Yi and Feng Meng
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
逢蒙学射于羿,尽羿之道,思天下惟羿为愈己,于是杀羿。孟子曰:“是亦羿有罪焉。”
English translation
Feng Meng learned archery from Yi and mastered Yi’s entire art. Thinking that Yi alone in the world surpassed him, he then killed Yi. Mencius said, “Yi too bears some blame in this.”
Original Chinese text
公明仪曰:“宜若无罪焉?”曰:“薄乎云尔,恶得无罪?”
English translation
Gongming Yi asked, “It would seem Yi was not at fault, would it not?” Mencius replied, “His fault was slight, that is all. How could he be entirely without blame?”
Original Chinese text
郑人使子濯孺子侵卫,卫使庾公之斯追之。子濯孺子曰:“今日我疾作,不可以执弓,吾死矣夫!”问其仆曰:“追我者谁也?”其仆曰:“庾公之斯也。”曰:“吾生矣。”
English translation
The people of Zheng sent Zizhuo Ruzi to invade Wei, and Wei sent Yu Gongzhisi after him. Zizhuo Ruzi said, “My illness has struck today; I cannot hold a bow. I am surely going to die!” He asked his driver, “Who is pursuing me?” The driver said, “Yu Gongzhisi.” He replied, “Then I shall live.”
Original Chinese text
其仆曰:“庾公之斯,卫之善射者也,夫子曰‘吾生’,何谓也?”曰:“庾公之斯学射于尹公之他,尹公之他学射于我。夫尹公之他,端人也,其取友必端矣。”
English translation
The driver asked, “Yu Gongzhisi is Wei’s finest archer. Why do you say, ‘I shall live’?” Zizhuo Ruzi replied, “Yu Gongzhisi learned archery from Yin Gong Zhituo, and Yin Gong Zhituo learned it from me. Yin Gong Zhituo is an upright man; the friends he chooses must also be upright.”
Original Chinese text
庾公之斯至,曰:“夫子何为不执弓?”曰:“今日我疾作,不可以执弓。”曰:“小人学射于尹公之他,尹公之他学射于夫子。我不忍以夫子之道,反害夫子。虽然,今日之事,君事也,我不敢废。”抽矢叩轮,去其金、发乘矢而后反。
English translation
When Yu Gongzhisi caught up, he asked, “Sir, why are you not holding your bow?” Zizhuo Ruzi said, “My illness has struck today; I cannot hold it.” Yu Gongzhisi said, “I learned archery from Yin Gong Zhituo, who learned it from you. I cannot bear to use the art you taught against you. Even so, today’s task is a matter of serving my ruler, and I dare not abandon it.” He drew arrows and struck them against the wheel, removed their metal points, shot four arrows, and then returned.