」孔子曰:「不可。
“It cannot be done,” said Kongzi.
昔者東夷慕諸夏之義,有女,其夫死,為之內私墟,終身不嫁。
“In former times, the Eastern Yi tribes admired the righteous behavior of the Hua states.
There was a woman among them whose husband had died, so they obtained a husband for her without carrying out a formal betrothal.
不嫁則不嫁矣,然非貞節之義也。
In this way one could say she was not given away in marriage, but the principle of chastity was still not maintained.
蒼梧之弟,娶妻而美好,請與兄易。
The younger brother of Cangwu took a wife and found that she was beautiful, so he asked to exchange her with his elder brother’s wife.
忠則忠矣,然非禮也。
One could say this exemplified loyalty, but it did not accord with the rites.
Now, however, you wish to abandon study of the ancients and follow your own inclinations.
今子欲釋古之學而行子之意,庸知子不用非為是,用是為非乎?
Who would be able to know then whether you were mistaking the false for the true and the true for the false?
不慎其初,雖欲悔之,難哉!」
If one is not careful at the beginning, then, though one may wish to repent later, it will be difficult!” Cangwu 蒼梧 is a double surname.
The name appears as Cangwu Rao 蒼梧嬈 in Kongzi jiayu and as Cangwu Rao 蒼捂繞 in Huainanzi.