小人，此先汉所以兴隆也；亲小人，远贤臣，此后汉所以倾颓也。先帝在时，每与臣论此事，未尝不叹息痛恨于桓、灵也。侍中、尚书、长史、参军，此悉贞良死节之臣，愿陛下亲之信之，则汉室之隆，可计日而待也。 | Keeping company with the virtuous while avoiding the vile characters is the reason why the Western Han Dynasty prospered; whereas keeping company with the vile characters and avoiding the virtuous led to the subversion of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Whenever the Late Emperor discussed the matter with me during his life time, he would sigh and express his resentment for Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling. The Privy Counselors, the Premier, the Chief Imperial Secretary and the Military Adviser are all loyal and honest officials ready to serve the country till death. I beg Your Majesty to keep company with and trust them, so that the revitalization of the Han Dynasty can be expected pretty soon. |
臣本布衣，躬耕于南阳，苟全性命于乱世，不求闻达于诸侯。先帝不以臣卑鄙，猥自枉屈，三顾臣于草庐之中，咨臣以当世之事，由是感激，遂许先帝以驱驰。后值倾覆，受任于败军之际，奉命于危难之间，尔来二十有一年矣。 | I used to be a commoner farming in Nanyang, where I simply hoped to survive in the troubled times without expecting an official position from the dukes or princes, nor did I intend to earn a fame for myself. In spite of my low social status and scarce knowledge, the Late Emperor condescended himself three times to visit me at my thatched cottage for my opinions on the current situation. I therefore felt grateful and agreed to be at his service. It has been twenty one years since I assumed the appointed position following failures of military operation and accepted the mission amid danger and disaster. |
先帝知臣谨慎，故临崩寄臣以大事也。受命以来，夙夜忧叹，恐托付不效，以伤先帝之明，故五月渡泸，深入不毛。今南方已定，兵甲已足，当奖率三军，北定中原，庶竭驽钝，攘除奸凶，兴复汉室，还于旧都。此臣所以报先帝而忠陛下之职分也。至于斟酌损益，进尽忠言，则攸之、祎、允之任也。 | Knowing that I was cautious and prudent, on his deathbed the Late Emperor entrusted me with the state affairs. Since the acceptance of his will, I have been worrying and sighing night and day, fearing that I should accomplish nothing and fail to live up to the wise expectation of the Late Emperor. Therefore, I crossed the Lu River in May and went to the desolate place. Now that the South has been pacified and we have adequate troops and armors, I feel obliged to lead an army for a northward expedition in order to conquer the Central Plains, so that I may exert my efforts however mediocre I am, annihilate the vicious usurpers, restore the Han Dynasty and re-install the imperial court in the old capital, which is my due repayment to the Late Emperor, as well as my obligation to Your Majesty. As for balancing losses and gains, and offering loyal advice without reservation, these are the responsibilities of Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi and Dong Yun. |
愿陛下托臣以讨贼兴复之效，不效，则治臣之罪，以告先帝之灵。若无兴德之言，则责攸之、祎、允等之慢，以彰其咎；陛下亦宜自谋，以咨诹善道，察纳雅言，深追先帝遗诏，臣不胜受恩感激。 | I beg Your Majesty to commit me to the task of wiping out the traitors and restoring the Han Dynasty. Should I fail, Your Majesty could hold me liable to appease the spirit of the Late Emperor. If no exhortations for virtuous deeds are offered to Your Majesty, Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun and others should be blamed for their negligence so as to arouse public notice. Your Majesty should also consider matters on your own, solicit wise ways, find and accept sound advice, and always remember the Late Emperor’s will. If so, I cannot feel too grateful. |
今当远离，临表涕零，不知所言。 | As I will soon be leaving on an expedition, when delivering the memorial I can not help shedding tears, and hardly know what to express. |
| 译者：金德明 | Translated by Jin Deming |
