Declination to Throne (8)
讓王(八)
1 Yuan Xian lived in the State of Lu, his house was very shabby. The roof was made by couch grass; a reed curtain as its door; a branch of mulberry tree was the door axis; the window was a broken jar. The house is made up of two rooms, with the broken window covered by rag. Once it rained, water dripped inside and the ground became muddy. In such a shabby place Yuan Xian didn’t think it was hard. He could play music in heartsease without revealing any feeling of fidget.
原憲住在魯國，他的家極其簡陋。那棟房子以茅草為屋頂，用蘆葦的簾子當作門，門軸是用一根桑樹幹做的，窗戶則是用一個破罐子充當。房子只有兩個房間，窗戶勉強用一張破布遮住。一遇到下雨，屋內就滴滴答答的漏水，地上一片泥濘。在這樣惡劣的環境裡，原憲並不以為苦，他可以心平氣和地在屋內彈奏樂曲，絲毫聽不出煩燥不滿的情緒。
原憲居魯，環堵之室，茨以生草；蓬戶不完，桑以為樞；而瓮牖二室，褐以為塞；上漏下濕，匡坐而弦。
2 One day, Zigong visited Yuan Xian, taking the carriage drawn by steed and wearing grand toilette inside and white dust coat outside. His carriage was too broad to enter the small lane. Yuan Xian himself had to step out to receive the distinguished guest.
有一天，子貢乘坐駿馬拉的車子，穿著禮服，外面披著白色的風衣來到原憲的住處。子貢的馬車太寬大了，不能走進那條小巷子，原憲只得親出來，迎接這位高貴的客人。
子貢乘大馬，中紺而表素，軒車不容巷，往見原憲。
3 Comparing to Zigong, Yuan Xian was much shabby. Supported with a stick, he walked up in crookback, sackcloth on shoulders, slippers under feet. His down-and-out situation was obvious.
相對子貢漂亮的行頭，原憲就寒酸多了。他杵一根拐杖，身上披一件粗麻衣服，腳上一雙拖鞋，彎腰駝背地走來，一看就知道他窮困潦倒的窘態。
原憲華冠縰履，杖藜而應門。
4 Seeing the old friend like this, Zigong couldn’t help asking, “What’s the matter? Are you sick?”
子貢看見這位老朋友的樣子，不禁關心地問道：「怎麼了？哪兒不舒服嗎？」
子貢曰：「嘻！先生何病？」
5 Zigong’s care triggered out Yuan Xian’s sour temper that was like the stone in cesspit, it was rigid and stinking. He shouted, “No money is poverty; knowing truth but not practicing is suffering. Though I am poor, I absolutely practice in light of Tao.
原憲那又臭又硬像廁所裡石頭的鬼脾氣，這時又爆發出來了。他說：「沒有錢叫做窮，知道真理卻不能身體勵行者，那才叫疾。我是窮了些，可是絕對是依道而行。」
原憲應之曰：「憲聞之，無財謂之貧，學而不能行謂之病。今憲，貧也，非病也。」
6 Zigong came here excitedly with a purpose to show his achievement in front of his friend. When hearing Yuan Xian saying so, he, however, felt as if it were guilt to seek fame and interest. Hence, he followed Yuan Xian in a little of embarrassment, with head drooping.
子貢興沖沖地來，就是想在這位老朋友面前展現一下自己的成就，可是被原憲這麼一說，自己在名利上的追逐，好像反而成了罪過似的。他有些尷尬，因此低頭不語跟著原憲走。
子貢逡巡而有愧色。
7 Yuan Xian also felt sorry for his words hurting this old friend. So, he saved face for him. “Actually I have many shortcomings too.”
原憲也有些不好意思，覺得自己的言詞有些傷人，因此打圓場地說：「其實我也有許多不盡完美的地方。」
8 Hearing this, Zigong was consoled to some extent. Hence, he raised his head and face relaxed.
子貢聽他說這麼說，心裡好過了些，因此抬起頭，臉上的表情也輕鬆了。
9 Yuan Xian watched the complete change of Zigong’s countenance. He changed the idea and didn’t want to relax the atmosphere, so he kept his tart words. “I would not do something to cater for other’s joy; I wouldn’t form a clique to pursue selfish interest. Reading purely is my interest. Teaching is done for student’s future. I would not do evils for the sake of benefit and righteousness. I would not do evils for winning vanity and luxurious life, such as the luxurious carriage.”
原憲將子貢變化的表情一覽無遺地看在眼裡，原本想打圓場緩和氣氛的想法，又改變了主意，他持續他原本尖酸的言詞說道：「我不會為了博取別人的歡心刻意去做什麼事，我也不會結黨營私，在團體中搞小圈圈。讀書純粹是自己的興趣，教書則是為了學生的前途著想。以仁義為晃子為非做歹，為了虛榮，為了享受乘坐豪華馬車等這些事，我是不會去做的。」
原憲笑曰：「夫希世而行，比周而友，學以為人，教以為己，仁義之慝，輿馬之飾，憲不忍為也。」
10 Zigong’s beaming face became dark again. He thought that I come far to visit you, and perhaps I should not wear so flamboyance clothes but you shouldn’t rip up my scar like this.
子貢剛剛開朗一點的面孔又再次沉寂下來。心想我大老遠跑來探望，也許我不該穿的這麼華麗，可是你也犯不著這樣揭我的瘡疤吧！