Page 27 - 《孟子》(三)中·英对照版
P. 27
万
章
上
ming Gao, saying, ‘As to Shun’s going into the
fields, I have received your instructions, but I do
not know about his weeping and crying out to the
pitying heavens and to his parents.’ Gongming Gao
answered him, ‘You do not understand that matter.’
Now, Gongming Gao supposed that the heart of the
filial son could not be so free of sorrow. Shun would
say, ‘I exert my strength to cultivate the fields, but
I am thereby only discharging my office as a son.
What can there be in me that my parents do not love
me?’ The emperor caused his own children, nine sons
and two daughters, the various officers, oxen and
sheep, storehouses and granaries, all to be prepared,
to serve Shun amid the channelled fields. Of the
scholars of the kingdom there were multitudes who
flocked to him. The sovereign designed that Shun
should superintend the kingdom along with him,
and then to transfer it to him entirely. But because
his parents were not in accord with him, he felt
5