The Man with a Wife and Concubine
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
齐人有一妻一妾而处室者,其良人出,则必餍酒肉而后反。其妻问其所与饮食者,则尽富贵也。
English translation
A man in Qi lived with a wife and a concubine. Whenever he went out, he returned thoroughly satisfied with wine and meat. His wife asked whom he had eaten and drunk with, and he always said they were all wealthy and eminent people.
Original Chinese text
其妻告其妾曰:“良人出,则必餍酒肉而后反;问其与饮食者,尽富贵也。而未尝有显者来。吾将瞷良人之所之也。”早起,施从良人之所之。
English translation
His wife told the concubine, “Whenever our husband goes out, he comes home full of food and wine. When asked whom he dined with, he says they are all wealthy and eminent, yet no notable person ever comes here. I will secretly follow him and see where he goes.” She rose early and followed him at a distance.
Original Chinese text
遍国中,无与立谈者。卒之东郭墦间,之祭者,乞其馀;不足,又顾而之他──此其为餍足之道也。
English translation
She followed him throughout the city, but no one stopped to speak with him. At last he went among the graves east of the city, approached people making offerings, and begged for their leftovers. When that was not enough, he looked around and went to another offering. This was how he obtained his supposed feasts.
Original Chinese text
其妻归,告其妾曰:“良人者,所仰望而终身也,今若此!”与其妾讪其良人,而相泣于中庭。
English translation
When the wife returned, she told the concubine, “This man is the one on whom we have looked with respect and depended for our whole lives, and now he is like this!” She and the concubine mocked him and wept together in the courtyard.
Original Chinese text
而良人未之知也,施施从外来,骄其妻妾。由君子观之,则人之所以求富贵利达者,其妻妾不羞也而不相泣者,几希矣!
English translation
The husband knew nothing of this. He came home from outside with a smug air and strutted before his wife and concubine. In a gentleman’s view, among those who pursue wealth, status, and advancement by such means, there are few whose wives and concubines would not feel ashamed and weep together.