〈出師表〉英譯 ⊙ 方志彬
“Your Servant Zhuge Liang observes: The late Emperor laid the foundation of our state, but had not accomplished the half when he died in the middle of his task. At present the empire is divided into three parts, of which Yizhou (i.e., Shu) is the most exhausted. This is indeed a most critical time as to security and danger, existence and annihilation. Within the capital the officials who attend Your Majesty are not remiss, and outside the capital gentlemen of loyal heart forget their own persons in serving the state; this is because they recall the extraordinary treatment accorded them by the late Emperor and would requite it to Your Majesty.
“You indeed must open your sage hearing, in order to glorify the virtue bequeathed you by the late Emperor, and encourage the spirit of the gentlemen of loyal heart. You should not demean yourself by listening to improper instruction, for thus will you obstruct the road of loyal admonition.
“It is all one whether it has to do with the palace or the chengxiang fu: there must not be any discrimination on matters of rewarding the good and punishing the wicked. As for those who commit misdeeds and transgress the laws or those who act loyally and well, all should be referred to the proper officials to decide their punishments or rewards, thus brilliantly demonstrating the just rule of Your Majesty; there should be no partiality, nor different laws for those within the palace and those outside it.
“The Palace Attendant (shizhong) and Gentlemen in Attendance (shilang) such as Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun, etc., are all good and sound, their heart and thought loyal and pure; it was because of this that the late Emperor picked them out and left them to Your Majesty. I presume to hold the opinion that they should be consulted on all matters pertaining to the palace, great or small, and that only thereafter should action be taken; they are certain to supplement and complement, to bring about benefit and advantage.
“The jiangjun Xiang Chong is by nature good and upright, and is well-versed in military matters; in the past he was given his trial and the late Emperor pronounced him competent. Therefore the consensus recommended Xiang Chong to be a Controller (du). I presume to maintain that on all camp matters he should be consulted to insure peace and amity within the barracks, and appropriate use of men of different qualities.
“By befriending able ministers and avoiding mean men, the Former Han flourished; by befriending mean men and avoiding able ministers, the Later Han perished. In his day the late Emperor discussed this matter with me, and he never abstained from heaving a sigh and showing his dissatisfaction with the Emperor Huan-Di and Ling-Di.
“The Palace Attendant of the Imperial Secretariat (shizhong shangshu) Chen Zhen, the Chief Clerk (changshi) Zhang Yi, and the Adviser to the Army (canjun) Jiang Wan are all officials who are correct and upright, ready to die for the state. I hope Your Majesty will befriend them and trust them; then the flourishing of the House of Han can be looked forward to in a short time.
“Originally I was a mere commoner, tilling land with my own hands at Nan-yang; I was just preserving my life and existence in a time of troubles, not seeking name and fame among the feudal lords. The late Emperor did not consider me to be too mean for his condescension, and thrice deigned to visit me personally in my grass-thatched hut, where he consulted me on contemporary affairs. I was moved at this and in the end I offered myself to the service of the late Emperor, to be commanded by him. Later on, we encountered defeat and loss; I was entrusted with work at the time when the army was defeated and received his command in times of danger and difficulty.
“That was twenty-one years ago. Well aware of my prudence, the late Emperor, on his death-bed, entrusted me with the great work. Having received his command, day and night I have sighed and worried lest I should fail his trust and discredit the late Emperor’s judgment.
“And so in the fifth month of 225 A.D. I crossed the Lu river and made a deep incursion into the land of waste and barrenness. Now the southern region is pacified; our armaments are sufficient. I now ought to encourage and lead the Three Armies and pacify China Proper in the north; thus I may exert my utmost, stupid though I am, to exterminate the wicked and unruly, bring restoration to the House of Han and recover the ancient capital. This is my duty, to requite the late Emperor and serve Your Majesty loyally.
“As for holding consultations and deliberations and offering advice loyally and thoroughly, these are the duties of Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, and Dong Yun. I hope that Your Majesty will entrust myself with accomplishing the punishment of the rebels and the restoration of the House of Han. If my work is not accomplished, punish me for my misdeed and annouce it to the spirit of the late Emperor. I also hope you will reprove any negligence on the part of Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, and Dong Yun and publish their faults. Further, Your Majesty ought to make your own deliberations, but consult good counsel and accept excellent words; thus you will be profoundly following the late Emperor’s last will.
“I am greatly moved at having received such graciousness. Now that I am going far away, tears stream down as I face this memorial. I do not know what more to say.”
（文本来源：Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms (Organized)）