The madman of Ch'u, Chieh-yu, passed by Confucius, singing and saying, "O FANG! O FANG! How is your virtue degenerated?
楚狂接舆歌而过孔子曰:“凤兮凤兮,何德之衰?
As to the past, reproof is useless, but the future may still be provided against.
往者不可谏,来者犹可追。
Give up your vain pursuit, give up your vain pursuit. Peril awaits those who now engage in affairs of government!"
已而已而,今之从政者殆而!”
Confucius alighted and wished to converse with him, but Chieh-yu hastened away, so that he could not talk with him.
孔子下,欲与之言,趋而辟之,不得与之言。
Ch'ang-tsu and Chieh-ni were at work in the field together, when Confucius passed by them, and sent Tsze-lu to inquire for the ford.
长沮、桀溺耦而耕,孔子过之,使子路问津焉。
Ch'ang-tsu said, "Who is he that holds the reins in the carriage there?"
长沮曰:“夫执舆者为谁?”
"It is K'ung Ch'iu.', "Yes," was the reply, to which the other rejoined, "He knows the ford."
子路曰:“为孔丘。”曰:“是也。”曰:“是知津矣。”
Tsze-lu then inquired of Chieh-ni, who said to him, "Who are you, sir?" He answered, "I am Chung Yu."
问于桀溺,桀溺曰:“子为谁?”曰:“为仲由。”
"Are you not the disciple of K'ung Ch'iu of Lu?" asked the other.
曰:“是鲁孔丘之徒与?”
"I am," replied he, and then Chieh-ni said to him, "Disorder, like a swelling flood, spreads over the whole empire,
对曰:“然。”曰:“滔滔者天下皆是也,
and who is he that will change its state for you? then follow one who merely withdraws from this one and that one,
而谁以易之?且而与其从辟人之士也,
had you not better follow those who have withdrawn from the world altogether?"
岂若从辟世之士?”
With this he fell to covering up the seed, and proceeded with his work, without stopping.
耰而不辍。