《史记·七十列传·仲尼弟子列传》
子贡回报吴王说： 我郑重地把大王的话告诉了越王，越王非常惶恐，说： 我很不走运，从小就失去了父亲，又不自量力，触犯吴国而获罪，军队被打败，自身受屈辱，栖居在会稽山上，国家成了荒凉的废墟，仰赖大王的恩赐，使我能够捧着祭品而祭祀祖宗，我至死也不敢忘怀，怎么另有其他的打算！  
报吴王曰： 臣敬以大王之言告越王，越王大恐，曰： 孤不幸，少失先人，内不自量，抵罪於吴，军败身辱，栖于会稽，国为虚莽，赖大王之赐，使得奉俎豆而修祭祀，死不敢忘，何谋之敢虑！  
Master Kong reported back to the King of Wu by saying: I conveyed your words to the King of Yue in a serious manner, and the King of Yue became very horrified, stating the following: I am unlucky because I lost my father at an early age and I had no idea of my own abilities, and I committed a crime by provoking the State of Wu, and my soldiers were defeated, and I was humiliated, and I resided on the Mount Kuaiji, and my country turned into a desolate ruin, and it was because of your grace that I could hold the sacrificial vessels and offer sacrifices to my ancestors, and till my death I will never forget it, how could I have any other plans!