《古谣谚》卷十七

單襄公引諺

國語

獸惡其網。 民惡其上。Wild beasts hate nets, and people hate their superiors.

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伶州鳩引諺

國語

眾心成城。 眾口鑠金。If everyone’s mind is put together, even a town can be built. Everyone’s deprecation of a piece ofreal gold can turn it into fake gold.

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衛彪傒引諺

國語

從善如登。 從惡如崩。

Doing good deeds will take people to a higher level, and doing bad deeds will only bring bad results.

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暇豫歌

國語

暇豫之吾吾。不如鳥烏。人皆集於苑。己獨集於枯。

Words sung by You Shi, who was dispatched by Li Ji, the king of Jin’s favorite concubine to advise Li Ke to see clearly who was in power, namely, Li Ji’s son who was just crowned as prince.

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輿人誦惠公

國語

佞之見佞。果喪其田。詐之見詐。果喪其賂。

得國而狃。終逢其咎。喪田不懲。禍亂其興。

Words people said about Jin’s King Hui. He bribed his way into kingship but did not pay hisbribe, and eventually the Qin kingdom invaded.

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國人誦共世子

國語

貞之無報也。孰是人斯而有是臭也。貞為不聽。信為不誠。

國斯無刑。媮居幸生。不更厥貞。大命其傾。威兮懷兮。

各聚爾有以待所歸兮。猗兮違兮。心之哀兮。歲之二七。

其靡有微兮。若翟公子。吾是之依兮。鎮撫國家。為王妃兮。Words said about the dead crown prince Shen Sheng of Jin kingdom. A prediction about the future of Jin is also made.

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叔詹引諺

國語

黍稷無成。不能為榮。黍不為黍。不能蕃廡。

稷不為稷。不能蕃殖。所生不疑。唯德之基。

If one has a crop of corn and millet that is not going to yield a good harvest, one should just eliminate it.

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周宣王時童謠

國語

饜弧箕服。實亡周國。A children’s song indicating the cause of the end of the Zhou kingdom.

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諸稽郢引諺

國語

狐埋之而狐搰之。是以無成功。

The foxes bury it and then dig it up. Therefore, the foxes never do anything.

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范蠡引諺

國語

觥飯不及壺飧。A big empty bowl will not eliminate hunger, but a pot of cooked rice mixed with water will.

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馮諼彈鋏歌

國策

長鋏歸來乎。食無魚。

長鋏歸來乎。出無車。長鋏歸來乎。無以為家。

A song sung by Fong Xuan, who lived off what Gentleman Meng Chang provided. The song wasabout how he wanted to eat fish, to have a vehicle, and to have his family provided for as well.

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齊嬰兒謠

國策

大冠若箕。脩劍拄頤。攻狄不能下。壘枯丘。A children’s song about how the Qi general Tian Dan could not take the city of Di, so he couldnot take over the Zhai kingdom.

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田單守即墨歌

國策

何往矣。宗廟亡矣。亡日尚矣。歸於何黨矣。

A song sung by Tian Dan back when he was stranded by the army of Yan kingdom. The words say that if the soldiers do not break out of the impasse, they will have no home, and no country togo back to.

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齊人為王建歌

國策

松邪柏邪。往建共者客邪。

A song sung by people of Qi about their Prince Jian. The song predicted that when Prince Jian went to Qin kingdom, he would be confined to a forest of pine and fir.

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莊辛引鄙語

國策

見兔而顧犬。未為晚也。亡羊而補牢。未為遲也。

Looking for the hound only when one sees the hare is still not too late. Mending the fence when one loses a sheep is still not too late.

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或為黃齊引諺

國策

見君之乘下之。 見杖起之。

One should get off one’s vehicle when seeing the king’s vehicle coming. One should stand up when seeing that the king is getting his cane and is about to leave.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

孟嘗君引鄙語

國策

借車者馳之。借衣者被之。

When one borrows someone else’s car, one keeps on riding the car. When one borrows someone else’s clothes, one keeps on wearing them.

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趙武靈王引諺

國策

以書為御者。不盡於馬之情。以古制今者。不達於事之變。

One who rides on a horse by reading a book about horses does not know horses well. One whouses an ancient rule to govern the present does not necessarily see the changes that take place.

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蘇秦引鄙語

國策

寧為雞口。無為牛後。

One would rather be the mouth of a chicken than be the buttock of a cow.

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韓公仲引諺

國策

貴其所以貴者貴。If one is respected, it is only because one shows one’s respect for others first.

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燕王引諺二則

國策

厚者不毀人以自益也。仁者不危人以要名。論不脩心。議不累物。仁不輕絕。智不簡功。

A kind person would never ruin others in order to get benefit for oneself. A kind person would never damage others in order to establish fame for oneself. When one is discussing a matter, one’s self-interest should not get in the way. When one is discussing an object, that object should not be damaged in the process. A kind person would not cut off one’s relation with another hastily. A wise person would never be eager to ask for acknowledgment of his or her contribution.

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荊軻易水歌

國策

風蕭蕭兮易水寒。壯士一去兮不復還。