Monday 30 June 2008

Hanfeizi - Tigers on the market

龐 恭 與 太 子 質 於 邯 鄲 , 謂 魏 王 曰 : 『 今 一 人 言 市 有 虎 , 王 信 之 乎 ? 』 曰 : 『 不 信 。 』 『 二 人 言 市 有 虎 , 王 信 之 乎 ? 』曰 : 『 不 信 。 』 『 三 人 言 市 有 虎 , 王 信 之 乎 ? 』 王 曰 : 『 寡 人 信 之 。』 龐 恭 曰 : 『 夫 市 之 無 虎 也 明 矣 , 然 而 三 人 言 而 成 虎 。 今 邯 鄲 之 去 魏 也 遠 於 市 , 議 臣 者 過 於 三 人 , 願 王 察 之 。 』 龐 恭 從 邯 鄲 反 , 竟 不 得 見。

As Pangong was about to serve, with the crown prince, as a hostage in Handan, he told the king of Wei: "If someone said there is a tiger on the market square, would you believe him? -- I would not. -- And if two persons said that there was a tiger on the market, would you believe them? -- I would not. -- And if three persons said there is a tiger on the market, would you believe them?" The king said : "I would". He replied : "It is clear that there is no tiger on the market square, yet three persons saying there is one make it real. Now, Handan is farther from Wei than the market square, and there will be more than three people criticising me. I hope your majesty will consider this." Yet, when Pangong came back from Handan, he was not granted royal audiences anymore.

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