全文 · 中英對照
報任安書 Letter in Reply to Jen An
點任一行的 🔊 可以聽英譯的發音。本頁主譯文為本站自譯，逐句白話直譯。〈報任安書〉沒有公版英譯，右欄改放翟理斯譯《史記》的一段作對照。底本用《古文觀止》卷五（已去吳楚材評註）。
全文 2402 字 · 分 9 段
1第一段 · 為什麼拖到現在才回信目錄 ↑
開頭極其低微：自稱「牛馬走」，說自己「身殘處穢」。 而真正的原因藏在後面：任安快要被處死了。
太史公牛馬走司馬遷再拜言、少卿足下、Ssu-ma Ch'ien, ox-and-horse servant of the Grand Historian, bows twice and speaks. Shao-ch'ing, sir:
曩者辱賜書、教以慎於接物、推賢進士爲務。Some time ago you did me the honor of a letter, instructing me to be careful in my dealings and to make it my business to recommend worthy men and advance scholars.
意氣懃懃懇懇、若望僕不相師、而用流俗人之言、僕非敢如此也。Your intent was earnest and pressing, as though you resented my not following your lead and my using instead the words of common men. I would not dare do such a thing.
僕雖罷駑、亦嘗側聞長者之遺風矣。Worn-out nag though I am, I have heard at second hand something of what the elders left behind.
顧自以爲身殘處穢、動而見尤、欲益反損、是以獨抑鬱而誰與語。But I consider that my body is maimed and my place unclean: whatever I do draws blame, and trying to help only does harm. So I brood alone — and to whom should I speak?
諺曰、誰爲爲之、孰令聽之。The proverb says: for whom should one act, and whom should one get to listen?
蓋鍾子期死、伯牙終身不復鼓琴。When Chung Tzu-ch'i died, Po Ya never played the lute again as long as he lived.
何則、士爲知己者用、女爲說己者容。Why? A man of ability works for one who knows him; a woman adorns herself for one who delights in her.
若僕大質已虧缺矣、雖才懷隨和、行若由夷、終不可以爲榮、適足以見笑而自點耳。But my very substance is already broken. Though I carried the jewels of Sui and Ho in my breast and behaved like Hsü Yu and Po I, it could bring me no honor; it would only earn ridicule and stain me further.
書辭宜答、會東從上來、又迫賤事、相見日淺、卒卒無須臾之閒、得竭志意。Your letter deserved a reply, but I had just come east in the Emperor's train and was pressed by trivial duties; our meetings were few and hurried, and I had not a moment to set out what I meant.
今少卿抱不測之罪、涉旬月、迫季冬、僕又薄從上雍、恐卒然不可爲諱、Now you lie under a charge whose outcome cannot be foretold. A month has gone by, the last month of winter presses close, and I must soon follow the Emperor to Yung. I fear that suddenly there may be what one cannot name,
是僕終已不得舒憤懣以曉左右、則長逝者魂魄、私恨無窮、and that I shall never be able to pour out my indignation and make it plain to you — and then the spirit of one long departed would carry an endless private regret.
請略陳固陋、闕然久不報、幸勿爲過。So let me set out my poor and narrow thoughts. I have been long silent; I hope you will not hold it against me.
2第二段 · 一個受過腐刑的人，沒有資格推薦人才目錄 ↑
先立士人的五個標準，再說明自己為什麼一條都不能談。「詬莫大於宮刑」——他把自己的處境放進了恥辱的最底層。
僕聞之、修身者、智之符也、愛施者、仁之端也、取予者、義之表也、恥辱者、勇之決也、立名者、行之極也、I have heard that cultivating oneself is the token of wisdom; that giving freely is the beginning of humaneness; that taking and giving rightly is the sign of duty; that one's response to disgrace is the test of courage; and that establishing a name is the highest point of conduct.
士有此五者、然後可以託於世、而列於君子之林矣。Only when a man has these five can he take his place in the world and stand among the ranks of gentlemen.
故禍莫憯於欲利、悲莫痛於傷心、行莫醜於辱先、詬莫大於宮刑。Therefore no misfortune is more cruel than greed, no sorrow more painful than a wounded heart, no conduct uglier than bringing shame on one's forebears — and no disgrace greater than the punishment of castration.
刑餘之人、無所比數、非一世也、所從來遠矣。A man who has undergone that punishment is not reckoned among men — and this is not the way of one age only; it comes down from far back.
昔衛靈公與雍渠同載、孔子適陳、商鞅因景監見、趙良寒心、同子參乘、袁絲變色、自古而恥之。Long ago, when Duke Ling of Wei rode with Yung Ch'ü, Confucius left for Ch'en; when Shang Yang obtained audience through Ching Chien, Chao Liang's heart went cold; when T'ung Tzu rode as companion, Yüan Ssu changed color. From ancient times this has been held shameful.
夫以中材之人、事有關於宦豎、莫不傷氣、而況於慷慨之士乎。If even a man of middling ability has his spirit injured when his affairs touch upon a eunuch, how much more a man of high feeling?
如今朝廷雖乏人、奈何令刀鋸之餘、薦天下之豪俊哉。However short of men the court may be today, how can one who is left over from the knife and the saw be made to recommend the finest men of the empire?
3第三段 · 我這輩子四件事一件也沒做到目錄 ↑
四個「不能」排比下來，把自己的一生歸零。最後連嘆兩次「尚何言哉」——還有什麼好說的。
僕賴先人緒業、得待罪輦轂下二十餘年矣、Thanks to the work my forebears left, I have held office under the imperial carriage for more than twenty years.
所以自惟、上之不能納忠效信、有奇策材力之譽、自結明主、Looking back on it: at the highest, I could not offer loyalty and prove my good faith, win a name for extraordinary counsel and ability, and so attach myself to an enlightened ruler.
次之又不能拾遺補闕、招賢進能、顯巖穴之士、Next, I could not pick up what was dropped and mend what was lacking, summon the worthy and advance the able, and bring the men of the cliffs and caves to notice.
外之不能備行伍、攻城野戰、有斬將搴旗之功。Outside, I could not take my place in the ranks, storm cities and fight in the field, and win the credit of beheading a general or seizing a standard.
下之不能積日累勞、取尊官厚祿、以爲宗族交游光寵、At the lowest, I could not pile up days and accumulate service, take high office and a fat salary, and bring glory to my clan and my friends.
四者無一、遂苟合取容、無所短長之效、可見於此矣。Not one of these four. I merely went along and made myself acceptable, and that I achieved nothing either way may be seen from this.
嚮者僕亦嘗廁下大夫之列、陪奉外廷末議、不以此時引綱維、盡思慮、In former days I did once stand among the lower officials and take a minor part in the deliberations of the outer court; even then I did not lay hold of the great cords of state or exhaust my thought upon them.
今已虧形爲掃除之隸、在闒茸之中、乃欲仰首伸眉、論列是非、不亦輕朝廷羞當世之士邪。Now that I am mutilated and a slave of the broom, down among the useless, to raise my head and lift my brows and argue right and wrong — would that not be to slight the court and shame the men of this age?
嗟乎嗟乎、如僕尚何言哉、尚何言哉。Alas, alas! What has a man like me left to say? What is there left to say?
4第四段 · 我跟李陵並不熟目錄 ↑
先把自己的動機講乾淨：我跟他沒有交情，連一杯酒都沒喝過。 正因為這樣，替他說話才不是私情。
且事本末未易明也。Besides, the whole of this affair is not easy to make plain.
僕少負不羈之才、長無鄉曲之譽、主上幸以先人之故、使得奏薄伎、出入周衛之中。In my youth I had a talent that would not be harnessed; grown, I had no name in my own district. The Emperor was good enough, for my father's sake, to let me offer my slight skill and come and go within the palace guard.
僕以爲戴盆何以望天、故絕賓客之知、忘室家之業、I thought that a man with a basin on his head cannot look up at the sky, and so I cut off acquaintance with guests and forgot the business of my household,
日夜思竭其不肖之才力、務一心營職、以求親媚於主上、而事乃有大謬不然者。thinking day and night to exhaust my poor abilities and attend to my office with a single mind, seeking to be close and pleasing to the Emperor. And then things went utterly otherwise.
夫僕與李陵、俱居門下、素非能相善也、趨舍異路、未嘗銜杯酒、接殷勤之餘歡。Li Ling and I were both attendants at court, but we were never close; our paths of advance and retreat lay apart, and we never shared a cup of wine or the warmth of friendly company.
然僕觀其爲人、自守奇士、事親孝、與士信、臨財廉、取與義、分別有讓、恭儉下人、Yet from what I saw of him, he was a man of rare self-command: filial to his parents, faithful to his fellows, clean-handed with money, right in taking and giving, yielding where rank was concerned, respectful and frugal and deferring to others.
常思奮不顧身、以殉國家之急、其素所蓄積也、僕以爲有國士之風。He was always ready to throw himself forward without regard for his life and die for the state in its need — that was what he had stored up in himself. I thought he had the bearing of a man of national stature.
5第五段 · 五千人打十幾天，然後我下獄目錄 ↑
全篇最長的一段。前半寫李陵的仗有多慘烈，後半寫自己怎麼因為替他說一句話而被去勢。
夫人臣出萬死不顧一生之計、赴公家之難、斯已奇矣。For a subject to set out on a course of ten thousand deaths without a thought for one chance of life, and go to meet the state's danger — that is already extraordinary.
今舉事一不當、而全軀保妻子之臣、隨而媒糱其短、僕誠私心痛之。Now, one action having gone wrong, the ministers who keep their own skins whole and their wives and children safe came after him and brewed up his faults. This truly pained me.
且李陵提步卒不滿五千、深踐戎馬之地、足歷王庭、垂餌虎口、橫挑彊胡、仰億萬之師、Li Ling led fewer than five thousand foot soldiers deep into the land of war-horses; his feet trod the Khan's own court; he dangled himself as bait at the tiger's mouth and flung a challenge at the mighty Hu, facing an army beyond counting.
與單于連戰十有餘日、所殺過當、虜救死扶傷不給、He fought the Shan-yü for more than ten days running and killed more than his own numbers; the enemy could not carry off their dead or bind their wounded fast enough.
旃裘之君長咸震怖、乃悉徵其左右賢王、舉引弓之人、一國共攻而圍之、The chieftains in felt and fur were struck with terror and called up their Wise Kings of the Left and Right and every man who could draw a bow, so that the whole nation attacked and surrounded him.
轉鬬千里、矢盡道窮、救兵不至、士卒死傷如積。He fought on the move for a thousand li until his arrows were gone and the road ran out; no relief came, and his men lay dead and wounded in heaps.
然陵一呼勞軍、士無不起、躬自流涕、沬血飲泣、更張空弮、冒白刃、北嚮爭死敵者。Yet at one shout from Ling to hearten them, not a man failed to rise; they wept as they stood, washed in blood and swallowing their tears, drew their empty bows again, faced the naked blades and struggled northward to die at the enemy.
陵未沒時、使有來報、漢公卿王侯、皆奉觴上壽。Before Ling went under, a messenger came with word of him, and the high ministers, princes and nobles of Han all raised their cups to drink his health.
後數日、陵敗書聞、主上爲之食不甘味、聽朝不怡、大臣憂懼、不知所出。A few days later the report of his defeat was heard. The Emperor found no savor in his food and no pleasure in holding court; the great ministers were anxious and afraid and did not know what to do.
僕竊不自料其卑賤、見主上慘愴怛悼、誠欲效其款款之愚。I, not reckoning my own lowliness, saw the Emperor's grief and distress and truly wished to offer my own sincere and foolish thoughts.
以爲李陵素與士大夫絕甘分少、能得人之死力、雖古之名將、不能過也、I held that Li Ling had always denied himself sweets and shared what little he had with his officers, and could get men to give their lives for him — not even the famous generals of old surpassed that.
身雖陷敗、彼觀其意、且欲得其當而報於漢、Though his body had fallen into defeat, I judged from his intent that he meant to find a fitting chance and repay Han.
事已無可奈何、其所摧敗、功亦足以暴於天下矣。The thing was past helping, but what he had destroyed and beaten down was achievement enough to be displayed to the world.
僕懷欲陳之而未有路、適會召問、卽以此指推言陵之功、欲以廣主上之意、塞睚眦之辭。I carried this in my breast and wanted to set it forth but had no opening. It happened that I was summoned and questioned, and I took that line and urged Ling's merits, wishing to widen the Emperor's view and to stop the words of those who glared at him.
未能盡明、明主不曉、以爲僕沮貳師、而爲李陵游說、遂下於理。I could not make it wholly clear; the enlightened ruler did not understand, and took me to be disparaging the Erh-shih general and pleading for Li Ling. So I was handed over to the law.
拳拳之忠、終不能自列。因爲誣上、卒從吏議。My earnest loyalty could never be set out. I was charged with deceiving the Emperor, and in the end the officials' finding was followed.
家貧貨賂不足以自贖、交游莫救視、左右親近、不爲一言。My house was poor and my means not enough to ransom myself; my friends did nothing to save me; those close to the throne would not say one word.
身非木石、獨與法吏爲伍、深幽囹圄之中、誰可告愬者。I am not wood or stone, yet I was alone in the company of jailers, shut deep in prison — to whom could I make my plea?
此真少卿所親見、僕行事豈不然乎。All this you saw for yourself, Shao-ch'ing. Was it not so with me?
李陵旣生降、頹其家聲、而僕又佴之蠶室、重爲天下觀笑、悲夫悲夫、Li Ling did surrender alive and brought down his family's name; and I was put after him into the silkworm chamber, a second time a laughingstock to the world. Alas, alas!
6第六段 · 死有輕重，辱有等第目錄 ↑
從自身處境轉入論理。「重於泰山，輕於鴻毛」出在這裡，而後面那份受辱的等第表，一級一級往下數到自己。
事未易一二爲俗人言也。These things cannot easily be told point by point to ordinary men.
僕之先、非有剖符丹書之功、文史星歷、近乎卜祝之閒、固主上所戲弄、倡優所畜、流俗之所輕也。My forebears had no merit sealed in tallies or written in red; letters, history, the stars and the calendar lie close to the work of diviners and invocators — something the Emperor makes sport of, kept as one keeps actors and musicians, and lightly regarded by the vulgar.
假令僕伏法受誅、若九牛亡一毛、與螻蟻何以異、Suppose I had submitted to the law and been put to death: it would have been one hair lost from nine oxen. How would I differ from an ant or a cricket?
而世俗又不能與死節者次比、特以爲智窮罪極、不能自免、卒就死耳、何也、素所自樹立使然也。And the world would not even rank me with those who die for principle; it would merely say my wits were exhausted and my guilt complete, that I could not save myself and so went to my death. Why? Because of what I had made of myself all along.
人固有一死、死或重於泰山、或輕於鴻毛、用之所趣異也。A man has but one death. It may be heavier than Mount T'ai or lighter than a goose feather: it depends on what he uses it for.
太上不辱先、其次不辱身、其次不辱理色、其次不辱辭令、Highest is not to disgrace one's forebears; next, not to disgrace oneself; next, not to disgrace one's face and bearing; next, not to disgrace one's speech.
其次詘體受辱、其次易服受辱、其次關木索被箠楚受辱、Next is disgrace by bending the body; next, by a change of dress; next, by the cangue and the rope and the beating with rods;
其次剔毛髮嬰金鐵受辱、其次毀肌膚斷肢體受辱、最下腐刑極矣。next, by having the hair shaved and iron put about the neck; next, by having the skin marked and the limbs cut away; and lowest of all, the rotting punishment — that is the extreme.
傳曰、刑不上大夫。此言士節不可不勉勵也。The text says: punishments do not reach up to the great officers. This means that a gentleman's integrity must be kept up at all costs.
猛虎在深山、百獸震恐、及在檻穽之中、搖尾而求食、積威約之漸也。A fierce tiger in the deep hills makes every beast tremble; but once in a cage or a pit it wags its tail and begs for food. Restraint works upon it by degrees.
故士有畫地爲牢、勢不可入、削木爲吏、議不可對、定計於鮮也。So there are gentlemen who will not enter even a prison merely drawn on the ground, and will not face questioning even from an officer merely whittled out of wood: they settle the matter early.
今交手足、受木索、暴肌膚、受榜箠、幽於圜牆之中、But now, hands and feet bound together, taking the cangue and the rope, the skin laid bare and the rod laid on, shut within round walls —
當此之時、見獄吏則頭搶地、視徒隸則心惕息、何者、積威約之勢也。at such a time, at the sight of a jailer one knocks one's head on the ground, and at the sight of the convicts the heart stops with fear. Why? Because restraint has piled up into force.
及以至是言不辱者、所謂彊顏耳、曷足貴乎。And for a man who has come to this to say that he is not disgraced is merely brazening it out. What is there in that worth valuing?
7第七段 · 王侯將相也一樣受辱目錄 ↑
一口氣舉八個人，全是頂級人物，全都被關過。結論很冷：勇怯不是人格，是處境。
且西伯、伯也、拘於羑里、Moreover: the Earl of the West was an earl, yet he was held at Yu-li.
李斯、相也、具於五刑、Li Ssu was a chancellor, yet he suffered the five punishments in full.
淮陰、王也、受械於陳、The lord of Huai-yin was a king, yet he was put in fetters at Ch'en.
彭越、張敖、南面稱孤、繫獄抵罪、P'eng Yüeh and Chang Ao faced south and called themselves princes, yet they were bound in prison and made to answer for crimes.
絳侯誅諸呂、權傾五伯、囚於請室、The Marquis of Chiang put down the Lü clan and his power outweighed the five hegemons, yet he was shut in the interrogation chamber.
魏其、大將也、衣赭衣、關三木、Wei-ch'i was a great general, yet he wore the red convict's coat and bore the three wooden restraints.
季布爲朱家鉗奴、灌夫受辱於居室、Chi Pu became a collared slave in the house of Chu Chia; Kuan Fu was disgraced in the guard house.
此人皆身至王侯將相、聲聞鄰國、及罪至罔加、不能引決自裁、在塵埃之中、古今一體、安在其不辱也。All these men rose to be kings, marquises, generals and chancellors, and their names were heard in neighboring states; yet when guilt came and the net fell on them they could not make an end of themselves, but lay in the dust. It has been one and the same from ancient times until now. Where among them is the man who was not disgraced?
由此言之、勇怯、勢也、彊弱、形也、審矣、何足怪乎。From this it is plain: courage and cowardice are a matter of circumstance, strength and weakness a matter of situation. It is clear enough — what is there to wonder at?
夫人不能早自裁繩墨之外、以稍陵遲、至於鞭箠之間、乃欲引節、斯不亦遠乎。A man who cannot make an end of himself early, while still outside the reach of the law, but slides down by degrees until he is among the whips and rods, and only then wishes to die for his honor — is he not far from it?
古人所以重施刑於大夫者、殆爲此也。This is probably why the ancients were reluctant to bring punishment upon great officers.
8第八段 · 我為什麼沒有自殺目錄 ↑
全篇的核心。他先承認自己是怯懦的，再說出真正的理由：書還沒寫完。 然後列出八個在困境中著書的人。
夫人情莫不貪生惡死、念父母、顧妻子、至激於義理者不然、乃有所不得已也。It is human nature to cling to life and hate death, to think of one's parents and look to one's wife and children. Only those stirred by duty and principle are otherwise — because there is something they cannot help.
今僕不幸早失父母、無兄弟之親、獨身孤立、少卿視僕於妻子何如哉。I had the misfortune to lose my parents early; I have no brothers; I stand alone. Shao-ch'ing, how do you suppose I stand toward a wife and children?
且勇者不必死節、怯夫慕義、何處不勉焉。Besides, the brave do not necessarily die for principle, and a coward who longs for duty may make the effort anywhere.
僕雖怯懦欲苟活、亦頗識去就之分矣、何至自沉溺縲紲之辱哉。Coward as I am, wanting to live on somehow, I know well enough where to go and where to stop. Why should I sink myself willingly into the disgrace of the fetters?
且夫臧獲婢妾、猶能引決、況僕之不得已乎。Even slaves and serving-women can make an end of themselves; how much more one in my straits, who could not help it?
所以隱忍苟活、幽於糞土之中而不辭者、恨私心有所不盡、鄙陋沒世、而文采不表於後世也。The reason I have borne it in silence and lived on, shut in filth and not refusing it, is that I could not bear to leave something in my heart unfinished — to vanish from the world in obscurity with my writing unshown to later ages.
古者富貴而名磨滅、不可勝記、唯倜儻非常之人稱焉。In ancient times there were rich and noble men beyond counting whose names were rubbed away; only the unconventional and extraordinary are still spoken of.
蓋文王拘而演周易、仲尼戹而作春秋、屈原放逐、乃賦離騷、King Wen was held prisoner and expounded the Book of Changes; Confucius was in straits and made the Spring and Autumn Annals; Ch'ü Yüan was banished and then composed the Li Sao;
左丘失明、厥有國語、孫子臏腳、兵法修列、Tso Ch'iu lost his sight and there was the Discourses of the States; Sun Tzu had his feet cut off and the Art of War was set in order;
不韋遷蜀、世傳呂覽、韓非囚秦、說難孤憤、Pu-wei was banished to Shu and the Lü Lan was handed down; Han Fei was imprisoned in Ch'in and wrote “The Difficulties of Persuasion” and “Solitary Indignation”;
詩三百篇、大底賢聖發憤之所爲作也。and the three hundred poems of the Odes were for the most part made by worthy men and sages venting their indignation.
此人皆意有所鬱結、不得通其道、故述往事、思來者。All these men had something knotted up inside them; they could not get their way through, and so they set down what was past, thinking of those who would come.
乃如左丘無目、孫子斷足、終不可用、退而論書策以舒其憤、思垂空文以自見。Men like Tso Ch'iu without eyes and Sun Tzu with his feet cut off could never be employed again; they withdrew and set their thoughts in writing to release their indignation, hoping to leave empty words behind and so show what they were.
9第九段 · 我在寫的是什麼書目錄 ↑
第一次向人說明《史記》的規模與目的。然後回到現實：所以你叫我推薦人才，我做不到。
僕竊不遜、近自託於無能之辭、網羅天下放失舊聞、略考其事、綜其終始、稽其成敗興壞之紀、I have presumed, without becoming modesty, to entrust myself of late to incapable words: gathering in the scattered and lost traditions of the world, examining the events in outline, drawing together their beginnings and ends, and checking the record of their successes, failures, rises and ruins.
上計軒轅、下至于茲、爲十表、本紀十二、書八章、世家三十、列傳七十、凡百三十篇、Counting from Hsüan-yüan down to the present, I have made ten tables, twelve basic annals, eight treatises, thirty hereditary houses and seventy biographies — one hundred and thirty chapters in all.
亦欲以究天地之際、通古今之變、成一家之言。I wished also to search out the boundary between heaven and earth, to go through the changes of past and present, and to make of it the words of one school.
草創未就、會遭此禍、惜其不成、是以就極刑而無慍色。The draft was begun but not finished when this disaster came upon me. I grudged that it should be left incomplete, and so I went to the extreme punishment without a look of resentment.
僕誠已著此書、藏之名山、傳之其人、通邑大都、則僕償前辱之責、雖萬被戮、豈有悔哉。If I do finish this book, store it in a famous mountain and pass it on to the right man, so that it reaches the great cities and thoroughfares, then I shall have paid off the debt of my former disgrace; and though I were cut down ten thousand times, how should I regret it?
然此可爲智者道、難爲俗人言也。But this can be said to the wise; it is hard to say to ordinary men.
且負下未易居、下流多謗議、僕以口語、遇遭此禍、重爲鄉黨所戮笑、以污辱先人、亦何面目復上父母之丘墓乎。Besides, it is not easy to live under a stain, and the low ground draws much slander. I met this disaster through words spoken, and became once more a laughingstock to my village, disgracing my forebears. With what face could I go up again to my parents' grave mound?
雖累百世、垢彌甚耳。Though a hundred generations pile up, the filth will only grow worse.
是以腸一日而九迴、居則忽忽若有所亡、出則不知其所往。And so my bowels turn nine times in a day; at home I am dazed as though I had lost something; going out, I do not know where I am going.
每念斯恥、汗未嘗不發背霑衣也。Whenever I think of this shame, the sweat never fails to break out on my back and soak my robe.
身直爲閨閤之臣、寧得自引深藏巖穴邪、故且從俗浮沉、與時俯仰、以通其狂惑。Being nothing but a servant of the inner chambers, how could I withdraw and hide deep among the cliffs and caves? So I drift with the crowd, bend and rise with the times, and let my madness and confusion run their course.
今少卿乃教以推賢進士、無乃與僕私心剌謬乎。And now you instruct me to recommend the worthy and advance scholars. Is that not at cross purposes with what is in my heart?
今雖欲自彫琢曼辭以自飾、無益於俗不信、適足取辱耳。Even if I wished to carve and polish fine phrases to adorn myself, it would do no good: the world would not believe it, and I should only earn more disgrace.
要之死日然後是非乃定。In short, only on the day of my death will right and wrong be settled.
書不能悉意、略陳固陋。謹再拜。A letter cannot say all that is meant. I have set out my poor and narrow thoughts. Respectfully, I bow twice.
English Vocabulary
英譯裡值得帶走的字 12 words
這一欄的字全部取自上面的英譯，不是古文字義。 每個字都附它在本篇出現的那一句——單字和例句各有一個 🔊，點了都唸英文。
maimed(adj.)肢體殘缺的
I consider that my body is maimed and my place unclean.
顧自以為身殘處穢。
brood(v.)鬱悶地反覆想
So I brood alone — and to whom should I speak?
獨鬱悒而誰與語。
ridicule(n.)譏笑
It could bring me no honor; it would only earn ridicule and stain me further.
祇取辱耳。
indignation(n.)憤懣不平
I shall never be able to pour out my indignation and make it plain to you.
是僕終已不得舒憤懣以曉左右。
castration(n.)腐刑、宮刑
No disgrace greater than the punishment of castration.
詬莫大於宮刑。
eunuch(n.)宦官
If even a man of middling ability has his spirit injured when his affairs touch upon a eunuch…
如中材之人，事關於宦豎，莫不傷氣。
cangue(n.)枷（套在頸上的木製刑具）
Taking the cangue and the rope, the skin laid bare and the rod laid on…
關木索、被箠楚受辱。
fetters(n.)腳鐐
The lord of Huai-yin was a king, yet he was put in fetters at Ch'en.
淮陰，王也，受械於陳。
ransom(v.)出錢贖（罪或身）
My house was poor and my means not enough to ransom myself.
家貧，貨賂不足以自贖。
disparage(v.)詆毀、貶低
The enlightened ruler did not understand, and took me to be disparaging the Erh-shih general.
明主不曉，以為僕沮貳師。
expound(v.)推演、闡述
King Wen was held prisoner and expounded the Book of Changes.
文王拘而演《周易》。
brazen it out(phr.)強作無事、厚著臉皮撐過去
And for a man who has come to this to say that he is not disgraced is merely brazening it out.
而曰不辱，所謂彊顏耳。
Reading Check
讀懂了嗎 6 questions
全部根據上面的英譯出題，不考古文字義。 點一下選項就揭曉答案，不必送出，也不會記錄任何資料。
1. What had Jen An asked Ssu-ma Ch'ien to do?
2. Why does he say he cannot do it?
3. What does he say about death?
4. Why was he punished?
5. Why did he not put an end to himself?
6. What do King Wen, Confucius, Ch'ü Yüan, Tso Ch'iu and Sun Tzu have in common in his account?
逐段導讀
這篇文章在做什麼
這是一封拒絕信
任安因巫蠱之禍下獄待死，寫信給司馬遷，要他「推賢進士」——說穿了是求救。
司馬遷用兩千四百字回覆，而回覆的內容是：我做不到。 他不是不肯，是沒有資格——一個受過腐刑、現在擔任中書令的人，推薦誰都是害了誰。
所以這封信的形式是解釋，實質是道歉。 而任安不久之後就被腰斬了。
全篇的軸是「死值不值得」
「人固有一死、死或重於泰山、或輕於鴻毛、用之所趣異也。」——這句話今天是勵志標語，原文是一個人在計算自己的死。
他的結論是：如果我當時自殺，那就是「輕於鴻毛」。 因為以他的出身（文史星曆，近乎卜祝）和罪名（誣上），世人不會把他歸入「死節者」，只會說他智窮罪極。
死得沒有意義，所以不能死。 這是全篇最冷靜、也最殘忍的一段推理。
八個人，都是殘缺之後才寫出東西
文王拘、仲尼戹、屈原放逐、左丘失明、孫子臏腳、不韋遷蜀、韓非囚秦、詩三百篇——八個例子，全部是「先受挫，後著書」。
「此人皆意有所鬱結，不得通其道，故述往事，思來者。」這是中國文學史上「發憤著書」說的源頭。
而司馬遷把自己接在這串名單後面：他不是在自比聖賢，他是在替自己找一個活下去的位置。
最痛的一句在最後
「身直爲閨閤之臣」——我不過是個內廷的臣子。「閨閤之臣」指的就是宦官擔任的職務（他受刑後任中書令）。
前面兩千多字都在講道理、講歷史、講書，最後這一句把他拉回眼前的身分：你叫我推薦人才，可是我是什麼人？
然後才是那句「要之死日然後是非乃定」——等我死了，是非才會有定論。這是全篇唯一一次望向未來，而那個未來在他死後。
⚠️ 你可能讀反的地方
課本選過的文章最容易讀反——因為你背的是課本的解釋，不是文章本身。以下放的是原文明明寫了、但多數人沒注意到的字句。
「僕」是自稱，不是僕人
文言書信裡的「僕」是謙稱的「我」，相當於「在下」。全篇出現數十次。不是指僕人。
「太史公牛馬走」的「太史公」可能指他父親
整句是「太史公的牛馬走（僕役）司馬遷」。多數注家認為「太史公」指其父司馬談——司馬遷自稱是父親的僕役，是極端的謙辭。
也有人認為是他自稱。兩說並存，但「牛馬走」的卑微程度，指父親比較說得通。
「腐刑」與「蠶室」
「腐刑」即宮刑（去勢）。「蠶室」是受刑後養傷的密閉暖室——因為傷口怕風、怕感染，要像養蠶一樣保溫。
「佴之蠶室」四個字，是全篇最直接的一次自述。 前後都沒有多說。
「重於泰山，輕於鴻毛」今義已經變了
現在是勵志話（要死得有價值）。原文是司馬遷在論證自己為什麼不能死——不是勉勵別人，是說服自己。
語境一抽掉，這句話就從自剖變成了口號。
「發憤」不是憤怒
是鬱結不得志而發抒出來。「發憤著書」指的是把胸中的鬱結轉成著作，不是「因為生氣而寫書」。
「究天地之際」還是「究天人之際」
本頁底本（《古文觀止》）作「究天地之際」；《漢書·司馬遷傳》與通行引用作「究天人之際」。
「天人之際」是流傳最廣的形式，指探究天道與人事的分界。本頁依底本作「天地」，但引用時多數人用「天人」。
「刑不上大夫」出自《禮記》
見《禮記·曲禮上》。司馬遷引它不是在抱怨自己不該受刑，而是在說明：正因為有這句話，士人才更該及早自裁，不要拖到受辱。
「戹」通「厄」
「仲尼戹而作春秋」的「戹」讀 ㄜˋ，是困厄。不是「戶」字旁的其他字。
「無乃……乎」是委婉的反問
「無乃與僕私心剌謬乎」＝這豈不是跟我心裡想的相反嗎？ 「無乃」是「恐怕、豈不是」，語氣比直接反問客氣。
🔍 英文譯不出來的地方
翻譯是最嚴格的閱讀。中文可以含糊帶過的地方，英文非得做決定。以下是譯這篇文章時被迫做的取捨，也是中文最值得停下來看的地方。
三組疊語
嗟乎嗟乎／尚何言哉尚何言哉／悲夫悲夫——三處把同一個詞連說兩次。
中文的疊語是情緒失控的標記：說一次是陳述，說兩次就是控制不住。英文只能寫 Alas, alas! 或 What is there left to say? What is there?，而英文的重複常被視為修辭瑕疵，讀者不會自動讀成情緒。
九級受辱的等第表
太上不辱先／其次不辱身／其次不辱理色／其次不辱辭令／其次詘體／其次易服／其次關木索／其次剔毛髮／其次毀肌膚／最下腐刑——十個層級，用「其次」串成階梯。
中文靠同一個詞重複八次往下走，像一級一級下樓梯。英文的 next... next... next... 讀起來只是列舉，沒有「往下掉」的方向感。
「腸一日而九迴」的身體感
中文用內臟寫痛苦（腸、汗發背霑衣）。這是生理的，不是比喻的。
英文 my bowels turn nine times in a day 照字面譯出來，英語讀者會覺得怪異甚至滑稽——英文的情緒詞彙集中在 heart，不在 bowels。同樣的器官，兩種文化給它的意義不同。
「僕」出現數十次
全篇他用「僕」自稱超過三十次。每一次都在重申自己的低位。
英文只能用 I。一個中性代名詞，取代了一個持續自貶的動作。 這是整封信在翻譯中最大的損失——英文版的司馬遷聽起來比原文有尊嚴得多。
關鍵字詞
這個字為什麼選這個英文
| 字詞 | 這裡的意思 | 英譯與選擇 |
|---|---|---|
| 僕 | 我（謙稱） | I。不是僕人。全篇三十餘見。 |
| 牛馬走 | 像牛馬一樣供驅使的僕役（極端謙辭） | ox-and-horse servant。 |
| 曩者 | 從前 | some time ago。 |
| 望 | 怨、責怪 | resent。不是「希望」。 |
| 罷駑 | 疲弱的駑馬（自謙） | worn-out nag。罷通「疲」。 |
| 見尤 | 被責怪（見表被動） | draw blame。 |
| 大質 | 身體 | one's very substance。 |
| 自點 | 自取污點 | stain oneself。 |
| 不測之罪 | 後果難料的罪名 | a charge whose outcome cannot be foretold。 |
| 詬 | 恥辱 | disgrace。 |
| 宮刑／腐刑 | 去勢之刑 | castration。 |
| 刀鋸之餘 | 受過刑的人 | one left over from the knife and the saw。 |
| 輦轂下 | 京城（皇帝車駕之下） | under the imperial carriage。 |
| 搴旗 | 拔取敵人旗幟 | seize a standard。 |
| 闒茸 | 低下無用（讀 ㄊㄚˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ） | the useless。 |
| 媒糱 | 構陷、挑撥（糱讀 ㄋㄧㄝˋ） | brew up faults。 |
| 單于 | 匈奴君主的稱號 | the Shan-yü。 |
| 沬血 | 以血洗面（沬讀 ㄇㄟˋ） | washed in blood。 |
| 空弮 | 沒有箭的弓（弮讀 ㄑㄩㄢ） | empty bow。 |
| 佴 | 置於其次（讀 ㄦˋ） | be put after。 |
| 蠶室 | 受宮刑後養傷的暖室 | the silkworm chamber。 |
| 剖符丹書 | 古代封功臣的信物 | tallies and writings in red。 |
| 鴻毛 | 大雁的羽毛，喻極輕 | a goose feather。 |
| 三木 | 頸、手、足的三種刑具 | the three wooden restraints。 |
| 引決／自裁 | 自殺 | make an end of oneself。 |
| 縲紲 | 捆綁犯人的繩索，代指牢獄 | the fetters。 |
| 倜儻 | 卓異不凡（讀 ㄊㄧˋ ㄊㄤˇ） | unconventional and extraordinary。 |
| 戹 | 困厄（通「厄」） | in straits。 |
| 發憤 | 把鬱結發抒出來 | vent one's indignation。不是生氣。 |
| 閨閤之臣 | 內廷的臣子，指宦官職務 | a servant of the inner chambers。 |
| 剌謬 | 違背、相反（讀 ㄌㄚˋ ㄇㄧㄡˋ） | at cross purposes。 |
章法
這篇文章是怎麼蓋起來的
九段兩千四百零二字，是本系列最長的一篇。 它不是論說文的結構，是情緒的結構：從自己出發，繞到普遍，再回到自己。
第一至三段是低頭：先自稱牛馬走，再說宮刑是最大的恥辱，再細數自己一生四件事都沒做到。三段下來，把發言資格自己取消掉。
第四至五段是敘事：李陵事件的完整經過。這是全篇唯一一段有情節的文字，也是全篇最長的一段——他必須讓對方知道，他是怎麼走到今天的。
第六至七段是論理：死的輕重、受辱的九個等第、王侯將相也受辱。從自身抽離出去，把個人遭遇變成普遍命題。 這一段最冷靜。
第八至九段回到自己：我為什麼不死（因為書沒寫完）、我在寫什麼書、所以你的請求我做不到。繞了兩千字，回到第一段的那個拒絕。
全篇的節奏由三組疊語標記：嗟乎嗟乎（第三段末）、悲夫悲夫（第五段末）、以及開頭與結尾兩次「略陳固陋」的呼應。情緒每到臨界點就重複一次詞。
英語世界怎麼讀他
（無公版英譯）· 對照：翟理斯譯司馬遷《史記·留侯世家贊》
〈報任安書〉沒有公版英譯。 翟理斯《古文選珍》收了司馬遷兩篇，都是《史記》的片段，沒有這封信。
右欄放的是他譯的〈留侯世家贊〉——司馬遷以史官身分寫的評語。兩相對照很有意思：贊語裡的司馬遷從容、帶點幽默（他說看到張良的畫像，發現「其貌如婦人」，然後引孔子替自己打圓場）；信裡的司馬遷則是汗發背霑衣、腸一日而九迴。
同一個人，兩種聲音。 一個是寫進書裡、要傳給後世的；一個是寫給一個快要被處死的朋友的。而這封信之所以留下來，是因為班固把它收進了《漢書》——司馬遷自己大概沒打算讓它流傳。
Educated people mostly deny the existence of a spiritual world. Yet they will concede supernatural attributes to things; as for instance in the story of Chang Liang's rencontre with the old man who gave him that wonderful book.His Majesty said, “In concocting stratagems in the tent for winning battles a thousand miles away, I cannot compare with Chang Liang.” And I too had always entertained great respect for the genius of this remarkable man. But when I saw his portrait, lo and behold! his features were those of a woman. However, according to Confucius, “If we always chose men for their looks, we should have lost Tzŭ-yü.” And the same is true of Chang Liang.— Herbert A. Giles 翟理斯譯，Gems of Chinese Literature（1922 年版）· 司馬遷《史記·留侯世家贊》
活在現代中文裡
這篇文章留下來的話
| 句子 | 現在怎麼用 | 英文可對應 |
|---|---|---|
| 人固有一死，或重於泰山，或輕於鴻毛 | 談生命價值時的最常見引文；今多作勵志語 | a man has but one death: heavier than Mount T'ai, or lighter than a goose feather |
| 究天人之際，通古今之變，成一家之言 | 史學與學術志向的標準表述（底本作「天地」，通行作「天人」） | — |
| 發憤著書 | 文學理論術語，源出本篇八例 | write out of pent-up indignation |
| 藏之名山 | 形容著作留待後世 | store it in a famous mountain |
| 九牛一毛 | 比喻極微小；由「若九牛亡一毛」而來 | one hair from nine oxen |
| 九迴腸 | 形容愁腸百轉；由「腸一日而九迴」而來 | bowels turning nine times a day |
| 士為知己者死 | 通行形式；本篇作「士爲知己者用」 | a man will die for one who knows him |
| 刑不上大夫 | 出自《禮記》，經本篇引用而廣為人知 | punishments do not reach the great officers |
🍎 給雙語課老師的教學提示
- 適合程度：進階。兩千四百字，是本系列最長也最沉重的一篇。內容涉及宮刑、自殺與死刑，建議高中以上，並先評估班級狀況。
- 課堂設計（先給處境）：先說清楚三件事——任安在獄中等死、他寫信求救、司馬遷受過宮刑。然後才讀信。 不知道這三件事，這封信讀起來只是牢騷。
- 核心提問：司馬遷說如果當時自殺就是「輕於鴻毛」。那什麼樣的死才算「重於泰山」？ 再問：他選擇活下來，是勇敢還是懦弱？ 他自己在第八段給了答案——先承認自己怯懦，再說出理由。
- 與〈漁父〉並讀（強烈建議）：屈原說「安能以皓皓之白，而蒙世俗之塵埃」，寧可投江；司馬遷說「隱忍苟活，幽於糞土之中而不辭」，因為書還沒寫完。同一個問題，兩個相反的答案。
- 而且司馬遷寫過屈原的傳（《史記·屈原列傳》）——他讀過那個故事，然後選了另一條路。 這個交叉點是整個古文選讀系列最好的一次對讀。
- 成語溯源：九牛一毛、九迴腸、發憤著書、藏之名山，四個成語都出自本篇。「重於泰山、輕於鴻毛」今天是勵志話，原文是自我計算，讓學生體會語境抽掉之後的差別。
- 雙語分工：中師處理「僕」的謙稱、腐刑與蠶室、「發憤」的古義、「天人／天地」的異文；外師討論為什麼英文的 I 無法承載「僕」的自貶，以及 bowels 在英文裡為什麼不能用來寫痛苦。
- 注意：這篇文章談的是極端的羞辱與活下去的理由。課堂上把重點放在「什麼事值得你為它活下去」，不要放在刑罰的細節。
- 寫作延伸：寫一件「就算很難堪也要做完」的事，並說明為什麼值得。不必交出來。中英文各一段。