Índice
Waley
Given a small country with few inhabitants,
He could bring it about that through
There should be among the people contrivances requiring ten times,
A hundred times less labour, they would not use them.
He could bring it about that the people would be ready
To lay down their lives and lay them down again in defence of their homes,
Tather than emigrate.
There might still be boats and carriage,
But no one would go in them;
There might still be weapons of war,
But no one would drill with them.
He could bring it about that
“The people should have no use for any from of writing save knotted ropes,
Should be contented with their food, pleased with their clothing,
Satisfied with their homes,
Should take pleasure in their rustic tasks.
The next place might be so near at hand
That one could one could hear the cocks crowing in it, the dogs barking;
But the people would grow old and die without ever having been there”.
Wieger
A. Si j’étais roi d’un petit État, d’un petit peuple, je me garderais bien d’utiliser (de mettre en charge) les quelques dizaines d’hommes capables que cet État contiendrait.
B. J’empêcherais mes sujets de voyager, en leur faisant craindre la mort par accident possible, tellement qu’ils n’oseraient pas monter dans un bateau ou sur un char.
C. Je défendrais tout usage des armes.
D. En fait de lettres et de science, je les obligerais à revenir aux cordelettes à nœuds (quippus).
E. C’est alors qu’ils trouveraient leur nourriture savoureuse, leurs habits beaux, leurs maisons paisibles, leurs us et coutumes agréables.
F. (J’empêcherais la curiosité et les communications, au point que,) mes sujets entendissent ils de chez eux les cris des coqs et des chiens de l’État voisin, ils mourraient de vieillesse avant d’avoir passé la frontière et eu des relations avec ceux de l’État voisin.
Duyvendak
Un petit pays de peu d’habitants, où, bien qu’il y eût des outils faisant le travail de dix ou cent hommes, on pourrait amener le peuple à ne pas s’en servir !
Où l’on pourrait amener le peuple à considérer la mort comme une chose grave et à ne pas émigrer au loin !
Où, bien qu’il y eût des bateaux et des charrettes, il n’y aurait pas de quoi les charger, et bien qu’il y eût des cuirasses et des armes, il n’y aurait pas de quoi les ranger !
Où l’on pourrait amener le peuple à retourner à l’emploi des cordes nouées ; à savourer sa propre nourriture, à admirer ses propres vêtements, à se contenter de ses propres habitations, à prendre plaisir à ses propres coutumes !
Où, bien qu’il y eût un pays voisin à portée de vue, de sorte que de l’un à l’autre on entendît chanter les coqs et aboyer les chiens, les habitants jusqu’à leur mort à un âge avancé ne se seraient jamais fréquentés !
Matgioi
Si je commandais un petit royaume et des hommes droits, de leurs biens nombreux je ne prendrais rien. Je leur commanderais de craindre la mort, et de ne pas quitter leur pays ; ils auraient des bateaux et ne monteraient pas dessus ; ils auraient des cuirasses et ne les revêtiraient pas. Attacher avec des cordes serait la seule punition des coupables. Mets sucrés, je les mangerais ; beaux habits, je les porterais ; pays tranquille, je demeurerais ; toutes choses belles, je garderais. Que les hommes conservent ce précepte, et que les chiens et les coqs eux-mêmes écoutent aussi : jusqu’à la vieillesse et à la mort, qu’ils ne se réunissent point en royaume.
Haven
Se eu tivesse um pequeno reino, com uma pequena população e uma dezena de homens habilidosos, me absteria de usá-los.
Cuidaria que o povo compreendesse a gravidade da morte e não emigrasse para longe.
Ainda que houvesse barcos e carros, o povo não se serviría deles.
Ainda que houvesse armas e couraças, o povo não as utilizaria.
Eu agiría de modo que o povo retornasse ao uso das cordas com nós.
Ele acharia saborosa sua comida, belas suas roupas, aprazível sua moradia e alegres seus costumes.
Quando os habitantes de países vizinhos podiam ver uns aos outros,
ouvir o canto de seus galos e o latido de seus cães, atingiam a velhice e morriam sem que se tivessem visitado.
Mitchell
Se um país é governado sabiamente,
seus habitantes serão satisfeitos.
Desfrutam o trabalho de suas mãos
e não perdem tempo inventando máquinas
que poupem trabalho.
Porque amam queridamente suas casas,
não estão interessados em viajar.
Podem haver algumas carroças e barcos,
mas estes não vão a parte alguma.
Pode haver uma arsenal de armas,
mas ninguém jamais as usam.
As pessoas desfrutam seu alimento,
têm prazer em estar com suas famílias,
passam os fins de semana trabalhando em seus jardins,
e deliciam-se nos afazeres do bairro.
E embora o país seguinte esteja tão próximo
que as pessoas possam ouvir seus corvos gritando
e seus cachorros latindo,
eles estão contentes de morrer de velhice
sem jamais terem ido vê-lo.
Legge
In a little state with a small population, I would so order it,
that, though there were individuals with the abilities of ten or a
hundred men, there should be no employment of them; I would make the
people, while looking on death as a grievous thing, yet not remove
elsewhere (to avoid it).
Though they had boats and carriages, they should have no occasion
to ride in them; though they had buff coats and sharp weapons, they
should have no occasion to don or use them.
I would make the people return to the use of knotted cords (instead
of the written characters).
They should think their (coarse) food sweet; their (plain) clothes
beautiful; their (poor) dwellings places of rest; and their common
(simple) ways sources of enjoyment.
There should be a neighbouring state within sight, and the voices
of the fowls and dogs should be heard all the way from it to us, but I
would make the people to old age, even to death, not have any
intercourse with it.