莒人伐我东鄙,以疆鄫田。
秋九月,大雩,旱也。
冬,楚子囊伐郑,讨其侵蔡也。
子驷、子国、子耳欲从楚,子孔、子蟜、子展欲待晋。子驷曰:「《周诗》有之曰:『俟河之清,人寿几何?兆云询多,职竞作罗。』谋之多族,民之多违,事滋无成。民急矣,姑从楚以纾吾民。晋师至,吾又从之。敬共币帛,以待来者,小国之道也。牺牲玉帛,待于二竞,以待强者而庇民焉。寇不为害,民不罢病,不亦可乎?」子展曰:「小所以事大,信也。小国无信,兵乱日至,亡无日矣。五会之信,今将背之,虽楚救我,将安用之?亲我无成,鄙我是欲,不可从也。不如待晋。晋君方明,四军无阙,八卿和睦,必不弃郑。楚师辽远,粮食将尽,必将速归,何患焉?舍之闻之:『杖莫如信。』完守以老楚,杖信以待晋,不亦可乎?」子驷曰:「《诗》云:『谋夫孔多,是用不集。发言盈庭,谁敢执其咎?如匪行迈谋,是用不得于道。』请从楚,□非也受其咎。」乃及楚平。
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《左传·襄公八年》是左丘明编撰的春秋时期的历史文献,记载了春秋时期鲁国与其他国家之间的政治、军事事件和外交交往。以下是这首诗的逐句释义及翻译:
- “莒人伐我东鄙”
- 诗句解释:莒国的军队攻击了鲁国东部的边境。
- 翻译:Jin people launched an attack on the eastern border of our state.
- “以疆鄫田”
- 诗句解释:为了扩张领土,莒国人占领了鄫国的田地。
- 翻译:They occupied the lands belonging to Sheng state for expansion.
- “秋九月,大雩,旱也”
- 诗句解释:秋季的九月,举行了一次大雩祭,这是由于天旱造成的。
- 翻译:In September, a grand rainy sacrifice was held due to the drought.
- “冬,楚子囊伐郑,讨其侵蔡也”
- 诗句解释:冬季期间,楚国的子囊率领军队攻打郑国,这是因为郑国侵犯了蔡国。
- 翻译:In winter, Zi Nang, from Chu, attacked Zheng, seeking punishment for its incursion into Cai.
- “子驷、子国、子耳欲从楚,子孔、子蟜、子展欲待晋”
- 诗句解释:子驷、子国和子耳想要跟随楚国,而子孔、子蟜和子展希望等待晋国。
- 翻译:The ministers Zi Si, Zi Guo, and Zi Er wanted to support Chu while Zi Kang, Zi Jia, and Zi Zhan wanted to wait for Jing.
- “夫《周诗》有之曰:‘俟河之清,人寿几何?兆云询多,职竞作罗’”
- 诗句解释:根据《诗经》,有这样一句话:“等到黄河水变清时,人的寿命又能有多长?预言太多,职位竞争太激烈。”
- 翻译:From the Book of Songs it is written: “When will the river clear, how long can one live? The prophecies are many, competition for offices fierce.”
- “谋之多族,民之多违,事滋无成。”
- 诗句解释:由于计划太多,导致民众违背命令,事情无法成功。
- 翻译:Because there were too many plans and commands, the people rebelled, making the task unsuccessful.
- “民急矣,姑从楚以纾吾民”
- 诗句解释:民众已经非常急迫,所以暂时听从楚国以便缓解民众的生活。
- 翻译:The people are in urgent need, so we follow Chu to ease their lives.
- “晋师至,吾又从之。敬共币帛,以待来者,小国之道也。”
- 诗句解释:当晋军到达后,我们又将追随他们。恭敬地准备礼物和丝织物,以备未来之人使用,这是小国应遵循的道理。
- 翻译:When the Jin forces arrived, we followed their lead. By offering gifts and silk, we prepared for future visitors, which is the way of a minor country.
- “舍之闻之:‘杖莫如信。’完守以老楚,杖信以待晋,不亦可乎?”
- 诗句解释:有人说:“最可靠的方法莫过于守信。坚守防御使楚国疲惫,依靠诚信对待晋国,这不是也很好吗?”
- 翻译:I heard that, “What’s more reliable than trust?” Conduct a strong defense to tire out Chu with old age and rely on trust to wait for Jing, isn’t it feasible?