鐔津文集 13.35

13.35

始范睢變姓名。自號張祿先生。入秦說秦昭王。短秦相穰侯。秦昭王遂逐穰侯收其相印。即拜范睢為相。號為應侯。應侯所任用鄭安平以兵降趙。應侯憂不知計之所出。而蔡澤乃西入秦見昭王。使人宣言感怒應侯。應侯服其說。乃舉蔡澤。應侯因謝病請歸相印。范睢既免相。秦昭王遂拜蔡澤為相。蔡澤相秦數月。或惡之。懼誅。尋亦謝病歸其相印。莊子云。一蟬方得美蔭而忘其身。螳蜋執翳而搏之。見得而忘其形。異鵲從而利之。見利而忘其真。莊周怵然曰。噫物固相累焉。此與范睢二三子相傾而相奪。何以異乎。欲人之欲。人亦欲之。孰謂能必保其富貴耶。

Initially, Fan Ju changed his name and surname, styling himself Master Zhang Lu. Entering Qin, he persuaded King Zhaoxiang of Qin, disparaging the Qin Chancellor, the Marquis of Rang. King Zhaoxiang of Qin thereupon banished the Marquis of Rang, took back his chancellor's seal, and at once appointed Fan Ju as Chancellor, entitling him Marquis of Ying. Zheng Anping, whom the Marquis of Ying had recommended and employed, surrendered to Zhao with his troops; the Marquis of Ying was anxious and did not know what plan to devise. Thereupon Cai Ze came west into Qin to see King Zhaoxiang, having someone spread the word beforehand to provoke and anger the Marquis of Ying. The Marquis of Ying was won over by his persuasion, and consequently recommended Cai Ze; the Marquis of Ying then pleaded illness and requested to return his chancellor's seal. Once Fan Ju was dismissed from the chancellorship, King Zhaoxiang of Qin appointed Cai Ze as Chancellor. After Cai Ze had served as Chancellor of Qin for several months, someone spoke ill of him; fearing execution, he soon also pleaded illness and returned his chancellor's seal. Zhuangzi says: 'A cicada had just found a delightful shade and forgot its own body; a praying mantis, raising its concealment, seized upon it, seeing its gain and forgetting its own form; a strange magpie came along and took advantage of it, seeing its gain and forgetting its true [peril].' Zhuang Zhou was struck with dread and said: 'Alas, things indeed bring trouble to one another!' How does this differ from the way Fan Ju and those two or three gentlemen undermined and seized from one another? Coveting what others covet, others also covet it: who can say they are certain to preserve their wealth and honour?