1
王昕弟晞
Wang Xin; Wang Xi
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王昕，字元景，北海劇人。 六世祖猛，秦苻堅丞相，家於華山之鄜城。 父雲，仕魏朝有名望。
Wang Xin, styled Yuanjing, was a man of Ju in Beihai commandery. His sixth-generation ancestor Meng had been chancellor under Fu Jian of Former Qin; the family settled at Fucheng in Huashan. His father Yun served the Wei court with repute.
3
昕少篤學讀書，太尉汝南王悅辟騎兵參軍。 舊事，王出射，武服持刀陪從，昕未嘗依行列。 悅好逸遊，或騁騎信宿，昕輒棄還。 悅乃令騎馬在前，手為驅策。 昕舍轡高拱，任為所之。 左右言其誕慢。 悅曰：「府望惟在此賢，不可責也。」 悅數散錢於地，令諸佐爭拾之，昕獨不拾。 悅又散銀錢以目昕，昕乃取其一。 悅與府僚飲酒，起自移床。 人爭進手，昕獨執版卻立。 悅於是作色曰：「我帝孫帝子帝弟帝叔，今為宴適，親起輿床。 卿是何人，獨為偃蹇！」 對曰：「元景位望微劣，不足使殿下式瞻儀形，安敢以親王僚宷，從廝養之役。」 悅謝焉。 坐上皆引滿酣暢，昕先起，臥閑室，頻召不至。 悅乃自詣呼之曰：「懷其才而忽府主，可謂仁乎？」 昕曰：「商辛沈湎，其亡也忽諸，府主自忽，微僚敢任其咎。」 悅大笑而去。
In youth Xin was devoted to learning and reading; Grand Marshal Prince of Runan Yue engaged him as cavalry staff officer. By custom, when a prince went out shooting, attendants wore martial garb and carried blades in escort; Xin never took his place in the ranks. Yue loved idle wandering and sometimes galloped away for nights at a time; Xin would each time abandon the outing and return. Yue then had him ride in front and drove the horse with his own hand. Xin let go the reins and sat with hands folded high, letting Yue take him wherever he would. Those about him said he was insolently slow. Yue said, "The house's hope is in this worthy alone; he cannot be blamed." Yue often scattered cash on the ground and had his staff scramble for it; Xin alone did not pick any up. Yue scattered silver coins with his eye on Xin; Xin then took one. Yue drank with his household staff; he rose and moved the couch himself. Others scrambled to lend a hand; Xin alone held his tablet and stepped back. Yue then darkened his face and said, "I am the emperor's grandson, son, brother, and uncle; today at a feast I rise to move the couch myself. What sort of man are you, to stand alone in such arrogance!" He replied, "Yuanjing's rank and standing are slight and low, unworthy of having Your Highness bow and show your bearing; how dare I, a prince's staff officer, follow menial service like groom and stable hand." Yue apologized. All at the seat drank their fill in high spirits; Xin rose first and lay in an idle room; summoned repeatedly, he did not come. Yue then came in person and called, "You cherish talent yet slight the house master—can that be called humane?" Xin said, "King Zhou of Shang sank in debauchery; his fall came in an instant. The house master slighted himself; may a petty officer bear the blame?" Yue laughed loud and left.
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累遷東萊太守。 後吏部尚書李神儁奏言，比因多故，常侍遂無員限，今以王元景等為常侍，定限八員。 加金紫光祿大夫。 武帝或時袒露，與近臣戲狎，每見昕，即正冠而斂容焉。 昕體素甚肥，遭喪後，遂終身羸瘠。 楊愔重其德業，以為人之師表。 遷秘書監。
He rose in succession to administrator of Donglai. Later Minister of Personnel Li Shenjun memorialized that because of many disturbances the attendant-at-court posts had long had no fixed quota; now Wang Yuanjing and others were made attendants, fixed at eight. He was given the additional title grand master of splendid happiness with golden seal and purple ribbon. Emperor Wu of Wei sometimes went bare-chested and sported familiarly with close ministers; whenever he saw Xin, he would straighten his cap and compose his bearing. Xin's body had always been very stout; after mourning he remained gaunt for life. Yang Yin valued his virtue and learning and took him as a model for men. He was moved to director of the secretariat.
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昕少與邢卲俱為元羅賓友，及守東萊，卲舉室就之。 郡人以卲是邢杲從弟，會兵將執之，昕以身蔽伏其上，呼曰：「欲執邢子才，當先殺我。」 卲乃免焉。
In youth Xin and Xing Shao had both been guests of Yuan Luo; when Xin held Donglai, Shao brought his whole household to join him. The people of the commandery, because Shao was a cousin of Xing Gao, were mustering troops to seize him; Xin shielded him with his own body lying atop him and cried, "If you wish to seize Xing Zicai, you must kill me first." Shao was thus spared.
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昕雅好清言，詞無淺俗。 在東萊，獲殺其同行侶者，詰之未服，昕謂之曰：「彼物故不歸，卿無恙而反，何以自明？」 邢卲後見世宗，說此言以為笑樂。 昕聞之，故詣卲曰：「卿不識造化。」 還謂人曰：「子才應死，我罵之極深。」
Xin was fond of pure talk; his words had nothing shallow or vulgar. In Donglai he caught one who had killed a traveling companion; questioned, the man would not confess; Xin said to him, "That man died and did not return; you came back unharmed—how will you clear yourself?" Later Xing Shao saw Gao Cheng and told this remark for a laugh. When Xin heard of it, he went deliberately to Shao and said, "You do not understand creation." Returning, he told others, "Zicai ought to die; I cursed him to the utmost."
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顯祖以昕疏誕，非濟世所須，罵之曰：「好門戶，惡人身。」 又有讒之者曰：「王元景每嗟水運不應遂絕。」 帝愈怒，乃下詔徙幽州。 後徵還，除銀青光祿大夫，判祠部尚書事。 帝怒臨漳令嵇曄及舍人李文師，以曄賜薛豐洛、文師賜崔士順為奴。 鄭子默私謂昕曰：「自古無朝士作奴。」 昕曰：「箕子為之奴，何言無也？」 子默遂以昕言啟顯祖，仍曰：「王元景比陛下於殷紂。」 楊愔微為解之。 帝謂愔曰：「王元景是爾博士，爾語皆元景所教。」 帝後與朝臣酣飲，昕稱病不至。 帝遣騎執之，見方搖膝吟詠，遂斬於御前，投尸漳水，天保十年也。 有文集二十卷。 子顗。
Gao Yang, because Xin was loose and insolent and not what the age required, reviled him, "Fine house, vile person." There were also slanderers who said, "Wang Yuanjing often sighs that the water transport ought not to have been cut off." Gao Yang grew angrier still and issued an edict exiling him to Youzhou. Later he was recalled and made grand master of splendid happiness with silver seal and purple ribbon, with concurrent charge of the ministry of rites. Gao Yang in anger toward Linzhang magistrate Ji Ye and palace attendant Li Wenshi gave Ye as slave to Xue Fengluo and Wenshi as slave to Cui Shishun. Zheng Zimo said privately to Xin, "From antiquity there have been no court gentlemen made slaves." Xin said, "Jizi became a slave—how say there were none?" Zimo then reported Xin's words to Gao Yang, adding, "Wang Yuanjing compares Your Majesty to King Zhou of Shang." Yang Yin mildly excused him. Gao Yang said to Yin, "Wang Yuanjing is your doctoral mentor; your every word is what Yuanjing taught." Later Gao Yang drank deep with the court ministers; Xin pleaded illness and did not attend. Gao Yang sent riders to seize him; they found him swaying his knees and chanting poetry; he was beheaded before the throne, the corpse cast into the Zhang River—in the tenth year of Tianbao. He left collected works in twenty scrolls. His son Yan.
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昕母清河崔氏，學識有風訓，生九子，並風流蘊藉，世號王氏九龍。
Xin's mother was a Lady Cui of Qinghe, learned and with moral instruction; she bore nine sons, all cultured and refined—the age called them the Nine Dragons of the Wang house.
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弟晞，字叔朗，小名沙彌。 幼而孝謹，淹雅有器度，好學不倦，美容儀，有風則。 魏末，隨母兄東適海隅，與邢子良遊處。 子良愛其清悟，與其在洛兩兄書曰：「賢弟彌郎，意識深遠，曠達不羈，簡於造次，言必詣理，吟詠情性，往往麗絕。 恐足下方難為兄，不遐慮其不進也。」 魏永安初，第二兄暉聘梁，啟晞釋褐除員外散騎侍郎，徵署廣平王開府功曹史。 晞願養母，竟不受署。 母終後，仍屬遷鄴。 遨遊鞏洛，悅其山水，與范陽盧元明、鉅鹿魏季景結侶同契，往天陵山，浩然有終焉之志。
His younger brother Xi, styled Shulang, childhood name Shamini. From childhood he was filial and careful, cultivated and with capacity, tireless in learning, handsome in bearing, with natural dignity. At the end of Wei he followed his mother and elder brothers east to the seacoast and kept company with Xing Ziliang. Ziliang loved his clarity and insight and wrote to Xi's two elder brothers in Luoyang, "Your worthy younger brother Milang's mind is deep and far-reaching, free and unrestrained, spare even in haste; his words always hit reason; in chanting feeling and nature he is often surpassingly fine. I fear you gentlemen will hardly be his match as elder brothers and need not worry that he will not advance." At the beginning of Yong'an in Wei, his second elder brother Hui was betrothed to Liang; he memorialized that Xi be released from commoner status and made attendant cavalier, and Xi was summoned to serve as recorder on the staff of Prince of Guangping's opening office. Xi wished to support his mother and in the end did not accept appointment. After his mother died he still went with the move to Ye. Roaming in Gong and Luo, he delighted in the mountains and waters; with Lu Yuanming of Fanyang and Wei Jijing of Julu he formed a bond of like minds and went to Tianling Mountain, with vast resolve to end his days there.
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及西魏將獨孤信入洛，署為開府記室。 晞稱先被犬傷，困篤不起。 有故人疑其所傷非猘，書勸令起。 晞復書曰：「辱告存念，見令起疾，循復眷旨，似疑吾所傷未必是猘。 吾豈願其必猘，但理契無疑耳。 就足下疑之，亦有過說。 足下旣疑其非猘，亦可疑其是猘，其疑半矣。 若疑其是猘而營護，雖非犭制亦無損，疑其非猘而不療，儻是猘則難救。 然則過療則致萬全，過不療或至死。 若王晞無可惜也，則不足取，旣取之，便是可惜。 奈何奪其萬全，任其或死。 且將軍威德所被，飈飛霧襲，方掩八竑，豈在一介。 若必從隗始，先須濟其生靈。 足下何不從容為將軍言也？」 於是方得見寬。 俄而信返，晞遂歸鄴。
When Western Wei general Dugu Xin entered Luoyang, he appointed Xi recorder on his opening staff. Xi claimed he had earlier been bitten by a dog and was gravely ill and could not rise. An old friend doubted the wound was not from a mad dog and wrote urging him to get up. Xi wrote back, "I am shamed by your care in asking after me and your order to rise from illness; following and pondering your kind intent, you seem to doubt that my wound may not have been from a mad dog. Would I wish it must have been mad? Only that reason admits no doubt. As for your doubting it, there is also overstatement. Since you doubt it was not mad, you may also doubt it was mad—your doubt is already half. If you doubt it was mad and nurse the wound, though it was not mad there is no harm; if you doubt it was not mad and do not treat it, perchance it was mad and then it is hard to save. Thus overtreatment brings ten thousandfold safety; overt refusal of treatment may bring death. If Wang Xi were not worth sparing, then he should not be taken; since he is taken, he is worth sparing. How can you strip him of ten thousandfold safety and leave him to possible death? Moreover the general's prestige and virtue cover all; wind flies and mist strikes, about to enfold the eight reaches—surely not for one man alone. If you must begin from the start, first you must succor the living people. Why do you not speak to the general at leisure on my behalf?" Only then was he granted leniency. Soon Dugu Xin returned west; Xi then went back to Ye.
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齊神武訪朝廷子弟忠孝謹密者，令與諸子遊。 晞與清河崔瞻、頓丘李度、范陽盧正通首應此選。 文襄時為大將軍，握晞等手曰：「我弟並向成長，志識未定，近善狎惡，不能不移。 吾弟成立，不負義方，卿祿位常亞吾弟。 若茍使迴邪，致相詿誤，罪及門族，非止一身。」 晞隨神武到晉陽，補中外府功曹參軍，帶常山王演友。
Gao Huan sought sons of the court who were loyal, filial, careful, and steady, to keep company with his sons. Xi and Cui Zhan of Qinghe, Li Du of Dunqiu, and Lu Zhengtong of Fanyang were the first chosen for this. Gao Cheng was then grand general; he took Xi and the others by the hand and said, "My younger brothers are all growing up; their aims and knowledge are not yet fixed—near goodness they draw close, near evil they cannot but shift. If my younger brothers are established, they will not betray righteous teaching; your rank and salary will always rank just below my younger brothers. If you would make them turn crooked and lead one another astray, guilt will reach the clan—not you alone." Xi followed Gao Huan to Jinyang, was made staff officer of the inner and outer offices, and attended Prince of Changshan Yan as companion.
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齊天保初，行太原郡事。 及文宣昏逸，常山王數諫，帝疑王假辭於晞，欲加大辟。 王私謂晞曰：「博士，明日當作一條事，為欲相活，亦圖自全，宜深體勿怪。」 乃於衆中杖晞二十。 帝尋發怒，聞晞得杖，以故不殺，髡鉗配甲坊。 居三年，王又固諫爭，大被毆撻，閉口不食。 太后極憂之。 帝謂左右曰：「儻小兒死，奈我老母何？」 於是每問王疾，謂曰：「努力強食，當以王晞還汝。」 乃釋晞令往。 王抱晞曰：「吾氣力綴然，恐不復相見。」 晞流涕曰：「天道神明，豈令殿下遂斃此舍。 至尊親為人兄，尊為人主，安可與校計。 殿下不食，太后亦不食，殿下縱不自惜，不惜太后乎？」 言未卒，王強坐而飯。 晞由是得免徙，還為王友。
At the beginning of Tianbao in Qi he acted as administrator of Taiyuan commandery. When Gao Yang grew dissolute, Prince of Changshan remonstrated repeatedly; Gao Yang suspected the prince borrowed his words from Xi and wished to impose the death penalty. The prince said privately to Xi, "Doctor, tomorrow you must do one thing—for I mean to keep you alive and also to save myself; understand deeply and do not take it amiss." He then had Xi beaten twenty strokes before the assembly. Gao Yang soon flared in anger; hearing Xi had been beaten, on that account he did not kill him but shaved his head, put him in fetters, and assigned him to the armorer's ward. After three years the prince again remonstrated firmly; he was beaten severely, closed his mouth and would not eat. The empress dowager was deeply grieved. Gao Yang said to those about him, "If the boy dies, what of my old mother?" He then each day inquired after the prince's illness and told him, "Strive and force yourself to eat; I will give Wang Xi back to you." He released Xi and sent him to the prince. The prince embraced Xi and said, "My breath and strength are failing; I fear we shall not meet again." Xi wept and said, "Heaven's way and the spirits—how could they let Your Highness die in this house! The Supreme One is elder brother in person and sovereign in rank—how can you contend with him? Your Highness will not eat; the empress dowager will not eat either—if Your Highness will not spare yourself, will you not spare the empress dowager?" Before he finished speaking, the prince forced himself to sit up and eat. Xi was thereby spared exile and returned as the prince's companion.
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王復錄尚書事，新除官者必詣王謝職，去必辭。 晞言於王曰：「受爵天朝，拜恩私第，自古以為干紀。 朝廷文武，出入辭謝，宜一約絕。 主上顒顒，賴殿下扶翼。」 王納焉。 常從容謂晞曰：「主上起居不恒，卿耳目所具，吾豈可以前逢一怒，遂爾結舌。 卿宜為撰諫草，吾當伺便極諫。」 晞遂條十餘事以呈。 切諫王曰：「今朝廷乃爾，欲學介子匹夫輕一朝之命，狂藥令人不自覺，刀箭豈復識親疏，一旦禍出理外，將奈殿下家業何，奈皇太后何！ 乞且將順，日慎一日。」 王歔欷不自勝，曰：「乃至是乎？」 明日見晞曰：「吾長夜九思，今便息意。」 便命火對晞焚之。 後王承間苦諫，遂至忤旨。 帝使力士反接，拔白刃註頸，罵曰：「小子何知，欲以吏才非我，是誰教汝？」 王曰：「天下噤口，除臣誰敢有言。」 帝催遣捶楚，亂杖抶數十，會醉臥得解。 爾後褻黷之好，遍於宗戚，所往留連，俾晝作夜，唯常山邸多無適而去。
Prince of Changshan again recorded Masters of Writing affairs; newly appointed officials had to visit him to thank him for their posts, and on leaving had to take leave. Wang Xi said to the prince, "To receive rank from the heavenly court and pay thanks at a private residence has from antiquity been held a breach of protocol. Civil and military officials of the court, coming and going with thanks and farewells — it should all be stopped at once. The sovereign is attentive; he relies on Your Highness to support him." The prince accepted this. He often said calmly to Wang Xi, "The sovereign's conduct is unsteady; you see and hear what he does — can I really stay silent forever because I once provoked his anger? You should draft a memorial of remonstrance; I will seize a suitable moment and remonstrate to the utmost." Wang Xi then set out more than ten items and presented them. He remonstrated sharply with the prince, "The court is now like this — do you wish to follow some reckless commoner who treats a morning's life lightly? Madness-drug makes a man unaware of himself; blade and arrow no longer know kin from stranger. If disaster suddenly comes from beyond reason, what of Your Highness's household estate — what of the empress dowager! I beg you for now to yield and go along, and be more careful day by day." The prince sobbed uncontrollably and said, "Has it come to this?" Next day he saw Wang Xi and said, "I thought all night; now my mind is at rest." He ordered fire and burned the draft before Wang Xi. Later the prince seized an opening and remonstrated bitterly, until he offended the sovereign's will. Gao Yang had brawny men twist his arms behind him, drew a bare blade and set it to his neck, and cursed, "What does a stripling know — you mean to deny me with clerkly talent; who taught you?" The prince said, "The realm holds its tongue; apart from your servant, who dares speak?" Gao Yang urged them on to beat him; they flogged him with clubs dozens of times; he happened to be drunk and asleep and was spared. Thereafter Gao Yang's lewd pursuits spread among kin; wherever he went he lingered, turning day into night — only at the Changshan residence he often found no fit occasion and left.
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及帝崩，濟南嗣立。 王謂晞曰：「一人垂拱，吾曹亦保優閑。」 因言朝廷寬仁慈恕，真守文良主。 晞曰：「天保享祚，東宮委一胡人，今卒覽萬機，駕馭雄桀。 如聖德幼沖，未堪多難，而使他姓出納詔命，必權有所歸。 殿下雖欲守藩職，其可得也！ 遐令得遂沖退，自審保家祚得靈長不？」 王默然思念，久之曰：「何以處我？」 晞曰：「周公抱成王朝諸侯，攝政七年，然後復子明辟，幸有故事，惟殿下慮之。」 王曰：「我安敢自擬周公。」 晞曰：「殿下今日地望，欲避周公得耶？」 王不答。 帝臨發，勑王從駕，除晞幷州長史。
When Gao Yang died, Prince of Jinan succeeded to the throne. The prince said to Wang Xi, "One man holds court at ease; we too shall keep our ease." He added that the court was lenient, benevolent, and forgiving — a true heir who guarded the patrimony, a good ruler. Wang Xi said, "In the Tianbao era fortunes held; the eastern palace was entrusted to a barbarian. Now he suddenly oversees all affairs, driving fierce men. If His Sagehood is young and not equal to many trials, yet others hand in and out the imperial edicts, power is sure to settle somewhere. Though Your Highness wish to keep to princely duty, can you? If far-off orders let you retire in modesty, do you yourself judge that the house and throne can endure long?" The prince fell silent in thought; after a long while said, "How am I to be placed?" Wang Xi said, "The Duke of Zhou held King Cheng in his arms and received the feudal lords, regent seven years, then returned the government and made the son clear sovereign — fortunately there is precedent; only Your Highness must weigh it." The prince said, "How dare I liken myself to the Duke of Zhou." Wang Xi said, "Your Highness's standing today — can you avoid the Duke of Zhou?" The prince did not answer. When the emperor set out, he ordered the prince to follow the carriage; Wang Xi was made chief administrator of Bing.
15
及王至鄴，誅楊、燕等，詔以王為大丞相、都督中外諸軍事，督攝文武，還至幷。 乃延晞謂曰：「不早用卿言，使群小弄權，幾至傾覆。 今君側雖獲暫清，終當何以處我？」 晞曰：「殿下將往時地位，猶可以名教出處。 今日事勢，遂關天時，非復人理所及。」 有頃，奏趙郡王叡為左長史，晞為司馬。 每夜載入，晝則不與語，以晞儒緩，恐不允武將之意。 後進晞密室曰：「比王侯諸貴每見煎迫，言我違天不祥，恐當或有變起，吾正欲以法繩之。」 晞曰：「朝廷比者疏遠親戚，寧思骨血之重。 殿下倉卒所行，非復人臣之事，芒刺在背，交戟入頸，上下相疑，何由可久。 且天道不恒，虧盈叠至，神幾變化，肹蚃斯集。 雖執謙挹，粃糠神器，便是違上玄之意，墜先帝之基。」 王曰：「卿何敢發非所宜言，須致卿於法。」 晞曰：「竊謂天時人事，同無異揆，是以冒犯雷霆，不憚斧鉞。 今日得披肝膽，抑亦神明攸贊。」 王曰：「拯難匡輔，方俟聖哲，吾何敢私議，幸勿多言。」 尋有詔以丞相任重，普進府僚一班，晞以司馬領吏部郎中。 丞相從事中郎陸杳將出使，臨別握晞手曰：「相王功格區宇，天下樂推，歌謠滿道，物無異望。 杳等願披赤心，而忽奉外使，無由面盡短誠，寸心謹以仰白。」 晞尋述杳言。 王曰：「若內外咸有異望，趙彥深朝夕左右，何因都無所論？ 自以卿意試密與言之。」 晞以事隙問彥深，彥深曰：「我比亦驚此音謠，每欲陳聞，則口噤心戰。 弟旣發論，吾亦昧死一披肝膽。」 因亦同勸。
When the prince reached Ye, Yang Yin, Murong Yan and others were executed; an edict made him grand chancellor, commander-in-chief of all armies within and without, overseeing civil and military affairs; he returned to Bing. He then summoned Wang Xi and said, "Because I did not heed your words early, petty men wielded power and I nearly came to ruin. Though by the ruler's side it is briefly cleared, in the end how am I to be placed?" Wang Xi said, "Your Highness's former standing could still be weighed by name and teaching in going forth and withdrawing. Today's situation turns on heaven's timing; it is no longer within human reason." Before long it was memorialized that Prince of Zhao Commandery Gao Rui be left chief administrator, and Wang Xi be chief marshal. Each night he was brought in by carriage; by day they did not speak — because Wang Xi was scholarly and slow, fearing he would not suit the generals' mind. Later the prince entered a private room and said, "Of late the princes and great men each press me, saying I go against heaven and invite ill fortune — fearing some change may rise. I mean to hold them by law." Wang Xi said, "The court of late has kept kin at distance — does it consider the weight of bone and blood? Your Highness's hasty acts are no longer the matter of a minister; a thorn in the back, crossed halberds at the neck — above and below doubting each other; how can it last? Moreover heaven's way is not constant; loss and gain pile on; spirit and omen shift — subtle signs gather. Though you hold modesty and restraint, to treat the sacred vessel like chaff is to go against heaven's intent and wreck the late emperor's foundation." The prince said, "How dare you speak what should not be spoken — I must bring you to law." Wang Xi said, "I hold that heaven's timing and human affairs share one measure; therefore I offend the thunder, fearless of axe and halberd. Today I may lay bare heart and liver — perhaps the spirits also approve." The prince said, "To rescue difficulty and set up support waits for a sage; how dare I debate in private — please speak no more." Soon an edict said the chancellor's burden was heavy and all staff advanced one grade; Wang Xi as chief marshal also held the post of gentleman in the ministry of personnel. Chancellor attendant Lu Yao was about to go on mission; on parting he clasped Wang Xi's hand and said, "The great prince's merit fills the realm, the realm joyfully urges him on, songs fill the roads, things have no different wish. We wish to bare our loyal hearts, but suddenly receive outer mission, with no face-to-face way to speak our brief loyalty — our inch of heart we respectfully raise to you." Wang Xi soon repeated Yao's words. The prince said, "If inside and outside alike have different hopes, Zhao Yanshen is morning and evening at my side — why has he never spoken of it? Try my meaning and speak of it secretly to him." Wang Xi seized a moment and asked Yanshen; Yanshen said, "I too of late was startled by these songs; each time I wished to report, my mouth locked and my heart trembled. Younger brother has now begun the theme; I too will risk death and bare heart and liver once." He then likewise urged him on.
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是時諸王公將校四方岳牧表陳符命。 乾明元年八月，昭帝踐祚。 九月，除晞散騎常侍，仍領兼吏部郎中。 後因奏事罷，帝從容曰：比日何為自同外客，略不可見。 自今假非局司，但有所懷，隨宜作一牒，候少隙即徑進也。」 因勑尚書陽休之、鴻臚卿崔劼等三人，每日本職務罷，並入東廊，共舉錄歷代廢禮墜樂、職司廢置、朝饗異同、輿服增損。 或道德高儁，久在沉淪； 或巧言眩俗，妖邪害政，爰及田市舟車、徵稅通塞、婚葬儀軌、貴賤齊衰，有不便於時而古今行用不已者，或自古利用而當今毀棄者，悉令詳思，以漸條奏，未待頓備，遇憶續聞。 朝晡給與御食，畢景聽遠。 時百官請建東宮，勑未許。 每令晞就東堂監視太子冠服，導引趨拜。 為太子太傅，晞以局司奉璽綬。 皇太子釋奠，又兼中庶子。 帝謂曰：「今旣當劇職，不得尋常舒慢也。」
At that time the princes and generals and the four quarters' governors memorialized the mandate's signs. In the eighth month of the first year of Ganming, Emperor Xiaozhao ascended the throne. In the ninth month Wang Xi was made attendant cavalier; he still held concurrently gentleman in the ministry of personnel. Later, when a memorial audience ended, the emperor said calmly, "Of late why do you act like an outsider guest — you are hardly to be seen at all. From now, unless it is office business, whenever you have something in mind, make a slip as fits and when a brief opening appears bring it straight in." He ordered director of the Masters of Writing Yang Xiuzhi, director of ceremonies Cui Jie, and one other — three men — each day when their proper duties ended, all to enter the eastern corridor and together record rites fallen and music lost through the ages, offices abolished, court sacrifice differences, carriage dress additions and subtractions. Or men of lofty virtue long sunk in obscurity; or clever words dazzling the vulgar and evil spirits harming government — reaching taxes on fields, markets, boats and carts, levies open or blocked, marriage and burial rules, noble and base full mourning — whatever was inconvenient in the time yet used unceasingly from old and new, or useful in antiquity yet destroyed today: all were to think in detail, report item by item in time, not wait until all was ready; when memory returned, continue the report. Morning and evening they were given imperial food; until sunset they listened afar. At the time the hundred officials asked to establish the eastern palace; the edict did not grant it. Each time Wang Xi was sent to the eastern hall to oversee the crown prince's cap and robe, guiding and leading his pace in bowing. He was made grand tutor of the crown prince; Wang Xi as office-holder received the seal and sash. When the crown prince performed the capping sacrifice, he was also concurrently palace attendant. The emperor said, "Now that you hold urgent office, you cannot as usual be leisurely and slow.
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帝將北征，勑問外間比何所聞。 晞曰：「道路傳言，車駕將行。」 帝曰：「庫莫奚南侵，我未經親戎，因此聊欲習武。」 晞曰：「鑾駕巡狩，為復可爾，若輕有驅使，恐天下失望。」 帝曰：「此懦夫常慮，吾自當臨時斟酌。」 帝使齊帥裴澤、主書蔡暉伺察群下，好相誣枉，朝士呼為裴、蔡。 時二人奏車駕北征後，人言陽休之、王晞數與諸人遊宴，不以公事在懷。 帝杖休之、晞脛各四十。 帝斬人於前，問晞曰：「此人合死不？」 晞曰：「罪實合死，但恨其不得死地。 臣聞刑人於市，與衆棄之，殿廷非殺戮之所。」 帝改容曰：「自今當為王公改之。」
The emperor was about to campaign north; he ordered inquiry what was heard outside lately. Wang Xi said, "On the roads they say the imperial carriage will march." The emperor said, "The Kumo Xi raid south; I have not myself led arms — therefore I wish for the moment to drill soldiers." Wang Xi said, "Imperial tours for inspection may still pass; if lightly there is dispatch, I fear the realm will lose hope." The emperor said, "This is the coward's constant worry; I myself will weigh it when the time comes. The emperor had the Qi commander Pei Ze and document clerk Cai Hui spy on the host below, fond of mutual slander; court gentlemen called them Pei and Cai. At that time the two reported that after the imperial carriage's northern campaign, people said Yang Xiuzhi and Wang Xi often feasted and wandered with others, not keeping public business in mind. The emperor flogged Xiuzhi and Wang Xi each forty blows on the shins. The emperor beheaded a man before him and asked Wang Xi, "Does this man deserve death?" Wang Xi said, "His crime indeed deserves death — only I regret he did not die in the proper place. I hear that punishing men in the market means abandoning them with the crowd; the palace hall is not a place for killing." The emperor changed countenance and said, "From now I shall change it for the princes.
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帝欲以晞為侍中，苦辭不受。 或勸晞勿自疏，晞曰：「我少年以來，閱要人多矣，充詘少時，鮮不敗績。 且性實疏緩，不堪時務，人主恩私，何由可保，萬一披猖，求退無地。 非不愛作熱官，但思之爛熟耳。」 百官嘗賜射，晞中的，當得絹，為不書箭，有司不與。 晞陶陶然曰：「我今可謂武有餘文不足矣。」 晞無子，帝將賜之妾，使小黃門就宅宣旨，皇後相聞晞妻。 晞令妻答，妻終不言，晞以手拊胸而退。 帝聞之笑。 孝昭崩，哀慕殆不自勝，因以羸敗。 武成本忿其儒緩，由是彌嫌之，因奏事大被訶叱，而雅步晏然。 歷東徐州刺史、秘書監。 武平初，遷大鴻臚，加儀同三司，監修起居注，待詔文林館。
The emperor wished to make Wang Xi palace attendant; he firmly declined and would not accept. Some urged Wang Xi not to distance himself; Wang Xi said, "From youth I have seen many men in power; puffed up for a little while, few did not end in ruin. Moreover my nature is truly loose and slow, unfit for the times; a sovereign's private favor — how can it be kept? If by chance I lose restraint, there is nowhere to seek withdrawal. It is not that I do not love the hot office — I have only chewed it over to the end. Once the hundred officials were granted an archery contest; Wang Xi hit the target and should have received silk, but because he did not mark his arrow, the office would not give it. Wang Xi said with easy content, "Today I may be called abundant in martial, short in literary. Wang Xi had no son; the emperor would grant him a concubine; a yellow gate attendant went to his house to announce the edict; the empress also sent word to Wang Xi's wife. Wang Xi had his wife answer; the wife never spoke; Wang Xi patted his chest with his hand and withdrew. When the emperor heard it he laughed. When Emperor Xiaozhao died, he mourned almost beyond bearing and fell ill from weakness. Emperor Wucheng had long resented his scholarly slowness and therefore disliked him the more; on presenting business he was roundly scolded, yet walked with elegant pace, unruffled. He passed through posts as governor of eastern Xuzhou and director of the secretariat. At the beginning of Wuping he was moved to grand director of ceremonies, given the same ceremonial rank as the three masters, supervised revision of the veritable records, and attended at the Forest of Literary Brilliance.
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性閑淡寡欲，雖王事鞅掌，而雅操不移。 在幷州，雖戎馬填閭，未嘗以世務為累。 良辰美景，嘯詠遨遊，登臨山水，以談讌為事，人士謂之物外司馬。 常詣晉祠，賦詩曰：「日落應歸去，魚鳥見留連。」 忽有相王使至，召晞不時至。 明日丞相西閤祭酒盧思道謂晞曰：「昨被召已朱顏，得不以魚鳥致怪？」 晞緩笑曰：「昨晚陶然，頗以酒漿被責，卿輩亦是留連之一物，豈直在魚鳥而已。」 及晉陽陷敗，與同志避周兵東北走。 山路險迥，懼有土賊，而晞溫酒服膏，曾不一廢。 每未肯去，行侶尤之，曰：「莫尤我，我行事若不悔，久作三公矣。」
His nature was leisurely and light in desire; though kingly affairs pressed thick, his refined conduct did not shift. In Bing Province, though war horses filled the lanes, he never took worldly business as a burden. On fine days and fair scenes he would chant and roam, climb hills and waters, making conversation and feasts his affair; gentlemen called him the marshal beyond things. He often visited the Jin shrine and composed a poem: "The sun sets — I ought to go home; fish and birds seem to linger. Suddenly a messenger of the great prince arrived; he summoned Wang Xi, who did not come at once. Next day Lu Sidao, libationer of the chancellor's Western Pavilion, said to Xi, "When you were summoned yesterday your face was already flushed — surely the fish and birds are not to blame for the offense?" Xi smiled slowly. "Last night I was quite at ease, and got a fair scolding over wine. You lot are detainments too — not fish and birds alone." When Jinyang fell, he fled northeast with his comrades before the Zhou army. The mountain road was treacherous and far; they feared bandits, yet Xi warmed his wine and took his salves without ever missing a day. Again and again he would not hurry on; his companions blamed him. He said, "Do not blame me. Had I not regretted my own ways, I would long since have been one of the Three Excellencies."
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全文以中華書局、一九七二年十一月、第一版《北齊書》為本校。
The full text has been collated against the Zhonghua Shuju first edition of the Book of Northern Qi, November 1972.