楼缓将使伏事辞行
Lou Huan Was About to Travel to Another State on a Diplomatic Mission
【原文】
楼缓将使，伏事辞行，谓赵王曰虽尽力竭知，死不复见于王 矣王曰:“是何言也？固且为书而厚寄卿楼子曰王不闻公子牟夷 之于宋乎？非肉不食。文张善宋，恶公子牟夷，（寅）[宋]然曰：“今臣 之于王，非宋之于公子牟夷也，而恶臣者过文张。故臣死不复见于王 矣/’王曰子勉行矣，寡人与子有誓言矣。”楼子遂行。
【今译】
楼缓即将出使外国，接受任务后向赵王辞行，对赵王说虽然我竭尽自己的能力与智谋为大王效劳，但我到死也不能再见到大王了。”赵 王说广这是什么话？我本来就想写一封信把您郑重地托付给对方。”楼 缓说广大王没有听说过公子牟夷在宋国的故事吗？每顿饭上的不是肉 就不吃。文张跟宋国的关系很好，他敗坏公子牟夷，宋王同意了他的看 法。如今我跟大王的关系比不上公子牟夷跟宋王的关系好，然而敗坏 我的人超过了文张。所以我到死也不能再见到大王了。”赵王说广你就 努力出使吧，我跟你立下誓言了于是楼缓就出发了。
Lou Huan was about to travel to another state on a diplomatic mission. He accepted this task and then went to say good-bye to the king of the state of Zhao. He said, “Although I will try my best to serve Your Majesty, I won’t be able to see you again till the end of my life. ” The king said，“Why did you say that? I did think of writing a letter to the other sovereign to entrust him with your well-being.” Lou Huan said，“Haven’t you heard of the story of Childe Mouyi in the state of Song? He used to be served with nothing but delicious meat. Wen Zhang was close to the king of Song, He spoke ill of Childe Mouyi and the king thought his opinions of Childe Mouyi were warranted. My relationship with Your Majesty is not as close as that of Childe Mouyi and the king of Song. However, there are people more powerful than Wen Zhang trying to slander me. So I won’t be able to see you again till the end of my life, ” The king said, “Go to perform your duties. I swear that I won’t listen to them. ”
【原文】
后以中牟反，人梁。候者来言而王弗听，曰吾已与楼子有言矣。”
【今译】
后来中牟造反，楼缓去了魏国，负责刺探的官吏来报告，赵王却不 听，说我跟楼先生早就约好了。”
Lou Huan then left for his destination. After some time, he stirred up an rebellion against the state of Zhao in Zhongmou，and went to the state of Wei. When the officer in charge of intelligence reported it to the king，the king wouldn’t listen to him. He said, “I have already promised Mr Lou. ”