」對曰:「有。
“There is,” he said.
窮者達之,亡者存之,廢者起之,四方之士則四面而至矣。
“Find solutions for those in predicaments, preserve those faced with destruction, and reestablish those who have been cast off, and men from all directions will crowd around you.
窮者不達,亡者不存,廢者不起,四方之士則四面而畔矣。
If you do not find solutions for those in predicaments, do not preserve those faced with destruction, and do not establish those who have been cast off, then men from everywhere will rebel against you on all sides.
夫城固不能自守,兵利不能自保,得士而失之,必有其閒。
A city wall, though strong, may prove indefensible, and weapons, though sharp, may prove insufficient for self-protection. If you obtain a man and afterwards lose him, there will surely have been a cause of disaffection. As long as his officers remain, a ruler will in general occupy a place of honor, but, once his officers leave, his position will be base.” “Are men-of-service indeed of such importance?” asked Duke Wei.
夫士存則君尊,士亡則君卑。
“Haven’t you heard of how it was in Chu?” said Master Ning. ‘The king had two officers named Chu Xi Xu and Qiu Fu Ke; because he was about to kill them, they fled to Jin, where they were given appointments.
The result was the battle of Chengpu.
」周威公曰:「士壹至如此乎?
“There was also an officer named Miao Fen Huang.
」對曰:「君不聞夫楚乎?
Because the king was about to kill him, he fled to Jin. The men of Jin employed him, and the result was the battle of Yanling.
王有士曰楚傒胥、丘負客,王將殺之,出亡之晉,晉人用之,是為城濮之戰。
“There was also an officer named Shang Jie Yu.
又有士曰苗賁皇,王將殺之,出亡走晉,晉人用之,是為鄢陵之戰。
He fled to Jin because the king was about to kill him.
又有士曰上解于,王將殺之,出亡走晉,晉人用之,是為兩堂之戰。
The men of Jin made use of him, and the result was the battle of Liangtang.89 83 Duke Wei of Zhou: a Zhou nobleman of the early Warring States era; see 3.20, n. 37.
Master Ning: Ning Yue; see 3.20, passim.