唐護法沙門法琳別傳 1.15

1.15

高祖曰。臣聞。昔齊桓公與管仲鮑叔甯戚等。飲酒而適。桓公謂鮑叔曰。為寡人等祝之。鮑叔奉酒而祝之曰。願我君無忘出於莒。願管仲無忘縛於魯。願甯戚無忘飯於牛。時桓公避席而謝曰。寡人與二大夫。皆無忘夫子之言。則齊之社稷必不廢矣。此言常思舊也。陛下昔創義師志憑三寶。云安九五誓啟玄門。今陛下六合歸仁富有四海。欲納弈之狂簡而毀廢佛僧。此即虧陛下之往信。彰陛下之今過。黎元失望。理不可也。

Gaozu, saying: 'Your servant has heard that in antiquity, Duke Huan of Qi drank wine and made merry with Guan Zhong, Bao Shu, Ning Qi, and others. Duke Huan said to Bao Shu: 'Offer a toast for Us and the others.' Bao Shu raised his winecup and toasted, saying: 'May our ruler not forget his exile in Ju; may Guan Zhong not forget his bondage in Lu; and may Ning Qi not forget his feeding oxen [under the cart].' At that time, Duke Huan left his mat and thanked him, saying: 'If We and the two grandees never forget what you have said, Master, then the altars of soil and grain of Qi will surely not fall.' This speaks of constantly keeping past origins in mind. Formerly, when Your Majesty initiated the righteous uprising, your resolve relied upon the Three Jewels, aspiring to secure the throne of the Nine-Five and vowing to open wide the mysterious gate. Now, Your Majesty has united the six directions in benevolence and possesses the wealth of the four seas; yet you wish to accept Fu Yi's wild and reckless advice to abolish and destroy the Buddha and the sangha. This would breach Your Majesty's past good faith and manifest Your Majesty's present fault. The common people would lose hope; in principle, this must not be done.'