PASSAGE 9 (HT 4.1) Flashcards
溫人之周
Once a man of Wen went to Zhou.
周不納客
The Zhou would not admit any outsiders.
問之曰 客耶？
The Zhou official asked the man, “Are you an outsider?”
對曰 主人
He replied, “A native.”
問其巷人而不知也
The official asked about his neighbours but he did not know.
吏因囚之
Therefore the official took him into custody.
君使人問之曰
The Ruler of Zhou sent someone to ask him,
子非周人也 而自謂非客何也？
“You are not a native of Zhou but why did you say you were not an outsider?”
對曰 臣少也誦詩曰
The man replied, “When I was a child, I have recited a poem saying:
普天之下 莫非王土
‘Everything under the whole heaven, None of which is not the King’s territory.”
率土之濱 莫非王臣
“Within the sea bounds of the land, everyone is the King’s servant.”
今君天子 則我天子之臣也
“Now if Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, then I am the subject of the Son of Heaven.”
豈有為人之臣 而又為之客哉
“How can there be someone who is both a subject and an outsider to His Majesty?”
故曰主人也
“Thus I said I was a native.”
君使出之
“The Ruler ordered him to be released.”
