通译双语文库:史记項羽本紀

1

-

行略定秦地。

1

-

Chu army was about to take over certain Qin territories.

2

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函谷关有兵守关，不得入。

2

-

When they arrived at Hangu Pass, there were soldiers guarding the place and entry was denied.

3

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又闻沛公已破咸阳，项羽大怒，使当阳君等击关。

3

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It was also heard Pei Gong had captured Xianyang. Xiang Yu was furious and sent Ying Bu to launch an attack on the Pass.

4

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项羽遂入，至于戏西。

4

-

Xiang Yu successfully entered the Pass and reached the west side of River Xi.

5

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沛公军霸上未得与项羽相见，沛公左司马曹无伤，使人言于项羽曰：“沛公欲王关中，使子婴为相，珍宝尽有之。”

5

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Pei Gong stationed his troop at Bashang and didn’t have a chance to meet with Xiang Yu. Army Assistant Administrator Cao Wushang sent someone to relate a message to Xiang Yu: “Pei Gong wants to claim the throne at Guanzhong, appoint Zi Ying as Minister, and have all the jewellery and valuables he desires.”

6

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项羽大怒曰：“旦日飨士卒，为击破沛公军！”

6

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Xiang Yu was steaming mad: “Tomorrow let’s entertain the troops with good food, and then we’ll crush the army of Pei Gong.”

7

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当是时，项羽兵四十万，在新丰鸿门；沛公兵十万，在霸上。

7

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At the time, Xiang Yu had armed forces of four-hundred-thousand men at Hongmen of Xin Feng, while Pei Gong had one-hundred-thousand soldiers at Bashang.

8

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范增说项羽曰：“沛公居山东时，贪于财货，好美姬。今入关，财物无所取，妇女无所幸，此其志不在小。

8

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Fan Zeng counseled Xiang Yu: “When Pei Gong was at Shandong, he was greedy for valuables and preyed on pretty women. Now that he entered the Pass, he didn’t plunder precious things and had spared the women. It just shows his ambition is well beyond that small place.”

9

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吾令人望其气，皆为龙虎，成五采，此天子气也。

9

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I sent someone over there to check out the celestial divination, and the clouds exuded dragon-and-tiger-like energy in multiple colors. That was the vibe of an emperor.

10

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急击勿失！”

10

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Launch a strike quick and don’t miss out!”

11

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楚左尹项伯者，项羽季父也，素善留侯张良。

11

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Xiang Bo was an Assistant Administrator of Chu State and the uncle of Xiang Yu. For a long time, he had been a good friend of Zhang Liang—a County Count.

12

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张良是时从沛公，项伯乃夜驰之沛公军，私见张良，具告以事，欲呼张良与俱去，曰：“毋从俱死也。”

12

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At the time, Zhang Liang was serving at Pei Gong. Xiang Bo galloped to Pei Gong’s camp at night to meet with Zhang Liang privately. Xiang Bo told Zhang Liang everything and asked Zhang Liang to leave with him and said: “Don’t die with them needlessly!”

13

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张良曰：“臣为韩王送沛公，沛公今事有急，亡去不义，不可不语。”

13

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Zhang Liang said: “I’m escorting Pei Gong on behalf of Duke Han. Pei Gong now is in a bind, and it would be unconscionable for me to bolt. I must tell him this.”

14

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良乃入，具告沛公。

14

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So, Liang went and told Pei Gong everything in detail.

15

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沛公大惊，曰：“为之奈何？”

15

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Pei Gong was shocked and said: “How should I handle this?”

16

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张良曰：“谁为大王为此计者？”

16

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Zhang Liang said: “Who came up with this scheme for you?”

17

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曰：“鲰生说我曰：‘距关，毋内诸侯，秦地可尽王也。’

17

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Liu replied: “A small-minded dimwit counseled me: ‘Guard the Pass and turn away all the feudal lords, then you can take over all the land in Qin State and declare yourself the emperor’,

18

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故听之。”

18

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and so I took his advice.”

19

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良曰：“料大王士卒足以当项王乎？”

19

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Liang said: “Do you expect your army to be good enough to defend against that of Duke Xiang?”

20

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沛公默然，曰：“固不如也。且为之奈何？”

20

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Pei Gong was speechless, and then he said: “Of course it’s no match. What should I do now?”

21

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张良曰：“请往谓项伯，言沛公不敢背项王也。”

21

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Zhang Liang said: “I ask for your permission to go and tell Xiang Bo that you would not dare to betray Duke Xiang.”

22

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沛公曰：“君安与项伯有故？”

22

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Pei Gong said: “What sort of relationship you have with Xiang Bo?”

23

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张良曰 “秦时与臣游，项伯杀人，臣活之。

23

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Zhang Liang said: “During the Dynasty of Qin, we were wandering around. Xiang Bo killed someone, and I bailed him out of the death row.

24

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今事有急，故幸来告良。”

24

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Now an emergency comes up, and I’m fortunate to have him come to tell me.”

25

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沛公曰：“孰与君少长？”

25

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Pei Gong said: “Between you and him, who’s older?”

26

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良曰：“长于臣。”

26

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Liang said: “He is older than I am.”

27

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沛公曰：“君为我呼入，吾得兄事之。”

27

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Pei Gong said: “You ask him for me to come in. I’ll treat him like my own older brother.”

28

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张良出，要项伯。

28

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Zhang Liang went out and invited Xiang Bo to come in.

29

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项伯即入见沛公。

29

-

Xiang Bo came in and met with Pei Gong.

30

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沛公奉卮酒为寿，约为婚姻，曰: “吾入关，秋毫不敢有所近，籍吏民，封府库，而待将军。

30

-

Pei Gong toasted to Xiang Bo to wish him longevity in life and pledged linkup through marriages of their children. He said: “After entering the Pass, I have not appropriated even a tiny bit of thing. Upon registering the officials and common folks and locking up the public granaries, I have gotten things ready for the General.”

31

-

所以遣将守关者，备他盗之出入与非常也。

31

-

Therefore I dispatched generals to the pass to guard against bandits and contingencies.

32

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日夜望将军至，岂敢反乎！

32

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For days I have been looking forward to the arrival of the General, and I dare not turn against him.

33

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愿伯具言臣之不敢倍德也。”

33

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I hope you could put in words for me that I would not betray his good graces.”

34

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项伯许诺，谓沛公曰：“旦日不可不蚤自来谢项王。”

34

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Xiang Bo promised to do so and told Pei Gong: “Tomorrow morning you need to come early and express your regret to Duke Xiang personally.”

35

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沛公曰：“诺。”

35

-

Pei Gong said: “That’ll be done.”

36

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于是项伯复夜去，至军中，具以沛公言报项王，因言曰：“沛公不先破关中，公岂敢入乎？

36

-

So, Xiang Bo returned at night. When he got to the barracks, he reported to Duke Xiang on what Pei Gong said and took that opportunity to comment: “If Pei Gong didn’t take Guanzhong, you wouldn’t have the audacity to go in, would you?

37

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今人有大功而击之，不义也。

37

-

Now he has done you a great favor, and you are attacking him. That’s not fair.

38

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不如因善遇之。”

38

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You should treat him well instead.”

39

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项王许诺。

39

-

Duke Xiang undertook to do just that.

40

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沛公旦日从百余骑来见项王，至鸿门，谢曰: “臣与将军戮力而攻秦，将军战河北，臣战河南，然不自意能先入关破秦，得复见将军于此。

40

-

The next morning, Pei Gong went with a hundred riders to see Duke Xiang. When they arrived at Hongmen, he apologetically said: “My Honorable General! You and I collaborated to attack Qin. You fought north of the river and I battled at the south. Unexpectedly, I was successful in entering the Pass and taking over Qin. I am pleased to see you here again.

41

-

今者有小人之言，令将军与臣有郤。”

41

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Now an inconsequential person is saying something which causes a rift between you and I.”

42

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项王曰：“此沛公左司马曹无伤言之。

42

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Duke Xiang said: “That was what your Army Assistant Administrator Cao Wushang said.

43

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不然，籍何以至此？”

43

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Otherwise, why would I come to be feeling this?”

44

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项王即日因留沛公与饮。

44

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On that same day, Duke Xiang asked Pei Gong to stay for drinks.

45

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项王、项伯东向坐，亚父南向坐，——亚父者，范增也；沛公北向坐；张良西向侍。

45

-

In the seating, Duke Xiang and Xiang Bo were facing east, Ya Fu was facing south (Ya Fu was Fan Zeng), Pei Gong was facing north, and Zhang Liang was facing west in serving.

46

-

范增数目项王，举所佩玉玦以示之者三，项王默然不应。

46

-

Several times Fan Zeng gave Duke Xiang eye signals and raised the jade piece he was wearing to get Duke Xiang’s attention. Xiang Yu said nothing and did not respond.

47

-

范增起，出，召项庄，谓曰：“君王为人不忍。

47

-

Fan Zeng stood up and got outside. He summoned Xiang Zhuang over and said: “Our King is soft-hearted.

48

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若入前为寿，寿毕，请以剑舞，因击沛公于坐，杀之。

48

-

You go in and toast to wish him good health. Afterwards, you ask for permission to perform a sword dance. Then you strike Pei Gong at his seat and kill him.

49

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不者，若属皆且为所虏。”

49

-

If you don’t do that, you and your followers will all be taken captive by him.”

50

-

庄则入为寿。

50

-

Zhuang went in to give a toast of good wishes for longevity.

51

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寿毕，曰：“君王与沛公饮，军中无以为乐，请以剑舞。”

51

-

When that was done, he said: “Your Highness is drinking with Pei Gong. In the army, there is nothing for entertainment. I ask for your permission to perform a sword dance.”

52

-

项王曰：“诺。”项庄拔剑起舞，项伯亦拔剑起舞，常以身翼蔽沛公，庄不得击。

52

-

Duke Xiang said: “Go ahead.” Zhuang drew his sword and started dancing. Xiang Bo also drew his sword to dance as well and often he opened his arms like a bird’s wings to shield Pei Gong. Zhuang could not take a strike.

53

-

于是张良至军门见樊哙。

53

-

So, Zhang Liang went to the front of the barracks to see Fan Kuai.

54

-

樊哙曰：“今日之事何如？”

54

-

Fan Kuai said: “How are things coming along today?”

55

-

良曰：“甚急！今者项庄拔剑舞，其意常在沛公也。”

55

-

Zhang Liang said: “It’s dicey! Now Xiang Zhuang has drawn his sword to dance and he’s targeting Pei Gong.”

56

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哙曰：“此迫矣！臣请入，与之同命。”

56

-

Kuai said: “This is really urgent! Please let me in, and I’ll live or die with him.”

57

-

哙即带剑拥盾入军门。

57

-

Kuai barged into the barracks’ door with his sword and shield.

58

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交戟之卫士欲止不内，樊哙侧其盾以撞，卫士仆地，哙遂入，披帷西向立，瞋目视项王，头发上指，目眦尽裂。

58

-

Soldiers guarding the door with their crossed halberds blocking the entrance tried to stop him from going in. Fan Kuai rammed his way through with his shield at his side and knocked the guards to the ground. He managed to get inside. Upon lifting the curtain, he stood there facing west, and looked sternly at Duke Xiang with stand-on-end hair and over-taut, cracked eye-rims.

59

-

项王按剑而跽曰：“客何为者？”

59

-

While holding onto the handle of the sword, Duke Xiang sat up and said: “What are you doing here?”

60

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张良曰：“沛公之参乘樊哙者也。”

60

-

Zhang Liang said: “He’s the bodyguard of Pei Gong.”

61

-

项王曰：“壮士！赐之卮酒。”

61

-

Duke Xiang said: “My good man, let me treat you to a cup of wine.”

62

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则与斗卮酒。

62

-

An assistant handed Kuai a big cup of wine.

63

-

哙拜谢，起，立而饮之。

63

-

Kuai thanked with a bow. Then he got up and drank the wine while standing up.

64

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项王曰：“赐之彘肩。”

64

-

Duke Xiang said: “Treat him with a pig’s front leg.”

65

-

则与一生彘肩。

65

-

The assistant give him an uncooked pork front-leg.

66

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樊哙覆其盾于地，加彘肩上，拔剑切而啖之。

66

-

Kuai put his shield face-up on the floor and placed the pork leg on top of it. Then he took out the sword to cut the meat and started eating.

67

-

项王曰：“壮士！能复饮乎？”

67

-

Duke Xiang said: “My friend, could you drink more?”

68

-

樊哙曰：“臣死且不避，卮酒安足辞！

68

-

Kuai said: “I haven’t run away from death. Why would I turn down drinks?

69

-

夫秦王有虎狼之心，杀人如不能举，刑人如恐不胜，天下皆叛之。

69

-

King Qin was cruel and ruthless like a tiger. There was no limit on how many people he would slaughter, and no torture would be too extreme for him. He had the entire nation turned against him.

70

-

怀王与诸将约曰: ‘先破秦入咸阳者王之。’

70

-

According to the agreement among feudal lords: ‘whoever crumbles Qin and enters Xian Yang will be made Emperor.’

71

-

今沛公先破秦入咸阳，毫毛不敢有所近，封闭宫室，还军霸上，以待大王来。

71

-

Now Pei Gong has broken through Qin first and entered Xian Yang. Not a single item has been taken away. The palaces have been locked up. The troop has retreated back to Bashang awaiting your arrival.

72

-

故遣将守关者，备他盗出入与非常也。

72

-

Generals have been dispatched to guard the Hangu Pass just to prevent bandits from entering and prepare for other contingencies.

73

-

劳苦而功高如此，未有封侯之赏，而听细说，欲诛有功之人，此亡秦之续耳。

73

-

Such hard work and merits are highly laudable, and yet no dukedom has been awarded. On the contrary, gossips of inconsequential people have been taken as the truth and attempts have been made on the life of a worthy individual. This is just a continuation of what the demised Qin did.

74

-

窃为大王不取也！”

74

-

Personally I think you should not take this course of action!”

75

-

项王未有以应，曰：“坐。”樊哙从良坐。

75

-

Duke Xiang did not address the suggestion and said: “Have a seat.” Fan Kuai sat beside Liang.

76

-

坐须臾，沛公起如厕，因招樊哙出。

76

-

After sitting for a bit, Pei Gong got up to go to the washroom. He called Fan Kuai outside as well.

77

-

沛公已出，项王使都尉陈平召沛公。

77

-

After Pei Gong had left, Duke Xiang sent Deputy General Chen Ping to summon Pei Gong over.

78

-

沛公曰：“今者出，未辞也，为之奈何？”

78

-

Pei Gong said: “Now that we have left, we haven’t said goodbye. What should we do?”

79

-

樊哙曰：“大行不顾细谨，大礼不辞小让。

79

-

Fan Kuai said: “In dealing with serious matters, trivial formalities could be overlooked. On issues of grave significance, there is no need to avoid minor denunciation.

80

-

如今人方为刀俎，我为鱼肉，何辞为？”

80

-

Now they are knives and chopping boards, and we are fish and meat. What’s there to bid farewell?”

81

-

于是遂去。

81

-

So, they decided to leave.

82

-

乃令张良留谢。

82

-

Zhang Liang was left behind to apologize.

83

-

良问曰：“大王来何操？”

83

-

Liang asked: “What have you brought along?”

84

-

曰：“我持白璧一双，欲献项王，玉斗一双，欲与亚父。

84

-

The reply was: “I have brought with me gifts of a pair of jade rings for Duke Xiang, and two jade drinking vessels for Fan Zeng.

85

-

会其怒，不敢献。

85

-

It happened they were mad, and I didn’t dare to present those items to them.”

86

-

公为我献之。”

86

-

You will hand them out on my behalf.”

87

-

张良曰：“谨诺。”

87

-

Zhang Liang said: “I’ll do as you say.”

88

-

当是时，项王军在鸿门下，沛公军在霸上，相去四十里。

88

-

At that time, Duke Xiang’s troop was at Hongmen while Pei Gong’s army was at Bashang, and they were 40 miles apart.

89

-

沛公则置车骑，脱身独骑，与樊哙、夏侯婴、靳强、纪信等四人持剑盾步走，从郦山下，道芷阳间行。

89

-

Pei Gong left behind horse-drawn coaches, and escape on horseback alone. In company with him were four people—Fan Kuai, Xiahou Ying, Jin Qiang, and Ji Xin, and they were on foot carrying their shields and swords. At the bottom of Mount Li, they took the Zhiyang small road.

90

-

沛公谓张良曰：“从此道至吾军，不过二十里耳。

90

-

Pei Gong told Zhang Liang in saying: “It is only twenty miles from this road to our barracks.

91

-

度我至军中，公乃入。”

91

-

When you figure we have arrived at our army camp, then you go in.”

92

-

沛公已去，间至军中。

92

-

Pei Gong left and took the small road to his army.

93

-

张良入谢，曰：“沛公不胜杯杓，不能辞。

93

-

Zhang Liang entered the building to say goodbye and said: “Pei Gong drank too much and he couldn’t come to say goodbye.

94

-

谨使臣良奉白璧一双，再拜献大王足下，玉斗一双，再拜奉大将军足下。”

94

-

He repeatedly told me to present a pair of jade rings to Honorable Duke with a deep bow on my knees, and a couple of jade drinking vessels to Honorable General, and again with a deep bow on my knees.”

95

-

项王曰：“沛公安在？”

95

-

Duke Xiang asked: “Where’s Pei Gong?”

96

-

良曰：“闻大王有意督过之，脱身独去，已至军矣。”

96

-

Liang said: “He heard you were going to reprimand him and so he left alone. Now he has arrived at the army.”

97

-

项王则受璧，置之坐上。

97

-

Duke Xiang accepted the rings and put them on his seat.

98

-

亚父受玉斗，置之地，拔剑撞而破之，曰：“唉！竖子不足与谋。

98

-

Fan Zeng took the jade vessels, placed them on the ground, took out his sword, smashed them to pieces, and said: “It’s not worth our while to partner with this fellow on big plans.

99

-

夺项王天下者必沛公也。

99

-

Snatching the nation from Duke Xiang has to be Pei Gong.

100

-

吾属今为之虏矣！”

100

-

We’ll all be taken captive by him.”

101

-

沛公至军，立诛杀曹无伤。

101

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項羽本紀 - Annals of Xiang Yu