原文
闵子侍侧,誾誾如也;子路,行行①如也;冉有、子贡,侃侃如也。子乐。“若由也,不得其死然②。”
译文
On one occasion several of his disciples were standing in attendance on Confucius. One was calm and self-possessed. The intrepid Chung Yu stood upright and soldier-like. Two others looked frank and engaging. Confucius, looking on them, was pleased. He remarked, however, "There is Yu (Chung Yu's name) there, — I am afraid he will not die a natural death."
评论
文中,“不得其死然”,学者多理解为“不得以寿终”。辜鸿铭译为“will not die a natural death”,即不会正常死亡。这是孔子通过观察仲由的秉性而对他人身安危的担忧。辜鸿铭对此注释说:
这句预言最后变成了现实。后来,刚勇而具有武士精神的仲由,在一次暴乱中对抗暴民保卫一座城镇时被杀死了。临死前,他的头盔在战斗中被打歪到了一侧,他镇定地整理好它,说:“一个君子,必须衣装齐整地死去。”