郭倩

1. In the Warring States Period， Qi Jinggong is the king of Qi. His favorite horse died. He is so angry that he decides to punish2 the groom3. Qi Jinggong says， “Come here， take the groom out and dismember4 him！” 春秋戰(zhàn)國時，齊國國君齊景公最心愛的馬突然得病死了。齊景公暴跳如雷，命令嚴(yán)懲馬夫。齊景公說：“來人，將馬夫拖出去肢解！”

2. At this time， the Prime Minister Yan Zi goes to the court to discuss official business. He hears that Qi Jinggong wants to kill the innocent groom and decides to persuade him. Yan Zi thinks， “If I persuaded him directly， the king would lose face. What should I do？” 正在這時，宰相晏子上朝議事。他聽說齊景公想殺了無辜的馬夫，決定前去勸諫。晏子心想：“如果直言勸說，陛下會覺得丟面子……怎么辦呢？”

3. Yan Zi has an idea and goes to visit Qi Jinggong. Qi Jinggong knows that Yan Zi wants to persuade him. So he is unhappy. Yan Zi says， “May I ask your Majesty？ Who is the first man Yao and Shun dismembered？” Qi Jinggong says， “Yao and shun are wise kings. They never dismembered anyone. OK. Dont dismember him.” 晏子心生一計(jì)，前去拜見齊景公。齊景公知道晏子想勸諫自己，很不高興。晏子說：“請教陛下，不知堯、舜肢解人時，是從誰身上開始的？”齊景公說：“堯、舜是賢明君主，從沒肢解過人。好吧，不要肢解他了?！?/p>

4. Yan Zi knows that Qi Jinggong has not vented5 his anger and the groom would die sooner or later. Then he has another idea. Yan Zi says， “We take it for granted6 that the groom should be sentenced to death. Lets list his crimes7 and make him die clearly.” Qi Jinggong says， “Thats right. It should be that.” 晏子知道齊景公還沒出氣，馬夫早晚難逃一死。他又想到一個辦法。晏子說：“我們都認(rèn)為馬夫被判死罪是理所應(yīng)當(dāng)?shù)?。把他的罪狀列出來，讓他也死得明白。”齊景公說：“沒錯，應(yīng)該這樣！”

5. Yan Zi begins to count the grooms crimes calmly. Yan Zi says， “First， he makes the horse dead. Second， the horse is the kings favorite one. Third， he makes the king kill somebody because of a horse， and the people would think the king is cruel.” 晏子不慌不忙，開始羅列馬夫的罪狀。晏子說：“首先，他把陛下的馬養(yǎng)死了；其

6. It is not counting the grooms crimes but persuading the king to correct his mistake. After hearing it， Qi Jinggong orders to set the groom free at once and never persists8 in the matter. 這哪里是在列舉馬夫的罪狀，分明是在勸諫國君改正他的過錯。齊景公聽完，連忙下令放了馬夫，不再追究。