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Introduction to Literary Chinese - Lesson 3, Text 1

Adapted from the 1927 book by J. Brandt Vocabulary section transcribed with help from with help from 武克富強/Võ Khắc Phú Cường

五德 Five Virtues ^five ^virtue[s]

田饒謂魯哀公曰。 (One day) Tien-jao said to duke Ai of Lu, a_name-a_name (Tien\-jao) speak[:said] 4[of] Lu 3a_name (Ai) 2^duke 1speak[:~] [to],

君不見夫鷄乎。 "Have you not noticed the cock, sir? "[~^have] you not apprehend (notice[d]) that cock [~\, sir] interrogative_particle[:~]?"

頭戴冠者。文也。 Upon his head he wears the comb (lit. wearing the comb upon the head), (that is) civic virtue. [^his] 3[upon his] head wear_on_the_head[:wear] 2[the] comb 1~ing 2civil[:civic_virtue] 1final_particle (is).

足撐距者。武也。 On his feet are stretched spurs, (that is) chivalry. [^his] 3[on his] feet stretch_out[:stretch] 2[the] bird\'s_spur[:spurs] 1~ing 2military[:chivalry] 1final_particle (is).

敵在前而敢鬪者。勇也。 (When) an enemy is in front (of him), (he) (then) dares to fight, (that is) valor. [^his] 4[an] enemy 5in 6front [of him] 3conjunctive_particle (with) dare[:dar] 2[to] fight 1~ing 2courage (valor) 1final_particle (is).

見食相呼。義也。 (When) he finds (lit. sees) some food, he calls (his hens), (that is) loyalty. 2[when he] see (find[s]) 3[some] food 1[^his] mutual-call (call[ing]) [his hens] 2loyal[ty] 1final_particle (is).

司晨。不失時。信也。 He observes without delay the morning, (that is) trustworthiness. [^his] 3[in] manage (oversee[ing]) 4[the] dawn not lose[-ing] 1[any] time 2confidence (trustworthiness) 1final_particle (is).

今之人。能具此五德者。實不多覯。 (Among) present of 1men those who possess (lit. to prepare) these five virtues are very few indeed (lit. not many to be seen)." [^among] 3[the] present 2of 1man[:men], 2can 3prepare (supply) 4these 5five 6virtue[s] [are] 1that_which (those_who) truly (indeed) not often meet_with[:to_be_seen]."