Introduction to Literary Chinese - Lesson 20, Text 3
Adapted from the 1927 book by J. Brandt
Grammatical section.
THE INITIAL PARTICLES (起語字)
In the Wenli style the beginning of a new sentence or of a demonstration of some thesis often opens with so called “initial” particles which have no individual meaning, indicating only the beginning of a new clause and sometimes imparting to a sentence a character of generality.
These particles are:
夫 蓋 今夫 且夫
① 夫仁者。己欲立而立人。己欲達而達人。
The man of perfect virtue, wishing to be established himself, seeks (also) to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, ne seeks (also) to enlarge others.
② 夫國君好仁。天下無敵焉。
When the prince is merciful, the country has no enemies.
③ 夫兵猶火也。弗戰將自焚也。
War is like fire, if not stopped, it will spread itself.
④ 今由與求也。可謂具臣矣。
As to Yu and Ch'iu, they may be called ordinary ministers
⑤ 蓋上世嘗有不葬其親者
In the most ancient times there were some who did not inter their parents.
⑥ 蓋有非常之功。必待有非常之人。
For an extraordinary deed an extraordinary man is needed.
⑦ 今夫天下之人牧。未有不嗜殺人者。
Among the shepherds of men throughout the empire there is not one who does not find pleasure in killing men.
⑧ 今夫水。搏而躍之。可使過顙。激而行之可便在山。是豈水之性哉。
By striking water and causing it to leap up, you may make it go over your forehead, and, by damming and leading it, you may force it up a hill; but are such movements according to the nature of water?
⑨ 且夫水之積也不厚。則負大舟無力。
If the water is not deep, it cannot carry a large boat.
⑩ 且夫强國之道。以兵爲本。
The policy of a strong state is based on military force.
⑪ 且夫優勝劣敗者。天之公例也。
It is the law of nature (lit. heaven) that the strongest win, and the weakest lose.