咎犯聞之,中夜而哭。
When Jiu Fan12 heard of this, he wept in the middle of the night.
文公曰:「吾亡也十有九年矣,今將反國,夫子不喜而哭,何也?
Lord Wen said, “I have been in exile nineteen years and only now am returning to my state, but, instead of rejoicing, you weep.
其不欲吾反國乎?
Why?
」對曰:「籩豆茵席,所以官者也,而棄之;顏色黧黑,手足胼胝,所以執勞苦者也,而皆後之。
臣聞國君蔽士,無所取忠臣;大夫蔽遊,無所取忠友;今至於國,臣在所蔽之中矣,不勝其哀,故哭也。
Could it be that you do not wish for my return?” “Mats and vessels,” replied Jiu Fan, “are used to signify official rank, but you have cast them away; calluses and dark complexions are the visible results of hardship and exertion, but you have concealed them in the rear.
」文公曰:「禍福利害,不與咎氏同之者,有如白水。
I have heard that, when a ruler discards his men, he will then lack means to obtain loyal officers and that, when an officer discards acquaintances, he will then lack means to gain loyal friends.
」祝之,乃沉璧而盟。
Now, having come to Jin, I find myself among the discarded.
介子推曰:「獻公之子九人,唯君在耳。
I was unable to contain my grief at this, so I wept.” “If I should fail to share all my good and evil fortune with my uncle’s clan,” replied Lord Wen, “may I be like plain water.” Having sworn this oath, he dropped a jade disc into the river in testimony of his promise.
天未絕晉,必將有主,主晉祀者,非君而何?
Jie Zitui14 said, “Of Lord Xian’s nine sons, only his lordship remains.
唯二三子者以為己力,不亦誣乎!
」文公即位,賞不及推,推母曰:「盍亦求之?
As Heaven has not extinguished Jin, it is inevitable that Jin should have a ruler—who else but his lordship, then, should take charge of the altars of Jin’s ruling house?
」推曰:「尤而效之,罪又甚焉。
But you gentlemen believe that all this arose from your own exertions—is this not a great falsehood?” When Lord Wen came to the throne, he failed to reward Zitui.
且出怨言,不食其食。
Zitui’s mother said to him, “Why not seek a reward anyway?” Zitui said, “To have entered service though incapable was already a great offense.
」其母曰:「亦使知之。
If I should air grievances as well, I would then have no right to eat his food.” “But you could still have someone inform him of this,” said his mother.
」推曰:「言,身之文也,身將隱,安用文?
」其母曰:「能如是,與若俱隱,至死不復見。」
Lord Wen of Jin: see 1.22, n. 80 12 Jiu Fan: see preceding item, n. 8.