Of old the Ssŭ-ch’êng Tzŭ-han was minister to the ruler of Sung. He said to the Prince of Sung, "Now the peace of a state and the governance of its people depend on the conduct of the ruler. Titles and rewards are what people like. May Your Highness take charge of them. Executions and punishments are what the people hate. Let me be responsible for them."
The Prince said, "Agreed. I will get their approval and you will receive their hatred. I am convinced that I will not be the laughing-stock of the feudal lords."
When the people of the state knew that the punishments of death and decapitation were entirely in the hands of Tzŭ-han, the great ministers were friendly with him and the common people feared him. Before the year was out, Tzŭ-han had driven out the Prince of Sung and taken over the government himself. Just as Lao-tzŭ says,
It is best to leave the fish down in his pool;
Best to leave the State's sharpest weapons where none can see them.
The Ode says,
But why does he call us to action,
Without coming and consulting with us?
昔者、司城子罕相宋，谓宋君曰：“夫国家之安危，百姓之治乱，在君之行。夫爵禄赏赐举，人之所好也，君自行之；杀戮刑罚，民之所恶也，臣请当之。”君曰：“善。寡人当其美，子受其恶，寡人自知不为诸侯笑矣。”国人知杀戮之刑专在子罕也，大臣亲之，百姓畏之，居不期年，子罕遂去宋君，而专其政。故《老子》曰：“鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。”《诗》曰：“胡为我作，不即我谋。”
The Prince said, "Agreed. I will get their approval and you will receive their hatred. I am convinced that I will not be the laughing-stock of the feudal lords."
When the people of the state knew that the punishments of death and decapitation were entirely in the hands of Tzŭ-han, the great ministers were friendly with him and the common people feared him. Before the year was out, Tzŭ-han had driven out the Prince of Sung and taken over the government himself. Just as Lao-tzŭ says,
It is best to leave the fish down in his pool;
Best to leave the State's sharpest weapons where none can see them.
The Ode says,
But why does he call us to action,
Without coming and consulting with us?
昔者、司城子罕相宋，谓宋君曰：“夫国家之安危，百姓之治乱，在君之行。夫爵禄赏赐举，人之所好也，君自行之；杀戮刑罚，民之所恶也，臣请当之。”君曰：“善。寡人当其美，子受其恶，寡人自知不为诸侯笑矣。”国人知杀戮之刑专在子罕也，大臣亲之，百姓畏之，居不期年，子罕遂去宋君，而专其政。故《老子》曰：“鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。”《诗》曰：“胡为我作，不即我谋。”
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