| | 閔公二年: |
二年春，王正月，齊人遷陽。 |
| | In spring of the second year, in the first lunar month of King [Wang], the Qi people moved to Yang.
|
| | 閔公二年: |
夏，五月乙酉，吉禘于莊公。其言吉何？言吉者，未可以吉也。曷為未可以吉？未三年也。三年矣，曷為謂之未三年？三年之喪，實以二十五月。其言于莊公何？未可以稱宮廟也。曷為未可以稱宮廟？在三年之中矣。吉禘于莊公，何以書？譏。何譏爾？譏始不三年也。 |
| | In summer, on the Yiyou day of the fifth month, a sacrifice was offered at the temple of Duke Zhuang. Why is it said to be auspicious? The reason for saying "auspicious" is that it cannot yet be considered truly auspicious. Why can it not yet be considered auspicious? Because three years have not yet passed. In the third year, why is it said that three years have not passed? The Master said: "I wish to remain silent." A gentleman said: "If you do not speak, how can one offer advice?" The Master replied: "What does Heaven say? The four seasons proceed in their course; myriad things come into being. What does Heaven say!" A gentleman said: "We disciples have understood this now!" The mourning period of three years is actually twenty-five months long. Why mention Duke Zhuang? Because it is not yet possible to refer to the ancestral temple. Why is it not yet possible to refer to the palace-temple? Because it is still within the three-year mourning period. Why was the auspicious sacrifice to Duke Zhuang recorded? It is a censure. What exactly is being criticized? It criticizes the beginning of not observing a three-year mourning period.
|
| | 閔公二年: |
秋，八月辛丑，公薨。公薨何以不地？隱之也。何隱爾？弒也。孰弒之？慶父也。殺公子牙，今將爾，季子不免。慶父弒二君，何以不誅？將而不免，遏惡也；既而不可及，緩追逸賊，親親之道也。 |
| | In autumn, on the Xichou day of the eighth month, the Duke died. Why is no place mentioned for the Duke's death? To conceal it. What exactly is being concealed? Because he was murdered. Who murdered him? It was Qingfu. After killing Gongzi Ya, now he is about to do so; Ji Zi cannot avoid it. Qingfu murdered two kings—why was he not punished? Because, although he planned to do so, Ji Zi did not carry out the punishment; this is suppressing evil. Later, when it was too late to catch him, a slow pursuit of the escaped bandit reflects the principle of showing affection for one's kin.
|
| | 閔公二年: |
九月，夫人姜氏孫于邾婁。 |
| | In September, Lady Jiang, the wife of the Duke, went to stay in Zhulu.
|
| | 閔公二年: |
公子慶父出奔莒。 |
| | Gongzi Qingfu fled to Ju.
|
| | 閔公二年: |
冬，齊高子來盟。高子者何？齊大夫也。何以不稱使？我無君也。然則何以不名？喜之也。何喜爾？正我也。其正我奈何？莊公死，子般弒，閔公弒，比三君死，曠年無君。設以齊取魯，曾不興師，徒以言而已矣。桓公使高子將南陽之甲，立僖公而城魯，或曰自鹿門至于爭門者是也，或曰自爭門至于吏門者是也。魯人至今以為美談，曰：「猶望高子也。」 |
| | In winter, Gao Zi of Qi came for an alliance. Who was Gao Zi? He was a high minister of Qi. Why is he not referred to as an envoy? Because we have no ruler. If that is so, then why is he not named? Because it was a cause for joy. What exactly is there to be joyful about? It signifies the restoration of righteousness. How did it restore righteousness for us? Duke Zhuang died, and then Duke Ziban was murdered; Duke Min was also murdered. In the span of three rulers' deaths, there were many years without a ruler. If Qi had taken advantage to conquer Lu, it did not even raise an army; it was achieved merely through words. Duke Huan sent Gao Zi to lead the troops of Nanyang, established Duke Xi as ruler, and rebuilt the walls of Lu. Some say this refers to the stretch from Lumen Gate to Zhengmen Gate; others say it refers to the stretch from Zhengmen Gate to Limen Gate. The people of Lu have since regarded this as a praiseworthy tale, saying: "We still hope for someone like Gao Zi."
|
| | 閔公二年: |
十有二月，狄入衛。鄭棄其師。鄭棄其師者何？惡其將也。鄭伯惡高克，使之將逐而不納，棄師之道也。 |
| | In the twelfth month, the Di invaded Wei. Zheng abandoned its army. What does it mean that Zheng abandoned its army? It expresses disapproval of their general. Duke Zheng disliked Gao Ke, sent him to command the troops, and then chased after him without accepting his return—this is how one abandons an army.
|
