Duke Huan of Ch’i returned from attacking the Shan-jung

When Duke Huan of Ch’i went to attack the Shan-jung, his route passed through Yen, and the Prince of Yen escorted him beyond the borders of his own state. Duke Huan asked Kuan Chung, "When one feudal lord escorts another, is it right that he should go beyond his own borders?"

Kuan Chung said, "Unless it is the Son of Heaven whom he is escorting, he does not go beyond his own borders."

Duke Huan said, "Then it was out of fear of me that he violated ritual usage (li). It is not right that I should be the cause of the Prince of Yen's violating ritual (li)."

Whereupon he cut off his territory as far as the Prince of Yen had gone and presented it to Yen. When the feudal lords heard of this, they all payed their respects in the court of Ch’i. The Ode says,

Quietly fulfill the duties of your offices,
Loving the correct and the upright.
So shall the Spirits hearken to you,

And give you large measures of bright happiness.

齐桓公伐山戎，其道过燕，燕君送之出境。桓公问管仲曰：“诸侯相送，固出境乎？”管仲曰：“非天子不出境。”桓公曰：“然畏而失礼也。寡人不可使燕失礼。”乃割燕君所至之地以与之。诸侯闻之，皆朝于齐。《诗》曰：“静恭尔位，好是正直。神之听之，介尔景福。”

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