6.4 子华使于齐,冉子为其母请粟。子曰:“与之釜1。”请益。曰:“与之庾2。”冉子与之粟五秉3。子曰:“赤之适齐也,乘肥马,衣轻裘。吾闻之也:君子周急不继富。”
【译文】
子华出使到齐国去,冉有替他母亲向孔子请求给予小米。 孔子说:“给她六斗四升。” 冉有请求增加一点。 孔子说:“再给她二斗四升。” 冉有却给了她八百斗小米。 孔子说:“公西赤到齐国去,乘坐着壮马驾的车,穿着轻柔的皮袍。我听说的是:君子周济穷急的人,而不是为富有的人再增富。”
【YZG解释】
子华出使到齐国去,冉有替子华的母亲向孔子请求给予小米。 孔子说:“给她六斗四升。” 冉有请求增加一点。 孔子说:“再给她二斗四升。” 冉有却给了她八百斗小米。 孔子说:“公西赤(子华)到齐国去,乘坐着壮马驾的车,穿着轻便暖和的皮袍。我听说的是:君子周济穷急的人(雪中送炭),而不是为富有的人再增富(锦上添花)。”
【English Translation】
When Zi Hua1 traveled to Qi for an official mission, Ran You helped Zi Hua’s mother to request for millet with Confucius. Confucius said: “Give her six buckets and four liters.” Ran You2 asked for a little more. Confucius said: “Give her two more buckets and four more liters.” Instead, Ran You gave her eight hundred buckets of millet. Confucius said: “When Gong Xi Chi (Zi Hua) went to Qi, he traveled in a chariot driven by a strong horse and wore a light and warm leather robe. What I heard is that a noble person would help the poor, rather than increase the wealth of the rich.”
【Note】