扁鹊见蔡桓公 Bian Que and Duke Huan
Han Fei (received collection) 韩非 · Late Warring States
Repeated warnings move deeper into the body until Bian Que turns and leaves.
扁鹊见蔡桓公，立有间。 biǎn què jiàn cài huán gōng, lì yǒu jiàn.
Bian Que visited Duke Huan of Cai and stood for a while.
扁鹊曰：“君有疾在腠理，不治将恐深。” biǎn què yuē: “jūn yǒu jí zài còu lǐ, bù zhì jiāng kǒng shēn.”
Bian Que said, “My lord, you have an illness in the surface tissues. Without treatment, I fear it will go deeper.”
桓侯曰：“寡人无疾。” huán hóu yuē: “guǎ rén wú jí.”
Marquis Huan said, “I have no illness.”
扁鹊出，桓侯曰：“医之好治不病以为功！” biǎn què chū, huán hóu yuē: “yī zhī hào zhì bù bìng yǐ wéi gōng!”
Bian Que left, and Marquis Huan said, “Doctors like treating people who are not ill and claiming credit for it!”
居十日，扁鹊复见，曰：“君之病在肌肤，不治将益深。” jū shí rì, biǎn què fù jiàn, yuē: “jūn zhī bìng zài jī fū, bù zhì jiāng yì shēn.”
Ten days later Bian Que visited again and said, “Your illness is in the flesh. Without treatment it will go deeper still.”
桓侯不应。 huán hóu bù yìng.
Marquis Huan did not answer.
扁鹊出，桓侯又不悦。 biǎn què chū, huán hóu yòu bù yuè.
Bian Que left, and Marquis Huan was displeased again.
居十日，扁鹊复见，曰：“君之病在肠胃，不治将益深。” jū shí rì, biǎn què fù jiàn, yuē: “jūn zhī bìng zài cháng wèi, bù zhì jiāng yì shēn.”
Ten days later Bian Que visited again and said, “Your illness is in the stomach and intestines. Without treatment it will go deeper still.”
桓侯又不应。 huán hóu yòu bù yìng.
Marquis Huan again gave no answer.
扁鹊出，桓侯又不悦。 biǎn què chū, huán hóu yòu bù yuè.
Bian Que left, and Marquis Huan was displeased again.
居十日，扁鹊望桓侯而还走。 jū shí rì, biǎn què wàng huán hóu ér xuán zǒu.
Ten days later Bian Que saw Marquis Huan from a distance, turned and ran.
桓侯故使人问之。 huán hóu gù shǐ rén wèn zhī.
Marquis Huan made a point of sending someone to ask him why.
扁鹊曰：“疾在腠理，汤熨之所及也；在肌肤，针石之所及也；在肠胃，火齐之所及也；在骨髓，司命之所属，无奈何也。 biǎn què yuē: “jí zài còu lǐ, tāng yùn zhī suǒ jí yě; zài jī fū, zhēn shí zhī suǒ jí yě; zài cháng wèi, huǒ jì zhī suǒ jí yě; zài gǔ suǐ, sī mìng zhī suǒ shǔ, wú nài hé yě.
Bian Que said, “An illness in the surface tissues can be reached by hot applications; in the flesh, by needles and stone lancets; in the stomach and intestines, by medicinal decoctions. In the marrow it belongs to the keeper of life, and nothing can be done.
今在骨髓，臣是以无请也。” jīn zài gǔ suǐ, chén shì yǐ wú qǐng yě.”
Now it is in the marrow, which is why I have offered no further request to treat it.”
居五日，桓侯体痛，使人索扁鹊，已逃秦矣。 jū wǔ rì, huán hóu tǐ tòng, shǐ rén suǒ biǎn què, yǐ táo qín yǐ.
Five days later Marquis Huan felt pain in his body and sent someone to find Bian Que, who had already fled to Qin.
桓侯遂死。 huán hóu suì sǐ.
Marquis Huan then died.