In Ch`u there was a gentleman named Shên Ming. He tended a
garden to support his parents. His filial behavior became known
to the king of Ch`u, who summoned him. Shên Ming refused to go.
His father said, "Why do you refuse when the king wishes to
employ you?"
Shên Ming said, "Why should I give up being a son to become
a subject?"
His father said, "If you are paid by the state and hold a
position in the court, you will be happy and I will have no worries.
I wish you to serve."
Shên Ming said, "Yes, sir," and so went to court to receive
the king's command. The king of Ch`u made him ssŭ-ma of the
Left. After one year[2]
there occurred the revolt of the Governor
of Po, in which were killed the Ling-yin Tzŭ-hsi and the Ssŭ-ma
Tzŭ-ch`i. Shên Ming then surrounded [the Governor of Po] with
troops.[3]
The Governor of Po said to Shih Ch`i, "Shên Ming is the
bravest soldier in the world. Now that he [has surrounded me][4]
with his troops, what shall we do?"
Shih Ch`i said, "I have heard that Shên Ming is a filial son.[5]
Let us seize his father with our troops and then have someone say
to Shên Ming, `If you join me I will divide[6]
with you the state of
Ch`u. If you do not join me your father shall die.' "
Shên Ming replied weeping, "At first I was my father's son.
Now I am my prince's subject. Since I am no longer in a position
to be a filial son, how can I not be a loyal subject? And seizing
a drumstick he beat the signal for attack. As a result he killed
the Governor of Po, but his father also died.
The king offered him a reward. Shên Ming said, "To receive a
prince's pay and then avoid the prince's troubles is not to be a
loyal subject. By enforcing the prince's laws to kill one's father
is on the other hand not to be a filial son. In conduct I am not
both [loyal and filial], nor is my reputation established in both.
Alas, if I [continue to] live under such circumstances, what sort
of model will I be to the officers of the empire?" Whereupon he
cut his throat and died.
The Ode says,[7]
To go forwards or backwards is alike impracticable.
