然而巨盗至，则负匮、揭箧、担囊而趋；唯恐缄縢、扃鐍之不固也。
When a great thief comes, however, he shoulders the box, lifts up the satchel, carries off the bag, and runs away with them, afraid only that the cords, bonds, and clasps may not be secure; and in this case what was called the wisdom (of the owners) proves to be nothing but a collecting of the things for the great thief.
然则乡之所谓知者，不乃为大盗积者也？
Let me try and set this matter forth.
故尝试论之，世俗之所谓知者，有不为大盗积者乎？
Do not those who are vulgarly called wise prove to be collectors for the great thieves ?
And do not those who are called sages prove to be but guardians in the interest of the great thieves ?
所谓圣者，有不为大盗守者乎？
How do I know that the case is so ?
何以知其然邪？
Formerly, in the state of Khî, the neighbouring towns could see one another; their cocks and dogs never ceased to answer the crowing and barking of other cocks and dogs (between them).
昔者齐国，邻邑相望，鸡狗之音相闻，罔罟之所布，耒耨之所刺，方二千余里。
The nets were set (in the water and on the land); and the ploughs and hoes were employed over more than a space of two thousand l square.
阖四竟之内，所以立宗庙社稷，治邑屋州闾乡曲者，曷尝不法圣人哉？
All within its four boundaries, the establishment of the ancestral temples and of the altars of the land and grain, and the ordering of the hamlets and houses, and of every corner in the districts, large, medium, and small, were in all particulars according to the rules of the sages So it was ; but yet one morning, Thien 368 killed the ruler of Kh , and stole his state.
And was it only the state that he stole?
然而田成子一旦杀齐君而盗其国，所盗者岂独其国邪？
Along with it he stole also the regulations of the sages and wise men (observed in it).
并与其圣知之法而盗之。
And so, though he got the name of being a thief and a robber, yet he himself continued to live as securely as Yâo and Shun had done.
故田成子有乎盗贼之名，而身处尧舜之安，小国不敢非，大国不敢诛，十二世有齐国。
Small states did not dare to find fault with him; great states did not dare to take him off ; for twelve generations (his descendants) have possessed the state of Kh Thus do we not have a case in which not only did (the party) steal the state of Kh , but at the same time the regulations of its sages and wise men, which thereby served to guard the person of him, thief and robber as he was?
则是不乃窃齐国并与其圣知之法，以守其盗贼之身乎？
Let me try to set forth this subject (still further).
Have not there been among those vulgarly styled the wisest, such as have collected (their wealth) for the great chief? and among those styled the most sage such as have guarded it for him?
尝试论之，世俗之所谓至知者，有不为大盗积者乎？
How do I know that it has been so?
何以知其然邪？
Formerly, Lung-f ng 370 was beheaded; P -kan 371 had his heart torn out; Khang Hung 372 was ripped open; and ze-hsü 373 was reduced to pulp (in the Kiang).
昔者龙逢斩，比干剖，苌弘胣，子胥靡。
Worthy as those four men were, they did not escape such dreadful deaths.
故四子之贤而身不免乎戮。
The followers of the robber Kih 374 asked him, saying, ‘Has the robber also any method or principle (in his proceedings)?’ He replied, ‘ What profession is there which has not its principles?
That the robber in his recklessness comes to the conclusion that there are valuable deposits in an apartment shows his sageness ; that he is the first to enter it shows his bravery; that he is the last to quit it shows his righteousness; that he knows whether (the robbery) may be attempted or not shows his wisdom ; and that he makes an equal division of the plunder shows his benevolence.
故跖之徒问于跖曰：“盗亦有道乎？
Without all these five qualities no one in the world has ever attained to become a great robber.’ Looking at the subject in this way, we see that good men do not arise without having the principles of the sages, and that Kih could not have pursued his course without the same principles.
”跖曰：“何适而无有道邪？
But the good men in the world are few, and those who are not good are many;—it follows that the sages benefit the world in a few instances and injure it in many.
”夫妄意室中之藏，圣也；入先，勇也；出后，义也；知可否，知也；分均，仁也。
Hence it is that we have the sayings, ‘ When the lips are gone the teeth are cold 375;’ ‘The poor wine of L gave occasion to the siege of Han-tan 376;’ ‘ when sages are born great robbers arise 377.’ When the stream is dried, the valley is empty; when the mound is levelled, the deep pool (beside it) is filled up.
五者不备而能成大盗者，天下未之有也。
When the sages have died, the great robbers will not arise; the world would be at peace, and there would be no more troubles.
While the sagely men have not died, great robbers will not cease to appear.
”由是观之，善人不得圣人之道不立，跖不得圣人之道不行；天下之善不少，而不善人多，则圣人之利天下也少，而害天下也多。
The more right that is attached to (the views of) the sagely men for the government of the world, the more advantage will accrue to (such men as) the robber Kih.
故曰：唇竭而齿寒，鲁酒薄而邯郸围，圣人生而大道起。
If we make for men pecks and bushels to measure (their wares), even by means of those pecks and bushels should we be teaching them to steal 378 ; if we make for them weights and steelyards to weigh (their wares), even by means of those weights and steelyards shall we be teaching them to steal.
掊击圣人，纵舍盗贼，而天下始治矣！
If we make for them tallies and seals to secure their good faith, even by means of those tallies and seals shall we be teaching them to steal.
夫川竭而谷虚，丘夷而渊实。
If we make for them benevolence and righteousness to make their doings correct, even by means of benevolence and righteousness shall we be teaching them to steal.
How do I know that it is so?
圣人已死，则大盗不起，天下平而无故矣。
Here is one who steals a hook (for his girdle) ;—he is put to death for it : here is another who steals a state;—he becomes its prince.