或献书燕王
Someone Presented a Letter to Yan's King
【原文】
或献书燕王王而不能自恃，不恶卑名以事强。事强可以令国安 长久，万世之善计；以事强而不可以为万世，则不如合弱。将奈何合弱而不能如一？此臣之所为山东苦也！
【今译】
有人给燕王呈递一封信作为一个国君，如果不能依靠自己的力 量保全国家，就不要讨厌背负侍奉强国的卑贱名声。假如侍奉强大的 国家可以让自己的国家得到长久的安定，就是有利于万世的好计策；假如靠侍奉强国也不能谋取长久的利益，就不如联合弱小的国家。为什么弱小的国家不能始终如一地保持联合呢？这是我为山东各国所担心
Someone presented a letter to the king of the state of Yan, which stated，“If a sovereign is not able to maintain his state, he should not be loath to bear the less honourable reputation of turning to a powerful state. If turning to a powerful state can guarantee long-term peace and stability for the state，it can be regarded as a good strategy that can benefit ten thousand generations to come* If resorting to a powerful state cannot benefit ten thousand generations to come, it would be better to ally with some weak states adhere to the strategy of building alliances? That’s what I am worrying about those states located east of Mount Xiao. ”