Confucius, in his village, looked simple and sincere, and as if he were not able to speak.
When he was in the prince’s ancestral temple, or in the court, he spoke1 minutely on every point, but cautiously.
When he was waiting at court, in speaking with the great officers of the lower grade, he spoke freely, but in a straightforward2 manner; in speaking with those of the higher grade, he did so blandly3, but precisely4.
When the ruler was present, his manner displayed respectful uneasiness; it was grave, but self-possessed.
When the prince called him to employ him in the reception of a visitor, his countenance5 appeared to change, and his legs to move forward with difficulty.
He inclined himself to the other officers among whom he stood, moving his left or right arm, as their position required, but keeping the skirts of his robe before and behind evenly adjusted.
He hastened forward, with his arms like the wings of a bird.
When the guest had retired6, he would report to the prince, “The visitor is not turning round any more.”
When he entered the palace gate, he seemed to bend his body, as if it were not sufficient to admit him.
When he was standing7, he did not occupy the middle of the gateway8; when he passed in or out, he did not tread upon the threshold.
When he was passing the vacant place of the prince, his countenance appeared to change, and his legs to bend under him, and his words came as if he hardly had breath to utter them.
He ascended9 the reception hall, holding up his robe with both his hands, and his body bent10; holding in his breath also, as if he dared not breathe.
When he came out from the audience, as soon as he had descended11 one step, he began to relax his countenance, and had a satisfied look. When he had got the bottom of the steps, he advanced rapidly to his place, with his arms like wings, and on occupying it, his manner still showed respectful uneasiness.
When he was carrying the scepter of his ruler, he seemed to bend his body, as if he were not able to bear its weight. He did not hold it higher than the position of the hands in making a bow, nor lower than their position in giving anything to another. His countenance seemed to change, and look apprehensive12, and he dragged his feet along as if they were held by something to the ground.
In presenting the presents with which he was charged, he wore a placid13 appearance.
At his private audience, he looked highly pleased.
The superior man did not use a deep purple, or a puce color, in the ornaments14 of his dress.
Even in his undress, he did not wear anything of a red or reddish color.
In warm weather, he had a single garment either of coarse or fine texture15, but he wore it displayed over an inner garment.
Over lamb’s fur he wore a garment of black; over fawn’s fur one of white; and over fox’s fur one of yellow.
The fur robe of his undress was long, with the right sleeve short.
He required his sleeping dress to be half as long again as his body.
When staying at home, he used thick furs of the fox or the badger16.
When he put off mourning, he wore all the appendages17 of the girdle.
His undergarment, except when it was required to be of the curtain shape, was made of silk cut narrow above and wide below.
He did not wear lamb’s fur or a black cap on a visit of condolence.
On the first day of the month he put on his court robes, and presented himself at court.
When fasting, he thought it necessary to have his clothes brightly clean and made of linen18 cloth.
When fasting, he thought it necessary to change his food, and also to change the place where he commonly sat in the apartment.
He did not dislike to have his rice finely cleaned, nor to have his mince19 meat cut quite small.
He did not eat rice which had been injured by heat or damp and turned sour, nor fish or flesh which was gone. He did not eat what was discolored, or what was of a bad flavor, nor anything which was ill-cooked, or was not in season.
He did not eat meat which was not cut properly, nor what was served without its proper sauce.
Though there might be a large quantity of meat, he would not allow what he took to exceed the due proportion for the rice. It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it.
He did not partake of wine and dried meat bought in the market.
He was never without ginger20 when he ate. He did not eat much.
When he had been assisting at the prince’s sacrifice, he did not keep the flesh which he received overnight. The flesh of his family sacrifice he did not keep over three days. If kept over three days, people could not eat it.
When eating, he did not converse21. When in bed, he did not speak.
Although his food might be coarse rice and vegetable soup, he would offer a little of it in sacrifice with a grave, respectful air.
If his mat was not straight, he did not sit on it.
When the villagers were drinking together, upon those who carried staffs going out, he also went out immediately after.
When the villagers were going through their ceremonies to drive away pestilential influences, he put on his court robes and stood on the eastern steps.
When he was sending complimentary22 inquiries23 to any one in another state, he bowed twice as he escorted the messenger away.
Chi K’ang having sent him a present of physic, he bowed and received it, saying, “I do not know it. I dare not taste it.”
The stable being burned down, when he was at court, on his return he said, “Has any man been hurt?” He did not ask about the horses.
When the he would adjust his mat, first taste it, and then give it away to others. When the prince sent him a gift of undressed meat, he would have it cooked, and offer it to the spirits of his ancestors. When the prince sent him a gift of a living animal, he would keep it alive.
When he was in attendance on the prince and joining in the entertainment, the prince only sacrificed. He first tasted everything.
When he was ill and the prince came to visit him, he had his head to the east, made his court robes be spread over him, and drew his girdle across them.
When the prince’s order called him, without waiting for his carriage to be yoked24, he went at once.
When he entered the ancestral temple of the state, he asked about everything.
When any of his friends died, if he had no relations offices, he would say, “I will bury him.”
When a friend sent him a present, though it might be a carriage and horses, he did not bow.
The only present for which he bowed was that of the flesh of sacrifice.
In bed, he did not lie like a corpse25. At home, he did not put on any formal deportment.
When he saw any one in a mourning dress, though it might be an acquaintance, he would change countenance; when he saw any one wearing the cap of full dress, or a blind person, though he might be in his undress, he would salute26 him in a ceremonious manner.
To any person in mourning he bowed forward to the crossbar of his carriage; he bowed in the same way to any one bearing the tables of population.
When he was at an entertainment where there was an abundance of provisions set before him, he would change countenance and rise up.
On a sudden clap of thunder, or a violent wind, he would change countenance.
When he was about to mount his carriage, he would stand straight, holding the cord.
When he was in the carriage, he did not turn his head quite round, he did not talk hastily, he did not point with his hands.
Seeing the countenance, it instantly rises. It flies round, and by and by settles.
The Master said, “There is the hen-pheasant on the hill bridge. At its season! At its season!” Tsze-lu made a motion to it. Thrice it smelt27 him and then rose.
收听单词发音 |
1
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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2
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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3
blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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4
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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5
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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7
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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8
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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9
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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11
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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13
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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14
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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17
appendages
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| n.附属物( appendage的名词复数 )；依附的人；附属器官；附属肢体（如臂、腿、尾等） | |
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18
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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19
mince
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| n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说 | |
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20
ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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21
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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22
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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24
yoked
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| 结合（yoke的过去式形式） | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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26
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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27
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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