吾使人卜之，祟在高山廣水。
I had a person make a divination concerning this, and he said that this calamity has arisen owing to the malevolent influence of high mountains and broad rivers.
寡人欲少賦斂以祠靈山，可乎？
I am thinking of lessening tax requisitions so as to supplicate the mountain spirits.
」群臣莫對。
Can this be done?” None of the assembled officers made reply.
晏子進曰：「不可，祠此無益也。
Yanzi48 stepped forward and said, “It can’t be done.
夫靈山固以石為身，以草木為髮，天久不雨，髮將焦，身將熱，彼獨不欲雨乎？
Supplications of this kind are useless.
祠之無益。
Mountain spirits, please note, have bodies made of rocks and hair composed of trees and grass.
」景公曰：「不然，吾欲祠河伯，可乎？
If a long time passes without rain, their hair will grow scorched and their bodies hot.
」晏子曰：「不可，祠此無益也。
Do they alone have no desire for rain?” “Then how would it be if I prayed to the Yellow River Lord?” asked Lord Jing.
夫河伯以水為國，以魚鱉為民，天久不雨，水泉將下，百川將竭，國將亡，民將滅矣，彼獨不用雨乎？
“That can’t be done,” replied Yanzi.
祠之何益？
“Addressing prayers to the River Lord would be useless.
」景公曰：「今為之奈何？
The River Lord, let us note, makes his state from water and regards fishes and turtles as his subjects.
」晏子曰：「君誠避宮殿暴露，與靈山、河伯共憂，其幸而雨乎。
If no rain should come for a long time, rivers and streams will subside, and the hundred streams will go dry; his state will perish and his people suffer extinction. Does the River Lord alone have no use for water?
」於是景公出野暴露，三日，天果大雨，民盡得種樹。
What good would it do to pray to him?” “What is to be done then?” asked Lord Jing.
景公曰：「善哉！
“If Your Lordship would leave the palace and expose yourself to the elements, sharing the dread felt by the mountain spirits and the River Lord,” replied Yanzi, “isn’t it possible that the rain might fall?” Lord Jing thereupon went out to the wilds, exposing himself to the elements, and in three days a great downpour came, and the people were able to plant their crops.
晏子之言，可無用乎？
“Fine indeed!” exclaimed Lord Jing.
其惟有德也。」
“How can one not use the words of Yanzi?
They alone produce results!