荀林父將歸請死，景公將許之，士貞伯曰：399「不可，城濮之役，晉勝於荊，文公猶有憂色，曰：『子玉猶存，憂未歇也。
Xun Lin-fu led his forces back and asked to be put to death.
困獸猶鬭，況國相乎？
Lord Jing160 was about to give his consent when Count Shi Zhen161 said, “This cannot be done.
』及荊殺子玉，乃喜曰：『莫予毒也！
After the battle of Chengpu in which Chu was defeated by Jin, Lord Wen [of Jin] still had a worried look and said, ‘Our troubles will not be over as long as Ziyu162 is still alive.
』今天或者大警晉也。
Even a cornered beast still fights, not to mention the prime minister of a great state.’ When Jing [i.e., Chu] executed Ziyu, he was pleased and said, ‘No one can now do me harm!’ In the present case it appears that Heaven has given Jin a great warning.
林父之事君，進思盡忠，退思補過，社稷之衛也；今殺之，是重荊勝也。
Lin-fu’s service to Your Lordship is such that, when successful, he concentrates on fulfilling his duties to the utmost and, when unsuccessful, concentrates on making good his faults.
」景公曰：「善。
」乃使復將。
He is a bulwark of the state—killing him would merely add to the victory of Jing [Chu].” “Excellent point!” said the lord of Jin. And he restored Lin-fu to his generalship.