《论语》中英文版
第十八章 微子篇(7)
路從而後，遇丈人，以杖荷蓧。子路問曰：“子見夫子乎？”丈人曰：“四體不勤，五穀不分。孰為夫子？”植其杖而芸。子路拱而立。止子路宿，殺雞為黍而食之，見其二子焉。明日，子路行以告。子曰：“隱者也。”使子路反見之。至則行矣。子路曰：“不仕無義。長幼之節，不可廢也；君臣之義，如之何其廢之？欲潔其身，而亂大倫。君子之仕也，行其義也。道之不行，已知之矣。”
Zi Lu, following the Master, happened to fall behind, when he met an old man, carrying across his shoulder on a staff a basket for weeds. Zi Lu said to him, "Have you seen my master, sir?" The old man replied, "Your four limbs are unaccustomed to toil; you cannot distinguish the five kinds of grain - who is your master?" With this, he planted his staff in the ground, and proceeded to weed.
Zi Lu joined his hands across his breast, and stood before him. The old man kept Zi Lu to pass the night in his house, killed a fowl, prepared millet, and feasted him. He also introduced to him his two sons. Next day, Zi Lu went on his way, and reported his adventure. The Master said, "He is a recluse," and sent Zi Lu back to see him again, but when he got to the place, the old man was gone.
Zi Lu then said to the family, "Not to take office is not righteous. If the relations between old and young may not be neglected, how is it that he sets aside the duties that should be observed between sovereign and minister? Wishing to maintain his personal purity, he allows that great relation to come to confusion. A superior man takes office, and performs the righteous duties belonging to it. As to the failure of right principles to make progress, he is aware of that."
【原文】
子路从而后①，遇丈人②，以杖荷③。子路问曰：“子见夫子乎？”丈人曰：“四体不勤④，五谷不分，孰为夫子？”植其杖而芸⑤。子路拱而立⑥，止于路宿⑦，杀鸡为黍而食之，见其二子焉。明日，子路行以告。子曰：“隐者也。”使子路反见之⑧。至，则行矣。子路曰：“不仕无义⑨。长幼之节⑩，不可废也；君臣之义，如之何其废之？欲洁其身，而乱大伦。君子之仕也，行其义也。道之不行，已知之矣。”
【今译】
子路跟随孔子出行，落在后面，遇上一个老人，用拐杖扛着耘田的工具。子路问他道：“您看见我的老师吗？”老人说：“四肢不劳动，五谷分不清，谁是你的老师？”说着便把他的拐杖插在地上，就去锄地。子路拱着手站在那里。老人留子路到他家里过夜，杀了鸡，做了黍米饭给他吃，并且让他的两个儿子拜见子路。第二天，子路走了，赶上孔子，把上面的情况告诉孔子。孔子说：“这是个隐士呀！”便叫子路转回去看他。子路到达他家时，他已经出门去了，子路对他的两个儿子说：“不做官，是不合道理的。长幼之间的礼节，是不能废弃的；君臣之间的道义，又怎么可以废弃呢？想要保持自身的清洁而隐居不仕，却破坏了最大伦常关系（君臣关系的准则）。君子出来做官，是做他应该做的事。至于我们的政治主张不能推行，那是早就知道了。”
【注释】
①从：跟随。
②丈人：对老年人的尊称。
③以杖荷（ｄｉａｏ）：用拐杖扛着除草工具。
④四体：指二手二足。
⑤芸：通“耘”。耘田。
⑥拱：拱着手，表示恭敬。
⑦止：留。
⑧反：同“返”。返身回去。
⑨仕：做官。无义：不合道义。
⑩节：大节，关系。大伦：最大的伦常关系，指君臣关系。行其义：推行道义。
【评点】
本章写了一个具有一定情节的小故事，通过人物言行，表现出各自不同的人生观和政治观。如丈人的语带讽刺的话，说罢便“植其杖而芸”的行动，表现出他的态度倨傲，对孔子等不参加生产劳动却热衷于政治而去周游列国的不满。另一方面，他留子路食宿，并让两个儿子与子路见面，又表现出他对长幼之节的重视。孔子的话（包括子路根据孔子的意思说的话）和他叫子路回去看丈人的举动，表现他对丈人过隐居生活的某种赞赏之情，而对丈人那种逃避现实“不仕无义”的处世态度，却给予严厉的批评，同时表达了孔子自己“知其不可而为之”的积极处世的态度。这两种态度形成鲜明的对照，并成为彼此思想矛盾的根源。 |
