| | 阿谷處女: |
阿谷處女者，阿谷之隧浣者也。孔子南游，過阿谷之隧，見處子佩璜而浣，孔子謂子貢曰：「彼浣者其可與言乎？」抽觴以授子貢曰：「為之辭以觀其志。」子貢曰：「我北鄙之人也。自北徂南，將欲之楚，逢天之暑，我思譚譚，願乞一飲，以伏我心。」處子曰：「阿谷之隧，隱曲之地，其水一清一濁，流入於海，欲飲則飲，何問乎婢子？」授子貢觴，迎流而挹之，投而棄之，從流而挹之，滿而溢之，跪置沙上，曰：「禮不親授。」 |
| | The maiden Agu was a woman of the Agu family. Confucius traveled south and passed through the tunnel of Agu. He saw a maiden wearing pendants while washing clothes, and said to Zigong, "Might that washerwoman be someone with whom we can speak?" He drew out a cup of wine and gave it to Zigong, saying, "Compose words for her in order to observe her aspirations." Zigong said, "I am a man from the northern borderlands. Traveling from north to south, I am heading for Chu. Encountering the heat of summer skies, my thoughts are restless and troubled; I wish to beg for a single drink to calm my heart." The maiden said, "Agu's tunnel is a secluded and winding place. Its water flows alternately clear and turbid into the sea. If you wish to drink, then drink; why ask me, a mere servant girl?" She took the cup from Zigong, scooped water against the current, then cast it away. She scooped again with the flow of the stream, filling it until it overflowed. Kneeling, she placed the cup on the sand and said, "According to rites, one should not hand something directly."
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| | 阿谷處女: |
子貢還報其辭。孔子曰：「丘已知之矣。抽琴去其軫，以授子貢曰：「為之辭。」子貢往曰：「嚮者聞子之言，穆如清風，不拂不寤，私復我心，有琴無軫，願借子調其音。」處子曰：「我鄙野之人也。陋固無心，五音不知，安能調琴？」 |
| | Zigong returned and reported her words. Confucius said, "I already know." He took out a zither, removed its tuning pegs, and gave it to Zigong saying, "Compose words for her." Zigong went back and said, "Earlier I heard your words, graceful as a gentle breeze. They did not brush against me yet awakened my understanding; they secretly comforted my heart. There is now a zither without tuning pegs—I wish to borrow you to tune its sound." The maiden said, "I am but a humble and rustic woman. Ignorant as I am, I have no knowledge of the five musical tones; how could I possibly tune a zither?"
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| | 阿谷處女: |
子貢以報孔子，孔子曰：「丘已知之矣。過賢則賓。」抽絺綌五兩以授子貢曰：「為之辭。」子貢往曰：「吾北鄙之人也。自北徂南，將欲之楚，有絺綌五兩，非敢以當子之身也，願注之水旁。」處子曰：「行客之人，嗟然永久，分其資財，棄於野鄙，妾年甚少，何敢受子。子不早命，竊有狂夫名之者矣。」 |
| | Zigong reported this to Confucius. Confucius said, "I already know." When passing by a person of virtue, one should treat them as a guest." He took out five pairs of fine hemp cloth and gave it to Zigong and said, "Compose words for her." Zigong went and said, "I am a man from the north. Traveling southward, I am heading to Chu. Here are five pairs of fine hemp cloth; I dare not offer them as a gift for you personally, but wish instead that they be placed by the water's side." The maiden said, "A traveler passing through, sighing at the thought of permanent separation—dividing his belongings and abandoning them in a remote place. I am still very young; how dare I accept your gift." "If you had not spoken so soon, someone might have already given me the name of a reckless man's wife."
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| | 阿谷處女: |
子貢以告孔子，孔子曰：「丘已知之矣。斯婦人達於人情而知禮。」《》云：「南有喬木，不可休息，漢有遊女，不可求思。」此之謂也。 |
| | Zigong reported this to Confuciuss. Confucius said, "I already know." This woman understands human relationships and knows the rites." The Book of Songs says: "To the south there is a tall tree, where one cannot rest; by the Han River there are wandering maidens, who cannot be pursued in thought." This is what it means.
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| | 阿谷處女: |
頌曰：孔子出遊，阿谷之南，異其處子，欲觀其風，子貢三反，女辭辨深，子曰達情，知禮不淫。 |
| | Ode: Confucius went on a journey, to the south of Agu. He noticed an unusual maiden and wished to observe her customs. Zigong made three return visits; the woman's words revealed profound reasoning. The Master said she understood human feelings and knew rites without excess.
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