Yuan Sze being made governor of his town by the Master, he gave him nine hundred measures of grain, but Sze declined them.
原思为之宰,与之粟九百,辞。
The Master said, "Do not decline them. May you not give them away in the neighborhoods, hamlets, towns, and villages?"
子曰:“毋,以与尔邻里乡党乎!”
The Master, speaking of Chung-kung, said, "If the calf of a brindled cow be red and homed,
子谓仲弓曰:“犁牛之子骍且角,
although men may not wish to use it, would the spirits of the mountains and rivers put it aside?"
虽欲勿用,山川其舍诸?”
The Master said, "Such was Hui that for three months there would be nothing in his mind contrary to perfect virtue.
子曰:“回也,其心三月不违仁,
The others may attain to this on some days or in some months, but nothing more."
其余则日月至焉而已矣。”
Chi K'ang asked about Chung-yu, whether he was fit to be employed as an officer of government.
季康子问:“仲由可使从政也与?”
The Master said, "Yu is a man of decision; what difficulty would he find in being an officer of government?"
子曰:“由也果,于从政乎何有?”
K'ang asked, "Is Ts'ze fit to be employed as an officer of government?" and was answered,
曰:“赐也可使从政也与?”曰:
"Ts'ze is a man of intelligence; what difficulty would he find in being an officer of government?"
“赐也达,于从政乎何有?”
And to the same question about Ch'iu the Master gave the same reply, saying, "Ch'iu is a man of various ability."
曰:“求也可使从政也与?”曰:“求也艺,于从政乎何有?”
The chief of the Chi family sent to ask Min Tsze-ch'ien to be governor of Pi.
季氏使闵子骞为费宰,
Min Tszech'ien said, "Decline the offer for me politely.
闵子骞曰:“善为我辞焉。
If any one come again to me with a second invitation, I shall be obliged to go and live on the banks of the Wan."
如有复我者,则吾必在汶上矣。”