李密［西晋］《陈情表》（4）（罗经国 英译）

臣之辛苦，非独蜀之人士及二州牧伯所见明知［41］，皇天后土［42］，实所共鉴，愿陛下矜愍愚诚［43］，听臣微志［44］，庶刘侥幸，保卒余年。臣生当陨首，死当结草［45］。臣不胜犬马怖惧之情［46］，谨拜表以闻。

——选自《文选》六臣注本

Not only do the people of Shu, but also the officials of Liang and Ye know my situation well. Heaven and Earth, too, bear witness to my misery. I sincerely hope Your Majesty may show mercy on me so that I can fulfill my lifelong wish to serve my grandmother till she has lived her full span. I will do anything for Your Majesty for the rest of my life and will repay your kindness by twisting grass (7) for Your Majesty after my death. I am trembling all over as I present to Your Majesty this petition.

(7)Wei Ou, a prince of the Jin Dynasty, during the Spring and Autumn Period was saved by the ghost of an old man whose daughter he had saved. The ghost plucked a handful of grass and twisted it into a rope by which the opponent Wei Ou was fighting with during a battle was pulled down from his horse and was killed. 

【注释】

［41］二州：指益州和梁州。益州治所在今四川省成都市，梁州治所在今陕西省勉县东，二州区域大致相当于蜀汉所统辖的范围。牧伯：刺史。上古一州的长官称牧，又称方伯，所以后代以牧伯称刺史。

［42］皇天后土：犹言天地神明。

［43］愚诚：愚拙的至诚之心。

［44］听：听许，同意。

［45］结草：据《左传·宣公十五年》记载，晋国大夫魏武子临死的时候，嘱咐他的儿子魏颗，把他的遗妾杀死以后殉葬。魏颗没有照他父亲说的话做。后来魏颗跟秦国的杜回作战，看见一个老人把草打了结把杜回绊倒，杜回因此被擒。到了晚上，魏颗梦见结草的老人，他自称是没有被杀死的魏武子遗妾的父亲。后来就把“结草”用来作为报答恩人心愿的表示。

［46］犬马：作者自比，表示歉卑。