10.1. 孔子於鄉黨,恂恂如也,似不能言者。 其在宗廟、朝廷,便便言,唯謹爾。
In his native village Confucius looked simple and unassuming as if he were not fluent. At court or in the ducal ancestral temple he spoke readily and chose his words with care.
10.2. 朝,與下大夫言,侃侃如也; 與上大夫言,誾誾如也。 君在,踧踖如也。 與與如也。
When he talked with his colleagues at court, he spoke freely. With his superiors, he spoke formally with restraint. In the presence of the prince, he spoke respectfully with unease but with self-possession.
10.3. 君召使擯,色勃如也,足躩如也。 揖所與立,左右手。 衣前後,襜如也。 趨進,翼如也。 賓退,必覆命曰:“賓不顧矣。”
When summoned by the prince in the reception of an honorable guest, he looked solemn, quickened his steps, and saluted his colleagues standing left and right, with his robe evenly adjusted before and behind. He advanced to the guest with his arms like the wings of a bird. When the guest had retired, he would report to the prince, “The guest is gone without looking back.”
10.4. 入公門,鞠躬如也,如不容。 立不中門,行不履閾。 過比特,色勃如也,足躩如也,其言似不足者。 攝齊升堂,鞠躬如也,屏氣似不息者。 出,降一等,逞顏色,怡怡如也。 沒階,趨進,翼如也。 複其位,踧踖如也。
Entering the palace gate, he bent his body as if there were no room enough for him to strengthen up. Halting, he never stood in the middle of the gate. Passing by the vacant throne, his face turned solemn, his pace quickened and his words seemed chocked. Ascending the audience hall, he held up the hem of his robe and bent his body as if he dared not breathe. Coming out, he began to relax after descending the first step and appeared relieved. At the bottom of the steps, he quickened his pace with his sleeves like two wings. Regaining his place, he looked respectfully wary.
10.5. 執圭,鞠躬如也,如不勝。 上如揖,下如授。 勃如戰色,足縮縮,如有循。 享禮,有容色。 私覿,愉愉如也。
Holding the tablet of jade, he seemed to bend his body under an unbearable weight. Holding it high, he seemed to bow; holding it low, he seemed to offer a gift. His face seemed wary and he went straightforward. Presenting the ritual gift, he looked placid. At the private audience, he looked happy.
10.6. 君子不以紺緅飾。 紅紫不以為褻服。 當暑,袗絺綌,必錶而出之。 緇衣,羔裘; 素衣,麑裘; 黃衣,狐裘。 褻裘長,短右袂。 必有寢衣,長一身有半。 狐貉之厚以居。 去喪,無所不佩。 非帷裳,必殺之。 羔裘玄冠不以吊。 吉月,必朝服而朝。
A cultured man does not wear a black-collared dress with greyhemmed sleeves nor a reddish or purple undress. In hot weather he wears an unlined gown of fine thread loosely woven, but put on an outside garment before going out-of-doors. He wears a a black robe over lampskin, a white robe of undyed silk over fawn’s fur, or a yellow robe over fox’s fur. On the fur robe of his undress the right sleeve is shorter than the left. His bedcloth must be half as long again as his body. Thick furs of fox or badger are used as cushions at home. He may wear all his girdle-ornaments after the mourning. His under-garment must be cut short, except his court apron. Black-dyed lampskin and hat must not be worn on a visit of condolescence. On the first day of the moon he must go to court in full court dress.
10.7. 齊,必有明衣,布。 齊必變食,居必遷坐。
Before sacrifice, he must wear bathrobe made of lenin cloth. He must change his food and live in another bedroom not together with his wife.
10.8. 食不厭精,膾不厭細。 食饐而餲,魚餒而肉敗,不食。 色惡,不食。 臭惡,不食。 失飪,不食。 不時,不食。 割不正,不食。 不得其醬,不食。 肉雖多,不使勝食氣。 惟酒無量,不及亂。 沽酒市脯,不食。 不撤薑食。 不多食。
He did not reject finely cleaned rice or minced meat. He did not eat rice affected by weather or turned sour, nor rotten fish and putrid flesh, nor discolored or bad-smelling meat. He did not eat over-or under-cooked food, nor vegetables out of season or improperly cut, nor meat or food without its proper sauce. He must not eat more meat than rice. There was no limit for wine, but he must not get drunken. He must not buy wine or dried meat in the market. He might eat ginger food, but not much.
10.9. 祭於公,不宿肉。 祭肉不出三日。 出三日,不食之矣。
The sacrificial flesh he received from the ducal palace must not be kept overnight. The sacrificial flesh of the family must not be kept over three days, or it is uneatable.
10.10. 食不語,寢不言。
While eating, he did not talk. In bed, he did not speak.
10.11. 雖疏食菜羹,瓜祭,必齊如也。
Even coarse rice and vegetables may be respectfully offered as sacrificial food.
10.12. 席不正,不坐。
He did not sit in improper order.
10.13. 鄉人飲酒,杖者出,斯出矣。
He did not leave the villagers’ drinking party before the staff-carrying elders left.
10.14. 鄉人儺,朝服而立於阼階。
At the villagers’ evil-driving ceremony, he put on his court robe and stood on the eastern steps.
10.15. 問人於他邦,再拜而送之。
When sending inquiry after a friend in another state, he bowed twice and saw the messenger off.
10.16. 康子饋藥,拜而受之。 曰:“丘未達,不敢嘗。”
When Ji Kang Zi sent him some medicine, he bowed and accepted it, saying, “As I am not acquainted with its properties, I dare not taste it.”
10.17. 廄焚。 子退朝,曰:“傷人乎?”不問馬。
His stable was burned down when he was at court. On his return he asked if anybody was hurt without asking about his horses.
10.18. 君賜食,必正席先嘗之; 君賜腥,必熟而薦之; 君賜生,必畜之。 侍食於君,君祭,先飯。
When the prince sent him food, he would sit in his place and taste it. When undressed meat was sent, he would cook it and offer it to his ancestors. When a live animal was sent, he would rear it. When he attended the prince at a meal while the prince was making a sacrificial offering, he would taste the dishes.
10.19. 疾,君視之,東首,加朝服,拖紳。
If he received the prince’s visit while ill, he would lie with his head towards the east, his court robe spread over his body and his girdle across his robe.
10.20. 君命召,不俟駕行矣。
When summoned by the prince, he would go at once without waiting for the carriage to be yoked.
10.21. 入太廟,每事問。
When he entered the Grand Temple, he asked about everything there.
10.22. 朋友死,無所歸。 曰:“於我殯。”
If a friend died without any relative, he would say, "I will take care of his funeral."
10.23. 朋友之饋,雖車馬,非祭肉,不拜。
He would not bow on receiving a gift from a friend, be it a cariage with horses. He would only bow on receiving a sacrificial flesh.
10.24. 寢不屍,居不容。
He would not lie in bed like a corpse nor sit at home like a guest.
10.25. 見齊衰者,雖狎,必變。 見冕者與瞽者,雖褻,必以貌。 凶服者式之。 式負版者。 有盛饌,必變色而作。 迅雷風烈,必變。
He would change his attitude on seeing a mourner, or a man in sacrificial dress, or a blind man, though they were his friends or in undress. He would bow even in his carriage when he met with a man in mourning dress or on official duty. He would rise with altered facial expression at a sumptuous feast or on hearing sudden thunder or a violent gale.
10.26. 昇車,必正立,執綏。 車中,不內顧,不疾言,不親指。
He would stand straight in his carriage, holding the cord. He would not turn round, nor speak hastily, nor point with his fingers.
10.27. 色斯舉矣,翔而後集。 曰:“山梁雌雉,時哉!時哉!”子路共之,三嗅而作。
His face changed color on seeing birds hover and settle. He read the verse:Hen-pheasants at their prime Know how to bide their time. Zi Lu made an offering to them, but they sniffed thrice and flew away.