Confucian Analects Book XVIII Part 1 (孔夫子論語:微子第十八 第一部份)

Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

The Master said,Can I herd with birds and beasts? he said. Whom but these men can I take as fellows? And if the Way were kept by all below heaven, I should not need to change them.

微子第十八

BOOK XVIII

1. 微子去之，箕子為之奴，比干諫而死。孔子曰：「殷有三仁焉！」

The lord of Wei left, the lord of Chi was made a slave, Pi-kan spake out, and died.
Confucius said, Three of the Yin had love.

2. 柳下惠為士師，三黜。人曰：「子未可以去乎？」曰：「直道而事人，焉往而不三黜 ！枉道而事人，何必去父母之邦！」

Whilst Liu-hsia Hui was Chief Knight he was dismissed thrice.
Men said. Is it not yet time to leave. Sir?
He answered, If I serve men the straight way, where can I go without being dismissed thrice? If I am to serve men the crooked way, why should I leave the land of my father and mother?

3. 齊景公待孔子曰：「若季氏則吾不能，以季、孟之間待之。」曰：「吾老矣。不能 用也。」孔子行。

Speaking of how to treat Confucius, Ching, Duke of Ch'i, said, I cannot treat him as I do the Chi. I put him between Chi and Meng.
I am old, he said; I cannot use him.
Confucius left.

4. 齊人歸女樂，季桓子受之，三日不朝，孔子行。

The men of Ch'I sent a gift of music girls. Chi Huan accepted them, and for three days no court was held.
Confucius left.

5. 楚狂接輿，歌而過孔子曰：「鳳兮！鳳兮！何德之衰？往者不可諫，來者猶可追。 已而！已而！今之從政者殆而！」孔子下，欲與之言。趨而辟之，不得與之言。

Chieh-yü, the mad-head of Ch'u, as he passed Confucius, sang,
Phoenix, bright phoenix,Thy glory is ended!Think of to-morrow;The past can't be mended.Up and away!The Court is todayWith danger attended.
Confucius alighted, for he wished to speak with him: but he hurried away, and he could not speak with him.

6. 長沮桀溺耦而耕。孔子過之，使子路問津焉。長沮曰：「夫執輿者為誰？」子路曰： 「為孔丘。」曰：「是魯孔丘與？」曰：「是也。」曰：「是知津矣！」問於桀溺，桀溺曰：「子為誰？」曰：「為仲由。」曰：「是魯孔丘之徒與？」對曰：「然。」曰：「滔滔者，天下皆是也，而誰以易之？且而與其從辟人之士也，豈若從辟世之士哉？」耰而不輟。子路行以告，夫子憮然曰：「鳥獸不可與同群，吾非斯人之徒與而誰與？天下有道，丘不與易也。」

Ch'ang-chü and Chieh-ni were working in the fields. As Confucius passed them, he sent Tzu-lu to ask for the ford.
Ch'ang-chü said, Who is that holding the reins?
He is K'ung Ch'iu, said Tzu-lu.
Is he K'ung Ch'iu of Lu?
Yes, said Tzu-lu.
He knows the ford, said Ch'ang-chü.
Tzu-lu asked Chieh-ni.
Who are ye, Sir? he answered.
I am Chung Yu.
The disciple of K'ung Ch'iu of Lu?
Yes, he answered.
All below heaven is seething and boiling, said Chieh-ni, who can change it? How much better would it be to follow a knight that flees the world than to follow a knight that flees persons!
And he went on hoeing without stop.
Tzu-lu went and told the Master, whose face fell.
Can I herd with birds and beasts? he said. Whom but these men can I take as fellows? And if the Way were kept by all below heaven, I should not need to change them.