英文翻譯：後出師表 (諸葛亮)

英文翻譯：後出師表 (諸葛亮/Zhuge Liang)

Post-Battle Memorandum to His Majesty

( translated by alexcwlin/edited by Adam Lam)

先帝深慮漢、賊不兩立，王業不偏安，

Upon much deliberation, our late Emperor recognized that our Shu Han Dynasty could not co-exist with the evildoers.

王業不偏安，

Also our Empire could not be complacent staying put at a corner of the nation.

故托臣以討賊也。

As such, he charged me with the responsibility to bring those outlaws to their knees.

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以先帝之明，量臣之才，固知臣伐賊，才弱敵強也。

With late Emperor』s perceptiveness and assessment of my limitations, he was well aware that my conquest mission was greatly disadvantaged.

然不伐賊，王業亦亡。

Yet not seizing those evildoers will mean the eventual demise of our sovereignty.

惟坐而待亡，孰與伐之？是故托臣而弗疑也。

The decision was whether to sit tight and wait for our doom, or take the aggression to subjugate our enemy? Therefore commissioning me for the task was without hesitation.

臣受命之日，寢不安席，食不甘味。

On the day I received the assignment, I lost much sleep and appetite over it.

思惟北征。宜先入南。

In considering taking over the north, it was advisable to start with going south.

故五月渡瀘，深入不毛，

So in the fifth month we crossed Lu River and ventured deep into badlands.

并日而食；

In the process, we could only eat once every second day.

臣非不自惜也，

It』s not that I』m oblivious to my own well-being.

顧王業不可得偏安於蜀都，

But it』s just that we could not sit on our laurels in our Shu Han domain.

故冒危難，以奉先帝之遺意也，

Therefore I risk great dangers in fulfilling late Emperor』s wishes.

而議者謂為非計。

Dissenters claimed the plan was ill-advised.

今賊適疲於西，又務於東，

Now the evil』s troops are exhaustingly tested in the west and heavily engaged in the east.

兵法乘勞，此進趨之時也。

Military strategy suggests it』s an opportune time to launch attack when your enemy is spread thin.

謹陳其事如左：

I respectfully present my opinions of the matters as follows:

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高帝明並日月，謀臣淵深，然涉險被創，危然後安。

Han Dynasty founding Emperor Gao』s brilliance rivaled that of the sun and moon. His advisers were broad in knowledge and clever in battle stratagem. Yet he sustained injuries in plunging into dangers. Peace was restored only at the cost of perils.

今陛下未及高帝，謀臣不如良、平，而欲以長策取勝，坐定天下，

At this time, Your Majesty is not as accomplished as Emperor Gao, and your advisers do not measure up to those under him including Zhang Liang and Chen Ping. Yet you attempt to seal victory and unite the nation through maintaining status quo for the long-term.

此臣之未解一也。

This is the first point your humble servant here fails to understand.

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劉繇、王朗各據州郡，論安言計，動引聖人，群疑滿腹，眾難塞胸，今歲不戰，明年不征，使孫策坐大，遂並江東，

Formerly Liu You and Wang Lang occupied their respective provinces. In discussing the strategy of playing it safe, they quoted words of wisdom from past sages. With minds full of doubts and bellies full of fear, they kept procrastinating war year after year. As a result, Sun Ce grew stronger as time wore on and eventually he annexed Jiangdong District.

此臣之未解二也。

This is the second point your humble servant here fails to understand.

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曹操智計，殊絕於人，其用兵也，彷彿孫、吳，然困於南陽，險於烏巢，危於祁連，逼於黎陽，

Cao Cao』s smarts and wits were superb. His deployments of military tactics were comparable to those of Sun Wu and Wu Qi. Yet he was besieged in Nanyang, won a close victory in Wuchao, barely avoided injury in Qilian Mountain, and ran into stronghold at Liyang.

幾敗北山，殆死潼關，

Several times he went down in defeat at Mount Beishan. In Tongguan he narrowly escaped death.

然後偽定一時耳。

After all these, he was only able to enjoy a brief period of calm in his feigned empire.

況臣才弱，而欲以不危而定之，

Furthermore, your serving officials are incapable and you wish to reach national unification without taking risks.

此臣之未解三也。

This is the third point your humble servant here fails to understand.

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曹操五攻昌霸不下，

Five times Cao Cao was frustrated in his attempts to capture Changba.

四越巢湖不成，

Four times he failed to cross Lake Chao.

任用李服而李服圖之，

He took Li Fu under his wing but Li turned around and plotted against him.

委任夏侯而夏侯敗亡，

He appointed Xia Hou to high post but Xia Hou was killed in defeat.

先帝每稱操為能，猶有此失，

Our late Emperor highly praised Cao, and yet Cao had such blunders.

況臣駑下，何能必勝？

Moreover, I am very mundane in ability, and how possibly could I guarantee victory at all times?

此臣之未解四也。

This is the fourth point your humble servant here fails to understand.

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自臣到漢中，中間期年耳，然喪趙雲、陽群、馬玉、閻芝、丁立、白壽、劉郃、鄧銅等及曲長、屯將七十餘人，突將、無前、賨叟、青羌、散騎、武騎一千餘人。

It』s only been a year since I came to County Hanzhong. Yet we lost Zhao Yun, Yang Qun, Ma Yu, Yan Zhi, Ding Li, Bai Shou, Liu He, Deng Tong, and other high-ranking military officers to a total of seventy some odd people. Gone also were one thousand and then some soldiers from light brigade, cavalry, foreigner recruit, and other regiments.

此皆數十年之內所糾合四方之精銳，非一州之所有；

Those were all elites assembled over the last several tens of years from places of all directions and not just one province alone.

若複數年，則損三分之二也，

If things continue the way it has been for several more years, then we could have lost two-thirds of our military forces.

當何以圖敵？

By that time, what would we have left to fight against our enemies?

此臣之未解五也。

This is the fifth point your humble servant here fails to understand.

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今民窮兵疲，而事不可息；

Now our people are penurious and troops are tired. Yet matters are not all over.

事不可息，則住與行勞費正等。

Since things are not settled, then efforts are much the same whether we sit back and wait or go out on the assault.

而不及今圖之，欲以一州之地，與賊持久，

In not taking advantage of the opportunity, are we hoping we could drag it out with the evils with only one province of land?

此臣之未解六也。

This is the sixth point your humble servant here fails to understand.

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夫難平者，事也。

Yet war is something which is difficult for me to comment on.

昔先帝敗軍於楚，當此時，曹操拊手，謂天下已定。

In the old days, Cao Cao applauded when our late Emperor was defeated at Chu Region and claimed everything was resolved in the nation.

然後先帝東連吳越，西取巴蜀，舉兵北征，夏侯授首，此操之失計，而漢事將成也。

Later our late Emperor allied with Wu-Yue State and took Ba-Shu Region out west. In launching attack up north, General Xiahou was killed. Those were failings of Cao. Unification of Han Dynasty was in sight.

然後吳更違盟，

But then Wu State broke off the alliance arrangement.

關羽毀敗，秭歸蹉跌，曹丕稱帝。

Our General Guan Yu perished in defeat and we were routed at Zigui District. Cao Pi proclaimed himself to be Emperor.

凡事如是，難可逆見。

All things happen in similar fashion. It』s hard to predict.

臣鞠躬盡瘁，死而後已。至於成敗利鈍，非臣之明所能逆睹也。

You humble servant here will go all out ceaselessly till death befalls me. Whether things go successfully or unsuccessfully, smoothly or toughly, they are beyond my ability to foretell.

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