Messenger

Analects 17.20

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seventeen

Original Text:

孺悲欲见孔子孔子辞以疾将命者出户取瑟而歌使之闻之

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ru Bei [sent a messenger expressing his] wish to have an audience with Confucius, but Confucius declined, saying that he was ill. As soon as the messenger went out the door, however, Confucius picked up his zither and sang, making sure that the messenger could hear him.

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Ru Bei wanted to visit Confucius, but Confucius excused himself on the grounds of illness. Then, as the person who had delivered the message was going out the door, Confucius took up his zither and began to sing, making certain that the man heard him.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.25

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

蘧伯玉使人于孔子孔子与之坐而问焉曰夫子何为对曰夫子欲寡其过而未能也使者出子曰使乎使乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Qu Boyu sent a messenger to Confucius. Confucius sat down beside him and asked, “How are things with your Master?”

The messenger replied, “My Master wishes to reduce his faults, but has not yet been able to do so.”

After the messenger left, the Master said, “Now that is a messenger! That is a messenger!”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Qu Boyu sent a messenger to Confucius. Confucius seated him at his side and questioned him, saying, What does your master do?

The messenger replied, My master endeavors to lessen his faults, though he is not yet entirely successful.

After the messenger left, the Master said, What a messenger, what a messenger!

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 10.15

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Ten

Original Text:

问人于他邦再拜而送之

Translation:

Other Translations:

When sending his regards to someone in another state, he would bow twice to the messenger and then see him off.

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Sending a messenger to inquire about someone in another state, he would bow to the ground twice on seeing him off.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.