昔漢朝時，孔融年方四歲，有友人送梨一筐，諸兄皆揀取大者，而融則取其最小者。人或怪而問之。
悌敬之道。悌，什麼叫悌呢？這個悌就是悌敬兄長，凡比自己長輩的都應該悌敬。這本來意思讀弟，應該畫一個圈的。這個悌，要正寫的字就是這麼樣寫，或者加個圈（。）。這在以前這「漢朝」的「時」候，有一個人叫「孔融」。一生來就和人不同。他在「四歲」的時候，「有友人」，他的父親有朋友，「送梨一筐」。送來一筐的梨。「諸兄皆揀取大者」。小孩子很高興吃的這個梨，所以他幾個哥哥都跑到那地方去，每一個都選一個最大的。揀取，就是到那看看這個，看看那個，看看最好的他拿著就跑了，都是拿一個大的。「而融則取其最小者」。這孔融那時候才四歲，他到那地方也去拿梨去了。他揀一個最小的，他拿去了。「人或怪而問之」。那麼這樣子，旁人就覺得很奇怪的。這個小孩子他怎麼拿一個小的梨呢？就問這孔融。
對日：諸兄年長於我，故應食其大者。余年最幼，故宜食其小者耳。如孔融者，其年雖幼，深明悌敬推讓之道，誠足以諷世矣。
或者有這麼一個人，他很奇怪的，因為甚這個小孩子他能拿一個小的梨呢？這個事情很奇怪的。就問他，說：「你為什麼拿一個小的梨呢？」那孔融就回這個人，就說了：「諸兄年長於我」。說我的所有的哥哥，他們的年齡都比我大，比我長，「故應食其大者」。因為他年齡比我也大，所以，他們也應該吃大的一個。按著道理上他們是應該吃大的。「余年最幼」：余，也是我。說我的年齡是最小的，這一班人裡頭我是一個最小的。「故應食其小者耳」：因為我最小，所以我應該吃一個最小的梨。他那麼答覆了。這下邊就是說「如孔融者」，就是像孔融這個人。「其年雖幼」：他的年齡可是很幼小的，但是他「深明悌敬推讓之道」。他深深地明白了這個悌敬兄長，和推讓。推就是有好事推讓給人；不好的事情給自己，這叫推讓之道，他明白這個道理。「誠足以諷世矣」！像孔融這樣的人，這個世界的人都應該跟他學習。應該像他這樣子，明白悌敬推讓之道。諷世，就是世間人都應該向他學習。 |
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Text:
During the Han Dynasty, the family of a four-year-old boy named Kong Yong received a gift of a box of pears. All his brothers took large ones while Kong Yong deliberately sought out the smallest. People were surprised and asked the boy about his behavior.
Commentary:
The way of fraternal respect means showing respect to one’s brothers and elders. During the Han Dynasty, the family of a four-year-old boy named Kong Yong received a gift of a box of pears. There was a person named Kong Yong, who was different from others from the time of his birth. When he was four years old, a friend of his father’s sent them a box of pears. All his brothers took large ones while Kong Yong deliberately sought out the smallest. The children were fond of pears, so his elder brothers quickly went over and each selected the biggest pear he could find. They looked over the pears, picked out the best one, and took it away. Kong Yong, on the other hand, chose the smallest pear. People were surprised and asked the boy about his behavior. They were puzzled as to why this child had taken a small pear.
Text:
My brothers are older than I and they should get the big ones. Since I am the youngest, it is fitting that I receive the smallest, he replied.
Although Kong Yong was young, he had a profound understanding of the principles of yielding and fraternal respect. He is truly a worthy model for the world.
Commentary:
Probably someone thought it was strange that the boy should choose a small pear, so he asked Kong Yong, “Why did you take such a small pear?”
“My brothers are older than I and they should get the big ones. Since I am the youngest, it is fitting that I receive the smallest,” he replied. “Since all my brothers are older, it’s only right that they eat the bigger pears. I am the smallest among us siblings, so I should eat the smallest pear.”
Although Kong Yong was young, he had a profound understanding of the principles of yielding and fraternal respect. He truly knew how to respect his elder brothers. He was able to yield good things to others, and take bad things upon himself. He understood such principles. He is truly a worthy model for the world. People in the world should take a lesson from Kong Yong. They should be like him and understand how to respect their elders and yield to others. |
