University of Virginia Library

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58

20[1]

Duke[2] Wên of Chin had appointed Li Li to be chief judge.[3]
For having wrongly permitted a man to be killed[4] he put himself
under arrest in the court and asked for death from the prince.

The prince said, "Just as there are high and low officials, so
there are light and severe punishments. The inferior officer is
guilty; it is not your guilt."

Li Li replied, "In occupying my office as chief, I did not make
way for inferior officers; in receiving a greater salary[5] I did not
share the profit with the inferior officers. Now when I have
wrongly permitted a man to be put to death, that an inferior
officer should be responsible for his death is unheard of." He
[refused[6] and] did not accept the command.

The prince said, "If you insist on[7] considering yourself guilty,
then I likewise am guilty."

Li Li said, "When the laws are violated, punishment should
follow:[8] when punishments are misapplied, death should be the
result. Your Highness thought me able to judge obscure cases and
to decide doubtful ones, and so you made me a judge. Now I have
wrongly permitted a man to be killed; my crime merits death."[9]

The prince said, "That you should leave your position, abandon
your rank, suffer the working of the law, and be lost to the state[10]
is not what I had wished for. Go quickly and do not bother me."

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59

Li Li replied, "Your Highness' worries are disorder in government
and danger to the state. When his army is defeated and
his troops are in confusion, the general is worried. Now to serve
one's prince when one lacks ability, or to hold an office through
shady actions is to receive one's salary without deserving it. I am
not one to deceive myself with my worthlessness." Whereupon
he fell upon his sword and died.

When the superior man hears of this he says, "Indeed he was
loyal."

The Ode says,[11]