孔子與之琴,使之絃。
Kongzi gave him a zither and had him sound the strings.
授琴而絃,衎衎而樂。
When he picked it up and played it, the sounds were joyous.
作而曰:「先王制禮,不敢不及也。
」子曰:「君子也。
When he had done playing, he said, “This is the ritual laid down by former kings; I dare not fail to fulfill it.” Kongzi said, “A man of quality, surely.” After completing the three years of mourning for a parent, Min Ziqian69 came to pay a call on Kongzi.
」閔子騫三年之喪畢,見於孔子。
Kongzi gave him a zither and had him sound the strings.
孔子與之琴,使之絃。
When he picked it up and played it, the sounds were piercingly sorrowful.
援琴而絃,切切而悲。
作而曰:「先王制禮,不敢過也。」
When he had done playing, he said, “This is the ritual laid down by former kings; I dare not go beyond it.