魏王欲攻邯郸
Wei’s King Wanted to Attack Handan
【今译】
魏王想攻打邯郸，季梁听到这个消息后，半路上就返回来，衣服皱巴巴的也顾不上弄平，头上的尘土也顾不上洗掉，就去拜见魏王说：“刚 刚我往回走的时候，在大路上见到一个人，他正驾着车往北走，告诉我 说：‘我要到楚国去。’我说：‘您到楚国，为什么要往北走？’那人说：‘我 的马好Z我说"马虽然好，但这不是去楚国的道路。’那人说：‘我的路 费很多。’我说：‘路费虽然多，但这不是去楚国的道路.’那人说：‘我的 车夫技术好这几个方面越好，离楚国就越远呢。’如今大王任何行动 都想成就王霸大业，一切举措都想取信于天下,凭借着大王的国土的至楚而北行也。”
【原文】
魏王欲攻邯郸。季梁闻之，中道而反，衣焦不申，头尘不去，往见王 曰今者臣来，见人于大行，方北面而持其驾，告臣曰：‘我欲之楚。’臣 臼：‘君之楚，将奚为北面？’曰吾马良/臣臼广马虽良，此非楚之路 也。’曰：‘吾用多。’臣曰：‘用虽多，此非楚之路也。’曰：‘吾御者善/此 数者愈善，而离楚愈远耳。今王动欲成覇王，举欲信于天下。恃王国之 大，兵之精锐，而攻邯郸，以广地尊名。王之动愈数，而离王愈远耳，犹广大、兵器的精良，却进攻邯郸来扩展土地、争取尊名，大王采取的行动越频繁，离成就王业就越远，如同想要到楚国去却往北走一样
Wei’s king wanted to send troops to attack Handan. When Ji Liang heard of this，he returned although he had travelled halfway to his destination. His clothes were creased?but he didn’t have time to smooth them. His head was very dirty? but he didn’t have time to wash it. Thus he went to see the king immediately and said, “When I was on the way back, I saw someone on the main road and he was driving his carriage and travelling towards the north. He told me, ‘I am heading for the state of Chu.' I said, ‘ If you are going to Chu, why are you travelling northwards?，He said,' My horse is very good, I said,' Although your horse is good，this is not the right way to Chu,，He said, “I have a lot of money prepared for this trip. J I said, ‘Although you have a lot of money, this is not the right way to Chu. He said, ‘My driver is very skillful," The more excellent the aformentioned factors are，the more distant you are from the state of Chu.' Now whatever Your Majesty does，you want to unify the world to become King or at least establish a most powerful state to become Lord-protector. Whatever action Your Majesty takes, you want to extend your honesty across the world. With your vast territory and excellent weapons， you are going to attack Handan to enlarge your territory and obtain a more powerful reputation. The more actions you take, the more difficult it is for you to unify the world. This is somewhat the same as travelling northwards to go to the state of Chu. ”