Book 9, Passage 9.12

The Master being very ill, Tsze-lu wished the disciples to act as ministers to him.

子疾病，子路使门人为臣。病间，曰：“久矣哉，由之行诈也！”…

All 31 passages in Book 912 of 31

3 sentences · 3 notes

子zǐ疾jí病bìng，子zǐ路lù使shǐ门mén人rén为wéi臣chén。病bìng间jiān，曰yuē：“久jiǔ矣yǐ哉zāi，由yóu之zhī行xíng诈zhà也yě！无wú臣chén而ér为wéi有yǒu臣chén。吾wú谁shuí欺qī？欺qī天tiān乎hū？且qiě予yú与yǔ其qí死sǐ于yú臣chén之zhī手shǒu也yě，无wú宁nìng死sǐ于yú二èr三sān子zǐ之zhī手shǒu乎hū？且qiě予yú纵zòng不bù得dé大dà葬zàng，予yú死sǐ于yú道dào路lù乎hū？”

1The Master being very ill, Tsze-lu wished the disciples to act as ministers to him.

2During a remission of his illness, he said, 'Long has the conduct of Yu been deceitful! By pretending to have ministers when I have them not, whom should I impose upon? Should I impose upon Heaven?

3'Moreover, than that I should die in the hands of ministers, is it not better that I should die in the hands of you, my disciples? And though I may not get a great burial, shall I die upon the road?'

Chinese commentary · 3 notes

The notes printed with this passage in Chinese editions, kept in Chinese, for readers who come to the text that way.

为臣：臣，指家臣，总管。孔子当时不是大夫，没有家臣，但子路叫门人充当孔子的家臣，准备由此人负责总管安葬孔子之事。

病间：病情减轻。间，空隙，引申为有时间距离，再引申为疾病稍愈。

大葬：指大夫的隆重葬礼。

All 31 passages in Book 9

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