孔子曰：「驅之，驅之！
“In front of us is the voice of a remarkable man!” After going a bit further, Kongzi saw the man, and he proved to be Qiu Wuzi.
前有異人音。
He was weeping with his arms clasping a sickle and with a rope tied around his waist.
」少進，見之，丘吾子也，擁鐮帶索而哭。
Kongzi descended from his carriage and approached him, saying, “You are not burying anyone—why do you weep so piteously?” “I have had three losses,” said Qiu Wuzi.
孔子辟車而下問曰：「夫子非有喪也，何哭之悲也？
“I would like to hear what they were,” said Kongzi.
」丘吾子對曰：「吾有三失。
“When I was young,” said Qiu Wuzi, “I was fond of study and traveled all over the realm.
」孔子曰：「願聞三失。
When I returned, I found that my parents had died.
That was the first loss.
」丘吾子曰：「吾少好學問，周遍天下，還後，吾親亡，一失也；事君奢驕，諫不遂，是二失也；厚交友而後絕，是三失也。
When I entered our ruler’s service, I found that he was extravagant and proud, and would not listen to admonition. That was the second loss.
樹欲靜乎風不定，子欲養乎親不待。
I formed deep attachments with friends, but those ties were all broken off later.
往而不來者，年也；不可得再見者，親也。
That is the third loss.
請從此辭！
The tree wishes to remain still, but the wind will not die down. A son wishes to serve his parents, but they will not wait for him.
」則自刎而死。
The things that go and never return are the years, and the ones whom one can never see again are one’s parents.
孔子曰：「弟子記之，此足以為戒也！
I beg permission now to take leave of you forevermore!” With this, he cut his throat and died.
」於是弟子歸養親者十三人。
“Remember this, disciples,” said Kongzi.
“This is sufficient to serve as a warning to all.” Thirteen of the disciples returned forthwith to serve their parents.