今夫晚世之惡人,反非儒者曰:「何以儒為?
All people know that they must build dwellings to provide shelter from the heat and the rain, and construct high terraces to escape from the humid airs.
」如此人者,是非本也。
When in their homes, they know that they must love their kin, and, when abroad, they know that they must honor their ruler.
譬猶食榖衣絲,而非耕織者也;載於船車,服而安之,而非工匠者也;食於釜甑,須以生活,而非陶冶者也。
At home they maintain the distinctions between the sexes, and abroad they maintain their relations with friends.
These are the virtues taught by the sages that the classicists received and transmitted to others so as to instruct people of later ages.
此言違於情而行矇於心者也。
But now in this latter age there are wicked people who speak ill of these men, saying, “What use are those classicists?” People of this sort are attacking what is fundamental.
如此人者,骨肉不親也,秀士不友也,此三代之棄民也,人君之所不赦也,故詩云:「投畀豺虎,豺虎不食,投畀有北,有北不受,投畀有昊。
They are like those who eat food and wear clothing but speak ill of those who till the soil and sew fabric, or those who take their ease in boats and carriages but speak ill of carpenters and craftsmen, or those who use ceramic vessels to store and cook their food but speak ill of potters and kiln workers.
」此之謂也。
Their words go counter to human feeling and sow ignorance in people’s hearts.
Such people have no affection for their kin and no regard for distinguished men. They are people such as were cast aside by the Three Dynasties27 and whose offenses could not be pardoned by the rulers of men. Hence, a passage in the Odes says, “I shall cast them to the wolves, / And, if the wolves refuse them, / I shall hurl them to frozen north, / And, if the north does not receive them, / I shall fling them up to the lord on high.” That says it well.