Zu Pei wished to see Confucius, but Confucius declined, on the ground of being sick, to see him. When the bearer of this message went out at the door, (the…
1Zu Pei wished to see Confucius, but Confucius declined, on the ground of being sick, to see him. When the bearer of this message went out at the door, (the Master) took his lute and sang to it, in order that Pei might hear him.
The notes printed with this passage in Chinese editions, kept in Chinese, for readers who come to the text that way.
孺悲：鲁国人。鲁哀公曾派他向孔子学习士丧礼。
辞以疾：以有病作借囗推辞。
将命者：传话的人。