左右武士以目视之，芝但微微而笑。
and the savage executioners glaring at him, he only smiled.
近臣引至帘前，邓芝长揖不拜。
He was led to the front of the curtain +behind which sat the Prince of Wu, and he made the ordinary salutation of raising his extended arms, but he did not bow in obeisance.
权令卷起珠帘，大喝曰：“何不拜！”
The Prince bade his attendants roll up the curtain, and called out, "Why do you not make an obeisance?”
芝昂然而答曰：“上国天使，不拜小邦之主。”
Deng Zhi replied, "The envoy of the superior state does not make an obeisance to the ruler of a smaller country."
可速入油鼎。”
You will soon find yourself in the cauldron."
芝大笑曰：“人皆言东吴多贤，谁想惧一儒生！”
Then Deng Zhi laughed aloud, saying, "People say there are many sages in Wu.
No one would believe that they would be frightened of a simple scholar. "
芝曰：“既不惧邓伯苗，何愁来说汝等也？”
"If you fear not the envoy, why so anxious about what he may have to say?”
芝曰：“吾乃蜀中一儒生，特为吴国利害而来。
"I am a simple scholar of Shu, and I am come to explain matters to the state of Wu.
乃设兵陈鼎，以拒一使，何其局量之不能容物耶！”
But here I find armed guards and a boiling cauldron all prepared against an envoy.-,+How can I form any other opinion than that you will not allow me to speak?”
权闻言惶愧，即叱退武士，命芝上殿，赐坐而问曰：“吴、魏之利害若何？
As soon as Sun Quan heard these words, he bade the soldiers go, and called the envoy into the hall.
There he invited Deng Zhi to a seat and said, "What is the real matter between Wei and Wu?”
芝曰：“大王欲与蜀和，还是欲与魏和？”
Then Deng Zhi replied, "Do you, great Prince, desire to discuss peace with Wei or with Shu?”
权曰：“孤正欲与蜀主讲和；但恐蜀主年轻识浅，不能全始全终耳。”
"I really desire to discuss peace with the Ruler of Shu.
But he is young and inexperienced and ignorant, and unable to carry a matter through."
芝曰：“大王乃命世之英豪，诸葛亮亦一时之俊杰；蜀有山川之险，吴有三江之固：若二国连和，共为唇齿，进则可以兼吞天下，退则可以鼎足而立。
"Prince, you are a valiant warrior, just as Zhuge Liang is a great minister.
Now Shu has the strength of its mountainous geography just as Wu has the protection of its three rivers.
If these two countries are at peace, they are mutually protective.
They may swallow up the rest of the empire, or they may stand secure alone.
今大王若委贽称臣于魏，魏必望大王朝觐，求太子以为内侍；如其不从，则兴兵来攻，蜀亦顺流而进取：如此则江南之地，不复为大王有矣。
If you send tribute to Wei and acknowledge yourself one of its ministers, you will be expected to attend at court, and your heir-apparent will become a servant in that court; and if you disobey, an army of Wei will be sent to attack you.
Shu also will come down the river and invade your country.
Then the South Land will be yours no longer.
若大王以愚言为不然，愚将就死于大王之前，以绝说客之名也。”
And if you listen not to these words of mine, and refuse my offer, I shall commit suicide before your face and so justify the post I have as an envoy."
言讫，撩衣下殿，望油鼎中便跳。
As Deng Zhi spoke these last words, he gathered up his robes and marched down the hall as though he was just going to jump into the cauldron.
权急命止之，请入后殿，以上宾之礼相待。
"Stop him!" cried Sun Quan, and they did so.
Then he requested Deng Zhi to go into an inner apartment, where he treated the envoy as a guest of the highest honor.
孤今欲与蜀主连和，先生肯为我介绍乎！”
and I desire to make a league of peace with your country.
Are you willing to be the intermediary?”
于是吴王留住邓芝，集多官问曰：“孤掌江南八十一州，更有荆楚之地，反不如西蜀偏僻之处也。
Deng Zhi was detained, and a conclave of officers gathered.
Said Sun Quan to the assembly, "Under my hand are all eighty-one counties of the southeast, and I have the lands of Jingzhou to boot, yet I am not so well off as that little country of Shu,
忽一人出班奏曰：“臣愿为使。”
Then one stepped forth and said he would go.
众视之，乃吴郡吴人，姓张，名温，字惠恕，现为中郎将。
-The speaker was Zhang Wen of Wucheng, who held the office of Imperial Commander.
权曰：“恐卿到蜀见诸葛亮，不能达孤之情。”
"Sir, I fear that when you reach Shu and are in the presence of Zhuge Liang, you will not explain my real sentiments," said Sun Quan.
权大喜，重赏张温，使同邓芝入川通好。
Sun Quan conferred great gifts on Zhang Wen, and sent him on the return mission to Shu to negotiate the league of peace.
吴地多贤，定有人来答礼。
and of the many wise people in the east one will come as return envoy.