故事發生在公元前651年的秋天，
晉國的獻公剛死去，
國家無主人心亂。
獻公的兒子好幾個，
到底由誰來“接班”？
宮廷內部有爭鬥，
一時半會尚未完。
有個公子叫奚齊，
獻公疼愛心眼偏。
昏庸的獻公臨終時，
曾叫人把大夫荀息喚，
把自己的打算說給荀息聽，
要荀息輔佐奚齊好好幹。
還有個大夫叫裏克，
對這種做法有意見。
他想讓公子重耳繼王位，
對荀息這人他看不慣。
晉獻公死後奚齊即位沒幾天，
裏克便殺死了奚齊要造反。
荀息又立了公子卓，
裏克又殺死了新王手不軟。
荀大夫孤掌難鳴也自殺，
晉國一時鬧大亂。
過不久公子夷吾又即了位，
可在位的時間也很短。
到後來公子重耳回了國，
決心徹底絕內患。
他要把裏克先處死，
裏克當然有意見。
重耳說：“你廢除過奚齊和公子卓，
不殺你恐怕我將來也有那一天！”
裏克說：“如果我不那樣做，
主公你怎麼會有現在這一天。
看起來你想要治我的罪。
沒有理由也照樣辦！”
裏克自知難免死，
隻得自殺赴黃泉。
到後來裏克的話變成語，
比喻那些害人的人，
想害人就隨意幹。
“欲加之罪，何患無辭”，
就是定罪名時不容他人來分辯。
If You Are Out to Condemn Someone，
You Can Always Trump up a Charge
This story took place in the autumn of 651 B。C。when Duke Xian of the State of Jin died。The country went into chaos for losing its ruler。Duke Xian had several sons，but who was the qualified heir that would inherit the throne？There was a conflict in the court，which couldn't be ended very quickly。One of the princes was named Xi Qi，and he was Duke Xian's favourite。When the muddle-headed Duke was dying，he had minister Xun Xi called for。He told Xun Xi his intention，and asked Xun Xi to carefully assist Xi Qi。Another minister named Li Ke，was oppossed to the decision。He would like Prince Zhong Er to take the throne，and Xun Xi minded this man quite a lot。Only a few days after Duke Xian's demise and Xi Qi's taking the throne，Li Ke killed Xi Qi and held an uprising。Xun Xi then helped Prince Zhuo to the throne。Li Ke then killed the new duke without mercy。Minister Xun was put back in the corner and mitted suicide，and then the State of Jin plunged into chaos。Before long Prince Yi Wu mounted the throne，but he only remained on it for a very short time。Then Prince Zhong Er came back from outside the state，and resolved to put the State in order。He intended to put Li Ke to death，which made Li Ke very sad。Zhong Er said“you have deprived Princes Xi Qi and Zhuo，and I am afraid that someday you'll deprive me，too。”