却说姜维见魏延踏灭了灯,心中忿怒,拔剑欲杀之。
The unhappy Wei Yan did not suffer the edge of the sword,
孔明止之曰:“此吾命当绝,非文长之过也。”
for Zhuge Liang stayed the stroke, saying, "It is my fate---not his fault."
孔明吐血数口,卧倒床上,谓魏延曰:“此是司马懿料吾有病,故令人来探视虚实。
Zhuge Liang spat a few mouthfuls of blood, then sank wearily upon his couch.
Said he, "Sima Yi thinks I am dead, and he sent these few troops to make sure.
汝可急出迎敌。”
Go and drive them off."
魏延领命,出帐上马,引兵杀出寨来。
Wei Yan left the tent and led out a small party to drive away the troops of Wei,
夏侯霸见了魏延,慌忙引军退走。
who fled as they appeared.
延追赶二十余里方回。
He chased them to more than seven miles and returned.
孔明令魏延自回本寨把守。
Then Zhuge Liang sent Wei Yan to his own camp and bade him keep a vigilant lookout.
姜维入帐,直至孔明榻前问安。
Presently Jiang Wei came in, went up to the sick man's couch, and asked how he felt.
孔明曰:“吾本欲竭忠尽力,恢复中原,重兴汉室;奈天意如此,吾旦夕将死。
Zhuge Liang replied, "My death is very near.
My chief desire has been to spend myself to the utmost to restore Han to its glory and to regain the Middle Land.
But Heaven decrees it otherwise.
My end is not far away.
吾平生所学,已著书二十四篇,计十万四千一百一十二字,内有八务、七戒、六恐、五惧之法。
I have written a book in twenty-four chpters, 104,112 words, treating the Eight Needfuls, the Seven Cautions, the Six Fears, and the Five Dreads of war.
吾遍观诸将,无人可授,独汝可传我书。
But among all those about me there is no one fit to receive it and carry on my work save you.
维哭拜而受。
He gave the treatise to Jiang Wei, who received it sobbing.
其法矢长八寸,一弩可发十矢,皆画成图本。
The weapon shoots ten bolts of eight inches length at every discharge.
The sketches are quite ready,
汝可依法造用。”
and the weapons can be made according to them."
维亦拜受。
Jiang Wei took the papers with a deep bow.
孔明又曰:“蜀中诸道,皆不必多忧;惟阴平之地,切须仔细。
The dying man continued, "There is no part of Shu that causes anxiety, save the Yinping Mountains.
That must be carefully guarded.
此地虽险峻,久必有失。”
It is protected naturally by its lofty precipices, but it will surely be the cause of great losses."
又唤马岱入帐,附耳低言,授以密计;嘱曰:“我死之后,汝可依计行之。”
Next Zhuge Liang sent for Ma Dai, to whom he gave certain whispered instructions, and then said, "You are to follow out my instructions after my death."
少顷,杨仪入。
Soon after, Yang Yi entered the tent and went to the couch.
孔明唤至榻前,授与一锦囊,密嘱曰:“我死,魏延必反;待其反时,汝与临阵,方开此囊。
He received a silken bag containing certain secret orders.
As Zhuge Liang gave it to him, he said, "After my death, Wei Yan will turn traitor.
When that happens and the army is in danger, you will find herein what to do."
孔明一一调度已毕,便昏然而倒,至晚方苏,便连夜表奏后主。
Just as these arrangements were finished, Zhuge Liang fell into a swoon, from which he did not revive till late in the evening.
Then he set himself to compose a memorial to the Latter Ruler.
后主闻奏大惊,急命尚书李福,星夜至军中问安,兼询后事。
When this reached the Latter Ruler, he was greatly alarmed and at once sent Chief Secretary Li Fu to visit and confer with the dying minister.
李福领命,趱程赴五丈原,入见孔明,传后主之命,问安毕。
Li Fu traveled quickly to the Wuzhang Hills and was led to the tent of the Commander-in-Chief.
He delivered the Latter Ruler's command and inquired after the sick man's welfare.