汉英对照《颜氏家训》·《序致第一》

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Admonitions for the Yan Clan— A Chinese Classic on Household Management

序致第一

I. Introduction

夫圣夫圣贤之书，教人诚孝，慎言检迹，立身扬名，亦已备矣。魏、晋已来，所著诸子，理重事复，递相模学，犹屋下架屋，床上施床耳。吾今所以复为此者，非敢轨物范世也，业以整齐门内，提撕子孙。夫同言而信，信其所亲；同命而行，行其所服。禁童子之暴谑，则师友之诫不如傅婢之指挥，止凡人之斗阋，则尧、舜之道不如寡妻之诲谕。吾望此书为汝曹之所信，犹贤于傅婢寡妻耳。

In their books, ancient sages preach loyalty and filial piety, advocate careful speech and prudent behavior, and urge people to attain integrity and celebrity. Their discussions are sound and fully developed. Since the time of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, books in plenty have been produced expounding the teachings of the sages, but the authors seem to have modeled their works on those of their predecessors, in needless duplication, harping on the same old themes.

Such being the case, why do I bother to write another book in the same vein? I do not presume to set any code of conduct for the world; I only wish my book to serve for the regulation of my family, and as admonition for the good of my posterity. Counsel is the more willingly followed when it comes from a loved one; orders are the more readily executed if they come from an authority. The mischief of children is best checked not by the reasoning admonitions of tutors or friends, but by a commanding maid; a discord between brothers is soonest resolved not through the teachings of Yao and Shun (1), but through the good offices of their sensible wives. I hope this book will prevail upon you just as well as, or even better than, the maid upon the children or the wife upon the husband.

Notes:
(1) Yao and Shun were two legendary sage rulers in prehistoric China.