说苑/晉平公使叔嚮聘於吳，吳人拭舟以逆之，左五百人，右五百人，有繡衣而豹裘者，有錦衣而狐裘者。

晉平公使叔嚮聘於吳，吳人拭舟以逆之，左五百人，右五百人，有繡衣而豹裘者，有錦衣而狐裘者。

Eric Henry

Lord Ping of Jin had Shu Xiang56 go to Wu on a diplomatic mission. The men of Wu scrubbed their boats clean in order to welcome him.

叔嚮歸以告平公，平公曰：「吳其亡乎！

Eric Henry

There were five hundred people on the left and five hundred people on the right.

奚以敬舟？

Eric Henry

There were some who wore brocaded clothes with leopard skins and some with embroidered clothes and fox skins.

奚以敬民？

Eric Henry

When Shu Xiang returned and reported this, Lord Ping said, “Will not Wu perish?

」叔向對曰：「君為馳底之臺，上可以發千兵，下可以陳鍾鼓，諸侯聞君者，亦曰：「奚以敬臺？

Eric Henry

Why do they show respect to boats?

奚以敬民？

Eric Henry

How will they show respect to people?” “Your Lordship is building a tower at Chidi,” Shu Xiang replied.

所敬各異也。

Eric Henry

“From the top of it one can send forth a thousand troops, and around its base one can display bells and drums.

」於是平公乃罷臺。

Eric Henry

When the other lords hear of this deed of yours, they too will say, ‘Why does he show respect to towers?

Eric Henry

How can he show respect to people?’ The only difference is that the thing respected is not the same.” After hearing Shu Xiang’s words, Lord Ping ordered work on the tower to stop.