Translation: There was a man on the road in Song State. His horse refused to move forward, so he killed a horse and threw its body into the stream. Then he continued on his way. His horse still refused to move forward, so he killed another horse and threw its body into the stream. This happened many times. Even the method used by Zaofu to establish authority over horses was no more than this. If you do not master Zaofu’s method of controlling horses, but only learn Zaofu’s authority, it will not be helpful for controlling horses. It emphasizes that the monarch should have authority when using the people, but he should not abuse his authority. He should be just right and have a good sense of proportion.
译文：宋国有一个赶路的人，他的马不肯前进，(他)就杀死(一匹马)，并把尸体投入溪水。接着（他）又继续赶路，他的马还是不肯前进，他又杀死一匹马，并把尸体投到溪水里去。像这样的情况发生了多次，即使是造父用来对马树立威严的办法，也不过如此了。没有掌握造父驭马的方法，而只是学到了造父的威严，这对于驾驭马是没有益处的。强调君主用民要有威严，但也不能滥施淫威，要恰到好处，掌握好分寸。
《古代寓言·赶马》
宋人有取道者，其马不进，倒而投之溪水，又得取道，其马不进，又倒而投之溪水，如此者三。
虽造父之所以威马，不过此矣，不得造父之道，而徒得其威；无益于御。
——《吕氏春秋》
Pushing the Horse
Because his horse refused to advance, a traveler in the state of Song drove it into a stream, then mounted to set off again. Still the horse refused to go, and he punished it once more in the same way. This happened three times in all. Even the most skillful rider could devise no better means of frightening a horse; but if you are not a rider, simply a bully, your horse refuse to carry you.
The Discourses of Lü Buwei
