陈情表

原文（西晋·李密《陈情表》）

臣密言：
臣以险衅，夙遭闵凶。生孩六月，慈父见背；行年四岁，舅夺母志。祖母刘愍臣孤弱，躬亲抚养。臣少多疾病，九岁不行，零丁孤苦，至于成立。既无伯叔，终鲜兄弟，门衰祚薄，晚有儿息。外无期功强近之亲，内无应门五尺之僮，茕茕孑立，形影相吊。而刘夙婴疾病，常在床蓐，臣侍汤药，未曾废离。

逮奉圣朝，沐浴清化。前太守臣逵察臣孝廉，后刺史臣荣举臣秀才。臣以供养无主，辞不赴命。诏书特下，拜臣郎中，寻蒙国恩，除臣洗马。猥以微贱，当侍东宫，非臣陨首所能上报。臣具以表闻，辞不就职。诏书切峻，责臣逋慢；郡县逼迫，催臣上道；州司临门，急于星火。臣欲奉诏奔驰，则刘病日笃；欲苟顺私情，则告诉不许。臣之进退，实为狼狈。

伏惟圣朝以孝治天下，凡在故老，犹蒙矜育，况臣孤苦，特为尤甚。且臣少仕伪朝，历职郎署，本图宦达，不矜名节。今臣亡国贱俘，至微至陋，过蒙拔擢，宠命优渥，岂敢盘桓，有所希冀！但以刘日薄西山，气息奄奄，人命危浅，朝不虑夕。臣无祖母，无以至今日；祖母无臣，无以终余年。母孙二人，更相为命，是以区区不能废远。

臣密今年四十有四，祖母刘今年九十有六，是臣尽节于陛下之日长，报养刘之日短也。乌鸟私情，愿乞终养。臣之辛苦，非独蜀之人士及二州牧伯所见明知，皇天后土，实所共鉴。愿陛下矜愍愚诚，听臣微志，庶刘侥幸，保卒余年。臣生当陨首，死当结草。臣不胜犬马怖惧之情，谨拜表以闻。

中文翻译

臣李密禀告：
我命运坎坷，幼年遭遇不幸。出生六个月，父亲去世；四岁时，舅舅逼迫母亲改嫁。祖母刘氏怜悯我孤苦，亲自抚养。我幼年多病，九岁还不能走路，孤苦伶仃，直到成年。既无叔伯，又无兄弟，家门衰微，福分浅薄，很晚才有子嗣。外无亲近的亲戚，内无照应门户的童仆，孤身一人，唯有形影相伴。而祖母刘氏常年卧病，我侍奉汤药，从未离开。

到了圣朝（晋朝），沐浴清明的教化。先前太守逵举荐我为孝廉，后来刺史荣推举我为秀才。我因无人奉养祖母，辞谢未赴任。朝廷特下诏书，任命我为郎中，不久又蒙恩授职太子洗马。我出身卑微，却得以侍奉太子，即使肝脑涂地也难以报答。我上表辞谢，未就职。诏书严厉，责备我怠慢；郡县官员逼迫，催我上路；州官登门催促，急如星火。我想奉诏赴任，但祖母病情日益加重；想暂且顺从私情，却申诉无门。我进退两难，实在狼狈。

我深知圣朝以孝治天下，凡年老之人，尚且受到怜悯，何况我孤苦无依，情况尤为特殊。况且我年轻时曾在蜀汉为官，本为求仕途显达，并非看重名节。如今我作为亡国之臣，卑微低贱，却蒙朝廷破格提拔，恩宠优厚，岂敢徘徊观望，另有所图！只是祖母如夕阳将落，气息微弱，生命垂危，朝不保夕。没有祖母，我无法活到今天；没有我，祖母无法安度余生。我们祖孙相依为命，因此我实在不忍弃她而去。

我今年四十四岁，祖母九十六岁，我为陛下尽忠的日子还长，而报答祖母的日子已不多。我怀着乌鸦反哺之情，恳请允许我奉养祖母终老。我的苦衷，不仅蜀地人士和州郡长官知晓，天地神明也共鉴。愿陛下怜悯我的诚心，成全我的微愿，使祖母侥幸得以善终。我活着当以死效忠，死后也要结草报恩。我怀着犬马般的惶恐，谨上此表。

英文翻译

"Memorial of Humble Submission" (By Li Mi, Western Jin Dynasty)
Your servant Mi humbly states:
Born under an ill star, I met misfortune early. At six months, my father died; at four years, my uncle forced my mother to remarry. Grandmother Liu took pity on my orphaned state and raised me herself. Sickly in youth, I could not walk by nine—lonely and helpless until adulthood. With no uncles or brothers, our family declined, and I fathered children late. No close kin outside, no servant at home—I stood alone, companion only to my shadow. Meanwhile, Grandmother Liu lay long bedridden, and I tended her medicine without fail.

Under this enlightened dynasty, I was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt by Governor Kui, then as Cultivated Talent by Inspector Rong. But with none to care for Grandmother, I declined. An imperial decree appointed me Court Gentleman, then Crown Prince’s Tutor—honors far beyond my station. I petitioned to resign, but edicts grew stern, accusing me of defiance. Local officials pressed urgently, yet Grandmother worsened daily. Torn between duty and love, I was truly at a loss.

I know our sage dynasty rules through filial piety. Even the aged receive compassion—how much more one as desperate as I? I once served the fallen Shu regime, seeking rank, not fame. Now, a lowly captive, I am showered with grace. Dare I hesitate? But Grandmother sinks like the setting sun, her breath faint, her life hanging by a thread. Without her, I would not live; without me, she cannot die in peace. We cling to each other for survival.

At forty-four, with Grandmother ninety-six, my service to Your Majesty could be long, but my care for her must be brief. With a crow’s instinct to nurture its aged, I beg to stay. My plight is known to all in Shu, even to Heaven and Earth. May Your Majesty pity my sincerity and grant this wish, that Grandmother may live out her days. Alive, I will serve with my life; dead, I will repay with ghostly aid. Trembling like a dog or horse, I submit this memorial.

背景补充

1. 创作背景：
   • 西晋泰始三年（267年），晋武帝征召蜀汉旧臣李密为太子洗马，李密以祖母年迈无人奉养为由上表辞谢。
   • 全文以“孝”为核心，既避开了政治敏感（不仕二朝），又打动了奉行“以孝治国”的晋武帝。
2. 文学价值：
   • 情感真挚：以“茕茕孑立，形影相吊”“日薄西山”等句，刻画孤苦与祖孙深情，被誉为“千古至情之文”。
   • 逻辑严密：紧扣“孝治天下”的国策，将个人困境升华为道德命题，既陈情又明志。
3. 名句解析：
   • “乌鸟私情”：化用乌鸦反哺典故，成为表达孝心的经典比喻。
   • “生当陨首，死当结草”：引用春秋魏颗受老人结草报恩的故事，宣誓忠诚。
4. 历史影响：
   • 晋武帝读后叹曰：“士之有名，不虚然哉！”不仅准奏，还赐奴婢与赡养费用。
   • 与《出师表》并称“忠孝双璧”，历代列为古文典范。

此表以孝道破政治困局，展现了乱世中个人与家国伦理的深刻张力，至今仍是文学与伦理学的经典文本。