Biographies of Jesters (滑稽列傳 Guji Liezhuan) Part Six

Paragraph 6: Yo Meng (優孟) (2/2)

Sun Shu-ao (Sun pronounced "soon"; family name: 蒍 wei3, name: 敖 ao2, courtesy name: 叔敖 shu3ao2; born in his family fief near Mt. Sun, hence better known as Sun Shu-ao, i.e., Shu-ao of Sun) knew that Yo Meng was a man of integrity and hence treated Yo Meng well. It was when Sun Shu-ao served the Chu Dukedom as its Lord Chancellor. At his death bed, Sun told his son, "After I die, you shall suffer poverty. Go to Yo Meng when in need and tell him you are the son of Sun Shu-ao." Several years came to pass, the son suffered poverty and sustained his life by gathering firewood. He then met with Yo Meng and told him, "I am the son of Sun Shu-ao and was told by my father to come to you when in need." Yo Meng told him, "Stay near the palace and wait for my message." Soon Yo Meng learned to dress himself the way Sun did, to act the way Sun did, and to talk the way Sun did. Over one full year, Yo Meng became such a mirror image of Sun Shu-ao that even Duke Chu and his subjects at court couldn't tell the difference: It was at the celebration of Zhuangwang's birthday when the feast was set and Yo Meng approached Zhuangwang to greet him. Zhuangwang, taken by surprise, thought that Sun Shu-ao came back to life. Thus impressed, Zhuangwang then implored him to serve at court as his Lord Chancellor. Yo Meng responded to Zhuangwang's request, "I beg you to allow me three days' time so I can break it to my wife before I can serve you." Zhuangwang allowed, and Yo Meng returned to the palace in three days. Zhuangwang asked, "What did your wife say?" Yo Meng answered, "'Never,' she said, 'the office of the Lord Chancellor of Chu is an unworthy position.' and she mentioned Sun Shu-ao to justify her point. 'Sun Shu-ao made every effort to manage the Dukedom of Chu faithfully as well as to maintain his integrity and stay off bribery. While his efforts contribute to the prominence of the Duke of Chu, his son is left to dire poverty after his death, left to gather firewood for meager subsistence. If you serve Chu as its Lord Chancellor, what happened to Shun Shu-ao happens to you. You might as well kill yourself now.'" Yo Meng then started to sing:

"Live in the mountains by farming--hard work for scarce food.

Rise to the court as a royal subject--extra gain at the cost of honor.

Build a rich household on bribery--from risk of life to the whole family punishable.

A major crime that defies law brings death to the person and end to his family.

How can one who serves at court serve greedily?

While serving at court, serve honestly!

Abide by law, carry out duties, and stay away from offence acts.

While serving at court, serve honestly!

Sun Shu-ao, the Lord Chancellor, died with honor and honesty;

Sun Shu-ao's wife and son live by gathering wood and in poverty.

How unworthy it is to serve honestly!"

At this, Zhuangwang showed his gratitude to Yo Meng and called forth the son of Sun Shu-ao. The son was granted Qin-qiu, a fief of 400 households, to support and honor his family. The grant lasted for ten generations of the Sun family. What Yo Meng did demonstrates what timely advice can do.

Two centuries and more came to pass. There in Qin was Yo Zhan.

*楚相孫叔敖知其賢人也，善待之。病且死，屬(zhu3)其子曰：「我死，汝必貧困。若往見優孟，言我孫叔敖之子也。」居數年，其子窮困負薪，逢優孟，與言曰：「我，孫叔敖子也。 父且死時，屬我貧困往見優孟。」優孟曰：「若無遠有所之。」 即為孫叔敖衣冠，抵掌談語。歲餘，像孫叔敖，楚王及左右不能別也。莊王置酒，優孟前為壽 。莊王大驚， 以為孫叔敖復生也，欲以為相。優孟曰：「請歸與婦計之，三日而為相。」莊王許之。三日後，優孟復來。王曰： 「婦言謂何？」孟曰：「婦言慎無為，楚相不足為也。如孫叔敖之為楚相，盡忠為廉以治楚，楚王得以霸。 今死，其子無立錐之地，貧困負薪以自飲(yin4)食(si4)。必如孫叔敖，不如自殺。」因歌曰：「山居耕田苦，難以得食。起而為吏，身貪鄙者餘財，不顧恥辱。 身死家室富，又恐受賕(qiu2)枉法，為姦觸大罪，身死而家滅。貪吏安可為也！念為 廉吏，奉法守職，竟死不敢為非。廉吏安可為也！楚相孫叔敖持廉至死，方今 妻子窮困負薪而食，不足為也！」於是莊王謝優孟，乃召孫叔敖子，封之寢丘四百戶，以奉其祀。後十世不絕。此知(zhi4)可以言時矣。

其後二百餘年，秦有優旃(zhan1)。
**The original paragraph in Chinese is taken from: Sima Qian. Ed. Han Zhaoqi. New Translation Shiji. vol.VIII. Taipei: Sanmin, 2008. 4947-4948. (司馬遷. 韓兆琦 注譯. 新譯史記, 第八冊. 臺北市：三民, 2008. 4947-4948頁. ISBN: 978-95-14-5001-8). All translation is based upon the text and annotations thereof (4949-4950).
***All translation is mine.