1
梁書卷第八列傳第二
Book of Liang, Volume Eight, Biographies, Second
2
昭明太子哀太子愍懷太子
Crown Prince Zhaoming; the Grieving Crown Prince; the Lamenting Crown Prince
3
太子生而聰叡，三歲受《孝經》、《論語》，五歲遍讀五經，悉能諷誦。 五年五月庚戌，始出居東宮。 太子性仁孝，自出宮，恒思戀不樂。 高祖知之，每五日一朝，多便留永福省，或五日三日乃還宮。 八年九月，於壽安殿講《孝經》，盡通大義。 講畢，親臨釋奠于國學。
The crown prince was bright from birth; at three he studied the Classic of Filial Piety and the Analects, at five he had read the Five Classics through and could recite them all. In year five, on the fifth month's gengxu day, he first took up residence in the Eastern Palace. By nature the crown prince was humane and filial; once he left the palace grounds he pined constantly and was never at ease. Gaozu knew it: court was held every five days, and he often kept the heir at Yongfu Ward—or only let him return after three or five days. In the ninth month of year eight he lectured on the Classic of Filial Piety in Shou'an Hall and mastered its main meaning. When the lecture ended he personally offered the libation sacrifice at the Imperial Academy.
4
十四年正月朔旦，高祖臨軒，冠太子于太極殿。 舊制，太子著遠遊冠，金蟬翠緌纓； 至是，詔加金博山。
At dawn on New Year's Day of year fourteen Gaozu faced the hall and capped the crown prince in the Hall of Supreme Ultimate. By old custom the crown prince wore the Far-Wandering cap with golden cicada and emerald tassels and ribbons; now an edict added the golden Boshan ornament.
5
太子美姿貌，善舉止。 讀書數行並下，過目皆憶。 每游宴祖道，賦詩至十數韻。 或命作劇韻賦之，皆屬思便成，無所點易。 高祖大弘佛教，親自講說； 太子亦崇信三寶，遍覽衆經。 乃於宮內別立慧義殿，專爲法集之所。 招引名僧，談論不絕。 太子自立二諦、法身義，並有新意。 普通元年四月，甘露降于慧義殿，咸以爲至德所感焉。
The crown prince was handsome in face and graceful in bearing. He read several lines at a glance and remembered whatever passed his eyes. At feasts or parting rites he would compose poems in as many as ten rhyme groups. Sometimes ordered to improvise rhymed verse, he finished at once as thought came, without a single revision. Gaozu greatly promoted Buddhism and lectured on it himself; the crown prince also revered the Three Treasures and read through all the sutras. He then built Huiyi Hall within the palace, set apart solely for Dharma gatherings. He drew in eminent monks, and doctrinal discussion never ceased. The crown prince himself framed doctrines of the Two Truths and the Dharma-body, each with fresh insight. In the fourth month of Putong year one sweet dew fell on Huiyi Hall; all deemed it a response to supreme virtue.
6
三年十一月，始興王憺薨。 舊事，以東宮禮絕傍親，書翰並依常儀。 太子意以爲疑，命僕劉孝綽議其事。 孝綽議曰：「案張鏡撰《東宮儀記》，稱『三朝發哀者，逾月不舉樂； 鼓吹寢奏，服限亦然』。 尋傍絕之義，義在去服，服雖可奪，情豈無悲？ 鐃歌輟奏，良亦爲此。 旣有悲情，宜稱兼慕，卒哭之後，依常舉樂，稱悲竟，此理例相符。 謂猶應稱兼慕，至卒哭。」 僕射徐勉、左率周舍、家令陸襄並同孝綽議。 太子令曰：「張鏡《儀記》云『依《士禮》，終服月稱慕悼』。 又云『凡三朝發哀者，逾月不舉樂』。 劉僕議，云『傍絕之義，義在去服，服雖可奪，情豈無悲，卒哭之後，依常舉樂，稱悲竟，此理例相符』。 尋情悲之說，非止卒哭之後，緣情爲論，此自難一也。 用張鏡之舉樂，棄張鏡之稱悲，一鏡之言，取捨有異，此自難二也。 陸家令止云『多歷年所』，恐非事證； 雖復累稔所用，意常未安。 近亦常經以此問外，由來立意，謂猶應有慕悼之言。 張豈不知舉樂爲大，稱悲事小； 所以用小而忽大，良亦有以。 至如元正六佾，事爲國章； 雖情或未安，而禮不可廢。 鐃吹軍樂，比之亦然。 書疏方之，事則成小，差可緣心。 聲樂自外，書疏自內，樂自他，書自己。 劉僕射之議，卽情未安。 可令諸賢更共詳衷。」 司農卿明山賓、步兵校尉朱异議，稱「慕悼之解，宜終服月」。 於是令付典書遵用，以爲永凖。
In the eleventh month of year three Prince Xing of Shixing died. Formerly, because Eastern Palace ritual severs collateral kin, letters and memorials all followed ordinary usage. The crown prince found this doubtful and ordered his secretary Liu Xiaochuo to deliberate it. Xiaochuo wrote: "Zhang Jing's Eastern Palace Ritual Record says, 'For mourning begun at the three audiences, for more than a month music is not performed; drums and pipes cease, and the dress limit is the same.'" The sense of severing collateral kin is that mourning dress ends; dress may be removed, but feeling cannot be stripped of grief. Halting gongs and songs is truly for this reason as well. Where grief remains, one should call it combined mourning; after the wailing sacrifice music may resume as usual, grief being ended—principle and precedent agree. He held that combined mourning should still be named until the wailing sacrifice." Vice Director Xu Mian, Left Leader Zhou She, and Household Intendant Lu Xiang all sided with Xiaochuo. The crown prince ordered: "Zhang Jing's Ritual Record says, 'Per the Rites of the Scholar, after full mourning for a month one styles mourning tribute. It also says, 'For all who begin mourning at the three audiences, for more than a month music is not performed.'" Secretary Liu says, 'Severing collateral kin means mourning dress ends; dress may go, but grief cannot; after the wailing sacrifice music resumes as usual, grief ended—principle and precedent agree.'" On feeling grief, the issue is not only after the wailing sacrifice; arguing from feeling alone, this is hard to unify. To take Zhang Jing's music while dropping his grief styling—in one author's words the choices conflict; this is the second difficulty. Lu the Household Intendant only cited 'many years'—I fear that is not proof; though long in use, the mind has never been easy with it. Lately this has often been asked outside court; from the first the intent has been that mourning tribute should still be named. Surely Zhang knew performing music was the greater matter and styling grief the lesser. He used the lesser and set aside the greater for good reason. As for New Year's six rows of dancers, the affair is a state statute; though feeling may be uneasy, ritual cannot be set aside. Gongs, pipes, and military music stand on the same footing. Letters and memorials are the smaller affair and may somewhat follow the heart. Music comes from outside; letters come from within—music from others, letters from oneself. Vice Director Liu's view leaves feeling uneasy. Let the worthies deliberate further to the end." Director of Agriculture Ming Shanbin and Colonel of Footsoldiers Zhu Yi held that mourning tribute should last through the month of full mourning. The order was then handed to the Director of Documents for permanent use as standard.
7
七年十一月，貴嬪有疾，太子還永福省，朝夕侍疾，衣不解帶。 及薨，步從喪還宮，至殯，水漿不入口，每哭輒慟絕。 高祖遣中書舍人顧協宣旨曰：「毀不滅性，聖人之制。 《禮》，不勝喪比於不孝。 有我在，那得自毀如此！ 可卽強進飲食。」 太子奉勅，乃進數合。 自是至葬，日進麥粥一升。 高祖又勅曰：「聞汝所進過少，轉就羸瘵。 我比更無餘病，正爲汝如此，胸中亦圮塞成疾。 故應強加饘粥，不使我恒爾懸心。」 雖屢奉勅勸逼，日止一溢，不嚐菜果之味。 體素壯，腰帶十圍，至是減削過半。 每入朝，士庶見者莫不下泣。
In the eleventh month of year seven the honored consort fell ill; the crown prince returned to Yongfu Ward and tended her day and night without loosening his belt. When she died he walked behind the coffin back to the palace; through the lying-in-state he took no food or drink, and each cry ended in collapse. Gaozu sent Palace Secretary Gu Xie with an edict: "Self-destruction does not extinguish nature—the sage's rule. The Rites say failing to bear mourning ranks with unfilial conduct. While I still live, how can you destroy yourself so! Force yourself to eat and drink at once." The crown prince obeyed and took a few mouthfuls. From then until burial he took only one sheng of wheat porridge a day. Gaozu commanded again: "I hear you eat too little and grow wasted and ill. I have no other sickness—only because of you my chest clogs into illness. So force more gruel and porridge on yourself and do not keep my heart always suspended." Though repeatedly urged by edict, daily he took only one yi and tasted no vegetables or fruit. His frame had been sturdy, his waist ten encirclements; by then more than half was gone. Whenever he entered court, officials and commoners who saw him wept.
8
太子自加元服，高祖便使省萬機，內外百司，奏事者填塞於前。 太子明於庶事，纖毫必曉，每所奏有謬誤及巧妄，皆卽就辯析，示其可否，徐令改正，未嘗彈糾一人。 平斷法獄，多所全宥，天下皆稱仁。
After his capping Gaozu had him review myriad affairs; memorialists from every office filled the forecourt. The crown prince knew common affairs down to the finest strand; whenever a memorial erred or lied, he analyzed it on the spot, showed what stood, ordered correction without haste, and never punished anyone. In judging legal cases he often spared lives; all under Heaven called him humane.
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性寬和容衆，喜慍不形於色。 引納才學之士，賞愛無倦。 恒自討論篇籍，或與學士商榷古今； 閒則繼以文章著述，率以爲常。 于時東宮有書幾三萬卷，名才並集，文學之盛，晉、宋以來未之有也。
By nature magnanimous and accommodating, pleasure and anger never showed on his face. He drew in men of talent and learning and cherished them without tiring. He constantly discussed texts himself, or weighed past and present with academicians; in leisure he wrote, taking composition as his daily habit. The Eastern Palace then held nearly thirty thousand volumes; eminent talents gathered; literary brilliance unmatched since Jin and Song.
10
性愛山水，於玄圃穿築，更立亭館，與朝士名素者遊其中。 嘗泛舟後池，番禺侯軌盛稱「此中宜奏女樂。」 太子不答，詠左思《招隱詩》曰：「何必絲與竹，山水有清音。」 侯慚而止。 出宮二十餘年，不畜聲樂。 少時，敕賜太樂女妓一部，略非所好。
He loved landscape; in the Mystic Garden he excavated and built pavilions and lodges, roaming with noted courtiers. Once boating on the rear pool, the Marquis of Panyu Gui said, "This is the place for female musicians." The crown prince did not answer but recited Zuo Si's "Summoning the Recluse": "Why silk and bamboo? Mountains and waters have clear sound." The marquis, ashamed, fell silent. For more than twenty years after leaving the palace he kept no musicians. In youth an edict granted him a troupe of imperial music girls—barely to his taste.
11
普通中，大軍北討，京師穀貴，太子因命菲衣減膳，改常饌爲小食。 每霖雨積雪，遣腹心左右，周行閭巷，視貧困家，有流離道路，密加振賜。 又出主衣綿帛，多作襦袴，冬月以施貧凍。 若死亡無可以斂者，爲備棺槥。 每聞遠近百姓賦役勤苦，輒斂容色。 常以戶口未實，重於勞擾。
During Putong the great army marched north, grain in the capital grew dear, and the crown prince ordered plain dress and frugal meals, changing his usual fare to small repasts. Whenever rain or snow lingered, he sent trusted aides through lanes and alleys to find the poor and those wandering the roads and secretly gave relief. He also issued palace silk and cloth, made many jackets and trousers, and in winter gave them to the poor and cold. For those who died with nothing to enshroud them, he provided coffins. Whenever he heard of the people's tax and corvée burdens near or far, his face grew grave. He constantly worried that household registers were incomplete and that labor pressed too hard.
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吳興郡屢以水災失收，有上言當漕大瀆以瀉浙江。 中大通二年春，詔遣前交州刺史王弁假節，發吳郡、吳興、義興三郡民丁就役。 太子上疏曰：「伏聞當發王弁等上東三郡民丁，開漕溝渠，導泄震澤，使吳興一境，無復水災，誠矜恤之至仁，經略之遠旨。 暫勞永逸，必獲後利。 未萌難覩，竊有愚懷。 所聞吳興累年失收，民頗流移。 吳郡十城，亦不全熟。 唯義興去秋有稔，復非常役之民。 卽日東境穀稼猶貴，劫盜屢起，在所有司，不皆聞奏。 今征戍未歸，強丁疏少，此雖小舉，竊恐難合，吏一呼門，動爲民蠹。 又出丁之處，遠近不一，比得齊集，已妨蠶農。 去年稱爲豊歲，公私未能足食； 如復今茲失業，慮恐爲弊更深。 且草竊多伺候民間虛實，若善人從役，則抄盜彌增，吳興未受其益，內地已罹其弊。 不審可得權停此功，待優實以不？ 聖心垂矜黎庶，神量久已有在。 臣意見庸淺，不識事宜，苟有愚心，願得上啓。」 高祖優詔以喻焉。
Wu commandery repeatedly lost its harvest to floods; a memorial proposed dredging the Grand Canal to drain the Zhe River. In spring of Zhongdatong year two an edict sent former Inspector of Jiaozhi Wang Dan with credentials to levy labor from Wu, Wuxing, and Yixing commanderies. The crown prince memorialized: "I hear Wang Dan and others are to levy labor from the three eastern commanderies, open canals, drain Zhen Marsh, and end floods in Wu commandery—truly utmost humane care and far-sighted policy. Temporary toil for lasting ease will surely bring later profit. What has not yet sprouted is hard to foresee; I venture a humble thought. I hear Wu commandery has lost harvest year after year and many people have wandered away. Of Wu commandery's ten cities, not all ripened fully. Only Yixing had a full harvest last autumn, and even there the people are not those of ordinary corvée. Just now grain in the eastern region is still dear and banditry keeps arising; not every office reports it. Now the garrisons have not returned and strong men are few; though this is a small levy, I fear it will not cohere—one shout from an official at the door becomes a plague on the people. Also the places levying labor lie at uneven distances; by the time men are gathered, silkworm season is already harmed. Last year was called abundant, yet public and private stores were still not full; if this year loses livelihood again, I fear the harm will go deeper. Moreover bandits often watch whether the people are weak or strong; if good men are conscripted, robbery only increases—Wu commandery will not yet gain, while the interior will already suffer. Might this work be paused for now until prosperity returns? The sovereign heart cherishes the common people; divine foresight already has its place. My views are shallow and I scarcely grasp affairs of state; yet if I may offer whatever poor counsel I have, I beg leave to submit it." Gaozu replied with a gracious edict explaining his intent.
13
太子孝謹天至，每入朝，未五鼓便守城門開。 東宮雖燕居內殿，一坐一起，恒向西南面臺。 宿被召當入，危坐達旦。
The crown prince was naturally filial and dutiful; before the fifth watch each morning he was already waiting at the city gate for it to open. Even in the Eastern Palace's inner halls at ease, he always faced southwest toward the terrace whenever he sat or rose. When summoned the night before an audience, he sat upright until dawn.
14
三年三月，寢疾。 恐貽高祖憂，敕參問，輒自力手書啓。 及稍篤，左右欲啓聞，猶不許，曰「云何令至尊知我如此惡」，因便嗚咽。 四月乙巳薨，時年三十一。 高祖幸東宮，臨哭盡哀。 詔斂以袞冕。 諡曰昭明。 五月庚寅，葬安寧陵。 詔司徒左長史王筠爲哀冊文曰：
In the third year, third month, he fell ill and took to his bed. Lest he burden Gaozu with worry, he had his attendants questioned but always wrote memorials by hand himself. As the illness worsened, his attendants wished to report it, but he forbade them, saying, "How can I let His Majesty know I am so gravely ill?" and wept. On yisi of the fourth month he died, aged thirty-one. Gaozu came to the Eastern Palace and wept there with full grief. By edict he was to be enshrouded in full imperial mourning dress. His posthumous name was Zhaoming, "Luminous." On gengyin of the fifth month he was buried at Anning Mausoleum. An edict charged Wang Yun, Left Chief Clerk of the Minister of Education, to compose the funeral elegy. It read:
15
蜃輅俄軒，龍驂跼步； 羽翿前驅，雲旂北御。 皇帝哀繼明之寢耀，痛嗣德之殂芳； 御武帳而淒慟，臨甲觀而增傷。 式稽令典，載揚鴻烈； 詔撰德於旌旒，永傳徽於舞綴。 其辭曰：
The shell-bedecked carriage rises; dragon-harnessed steeds pace in solemn tread; feathered fans lead the way; cloud banners bear him north. The emperor mourns his heir's fading radiance and the withering of a successor's virtue; he stands desolate beneath the martial canopy; sorrow deepens before the armored watchtower. He consults the established canon and raises his great merit; an edict commands his virtue inscribed on the pennants, his emblem forever borne in the dance tassels. The text reads:
16
式載明兩，實惟少陽； 旣稱上嗣，且曰元良。 儀天比峻，儷景騰光； 奏祀延福，守器傳芳。 睿哲膺期，旦暮斯在； 外弘莊肅，內含和愷。 識洞機深，量苞瀛海； 立德不器，至功弗宰。 寬綽居心，溫恭成性，循時孝友，率由嚴敬。 咸有種德，惠和齊聖； 三善遞宣，萬國同慶。
He bore the twin luminaries—truly the lesser yang; already hailed as chief heir, and named the primary worthy. His bearing matched heaven's height; his splendor rivaled the sun's light; he offered sacrifice to extend blessing and guarded the vessel to transmit his line. Sagely wisdom received its season; at dawn and dusk alike he stood ready; outwardly solemn, inwardly harmonious and at ease. His insight pierced fate's subtle workings; his measure embraced the seas within their shores; he established virtue beyond mere vessel, achievement beyond mere stewardship. Broad-mindedness dwelt in his heart; warmth and reverence formed his nature; in season he showed filial piety and brotherhood, guided by strict respect. All had planted virtue; kindness and harmony joined in sagely union; the three excellences passed in succession, and ten thousand states rejoiced together.
17
軒緯掩精，陰犧弛極； 纏哀在疚，殷憂銜恤。 孺泣無時，蔬饘不溢； 禫遵踰月，哀號未畢。 實惟監撫，亦嗣郊禋； 問安肅肅，視膳恂恂。 金華玉璪，玄駟班輪； 隆家幹國，主祭安民。 光奉成務，萬機是理； 矜慎庶獄，勤恤關市。 誠存隱惻，容無慍喜； 殷勤博施，綢繆恩紀。
The carriage constellations veiled their essence; yin and sacrifice slackened to the limit; grief wound about in affliction; deep sorrow held mourning in its breast. Childlike weeping without cease; plain gruel scarcely touched his lips; mourning rites passed beyond a month, yet cries of grief had not ceased. Truly he oversaw instruction and also succeeded in suburban sacrifice; he inquired after well-being with solemn care and attended meals with earnest diligence. Golden flowers and jade insignia; dark steeds in ordered wheels; upholding house and state, presiding over sacrifice and securing the people. Brilliantly he undertook established tasks; ten thousand affairs he governed with reason; he showed compassion in criminal cases and diligently cared for the frontier markets. Sincerity dwelt in hidden sympathy; his bearing held no anger or delight; diligent and generous in bestowing favor, closely woven in bonds of grace.
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爰初敬業，離經斷句； 奠爵崇師，卑躬待傅。 甯資導習，匪勞審諭； 博約是司，時敏斯務。 辨究空微，思探幾賾； 馳神圖緯，研精爻畫。 沈吟典禮，優遊方冊； 饜飫膏腴，含咀肴核。 括囊流略，包舉藝文； 遍該緗素，殫極丘墳。 勝帙充積，儒墨區分； 瞻河闡訓，望魯揚芬。 吟詠性靈，豈惟薄伎； 屬詞婉約，緣情綺靡。 字無點竄，筆不停紙； 壯思泉流，清章雲委。
From the first he revered his studies, parsing the classics line by line; he set out the wine cup to honor his teacher and bowed low to await his tutor. He relied on guidance and practice, not on laborious repeated instruction; breadth and restraint were his charge; timely diligence his task. He discriminated emptiness and the subtle and probed the hidden and recondite; his spirit ranged through charts and weft-lines, refining the hexagrams' tracings. He pondered the classics of ritual and wandered at ease through the square tablets of texts; sated with rich marrow, tasting and chewing the kernels of learning. He bound flowing outlines in a pouch and embraced literary arts; comprehensively covering silk and plain, exhausting the mounds and tombs of antiquity. Victorious volumes piled high; Confucian and Mohist schools distinguished; gazing upon the River to unfold the teaching, looking to Lu to raise its fragrance. Chanting and singing the nature of the spirit—was it only a slight skill? His compositions were graceful and restrained, following feeling into exquisite beauty. Not a dot to alter in his characters; his brush never paused on the paper; bold thought flowed like a spring; clear chapters piled like clouds.
19
總覽時才，網羅英茂； 學窮優洽，辭歸繁富。 或擅談叢，或稱文囿； 四友推德，七子慚秀。 望苑招賢，華池愛客； 託乘同舟，連輿接席。 摛文掞藻，飛𨢩汎醳； 恩隆置醴，賞逾賜璧。 徽風遐被，盛業日新； 仁器非重，德輶易遵。 澤流兆庶，福降百神； 四方慕義，天下歸仁。
He surveyed the talents of the age and netted the flourishing elite; his learning exhausted thorough mastery; his words returned to rich abundance. Some excelled in discourse; some were praised in the gardens of letters; the four friends promoted virtue; the seven masters blushed at his excellence. The imperial park recruited worthies; the flowery pool cherished guests; riding together in the same carriage, linked chariots with adjoining seats. Unfolding words and displaying ornament, flying goblets and floating brew; favor grand as setting out the wine; reward surpassing the gift of jade disks. His emblematic wind reached far; his flourishing work renewed day by day; the vessel of benevolence was not heavy; the carriage of virtue easy to follow. His favor flowed to the myriad people; blessing descended on the hundred spirits; the four quarters admired righteousness; all under heaven returned to benevolence.
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雲物告徵，祲沴褰象； 星霾恒耀，山頹朽壤。 靈儀上賓，德音長往； 具僚無廕，諮承安仰。 嗚呼哀哉！
Clouds and creatures proclaimed omens; baleful vapors lifted their images; stars dimmed the constant radiance; mountains collapsed into rotting earth. His numinous bearing ascended on high; his virtuous voice departed far; the assembled officials have no shade; whom may they consult and on whom rely? Alas, how mournful!
21
皇情悼愍，切心纏痛； 胤嗣長號，跗萼增慟。 慕結親遊，悲動氓衆； 憂若殄邦，懼同折棟。 嗚呼哀哉！
The emperor's heart is stricken with grief, wound about in pain; the heir's descendants wail long; calyx and petals add to the grief. Longing binds close companions; grief moves the common people; sorrow as if the state were perishing; fear as if the ridgepole were breaking. Alas, how mournful!
22
首夏司開，麥秋紀節； 容衛徒警，菁華委絕。 書幌空張，談筵罷設； 虛饋饛饛，孤燈翳翳。 嗚呼哀哉！
At the head of summer the season opens; the wheat harvest marks its node; the guard of his countenance is suddenly alert; the flowering splendor cast away and ended. The book curtains hang empty; the discourse mats are dismantled; empty offerings of steaming grain; a lone lamp dim and faint. Alas, how mournful!
23
簡辰請日，筮合龜貞。 幽埏夙啓，玄宮獻成。 武校齊列，文物增明。 昔遊漳滏，賓從無聲； 今歸郊郭，徒禦相驚。 嗚呼哀哉！
The day was chosen by calendrical reckoning; tortoise and milfoil divination agreed in auspice; the dark precinct long since opened; the hidden palace presented complete. Martial guards aligned in ranks; civil regalia increased in splendor. Once he roamed the Zhang and Fu rivers, guests and followers without sound; now returning to the outer suburbs, attendants and chariots startle one another. Alas, how mournful!
24
背絳闕以遠徂，轥青門而徐轉； 指馳道而詎前，望國都而不踐。 陵脩阪之威夷，溯平原之悠緬； 驥蹀足以酸嘶，挽淒鏘而流泫。 嗚呼哀哉！
Turning his back on the crimson gate-tower he departs far; rolling past the Green Gate he turns slowly; pointing along the imperial road yet stopping short before it, gazing toward the capital yet not treading it. The mound ascends the steep slope in awesome dignity; the plain stretches back in distant expanse; the thoroughbred's hooves enough to wring the heart with bitter whinny; mourners' plaintive clank as tears stream down. Alas, how mournful!
25
混哀音於簫籟，變愁容於天日； 雖夏木之森陰，返寒林之蕭瑟。 旣將反而復疑，如有求而遂失； 謂天地其無心，遽永潛於容質。 嗚呼哀哉！
Mournful pipes and flutes mingle; grief reshapes the face of heaven and sun; though summer trees still stand in dense shade, all returns to the bleak cold of winter groves. Turning homeward yet doubting again, as though he had sought something and then lost it; Deeming heaven and earth heartless, he suddenly sank forever from mortal sight. Alas, how mournful!
26
卽玄宮之冥漠，安神寢之清閟； 傳聲華於懋典，觀德業於徽諡。 懸忠貞於日月，播鴻名於天地； 惟小臣之紀言，實含毫而無愧。 嗚呼哀哉！
He entered the hidden palace's dark silence and laid his spirit to rest in clear seclusion; His fame is handed down in grand rite; his virtue is read in his posthumous name; Loyalty and constancy hang with sun and moon; his great name spreads through heaven and earth; Only this humble minister's written record—truly pen in hand without shame. Alas, how mournful!
27
太子仁德素著，及薨，朝野惋愕。 京師男女，奔走宮門，號泣滿路。 四方氓庶，及疆徼之民，聞喪皆慟哭。 所著文集二十卷； 又撰古今典誥文言，爲《正序》十卷； 五言詩之善者，爲《文章英華》二十卷； 《文選》三十卷。
The crown prince's humane virtue was long renowned; at his death court and countryside alike were stricken with grief. Men and women of the capital rushed to the palace gates, wailing until the roads were full. Commoners in every quarter, even people on the frontier marches, wept bitterly when they heard of the mourning. His collected literary works ran to twenty juan; he also compiled ancient and modern edicts in literary language as Correct Sequence in ten juan; his finest five-character poems he gathered as Literary Flowers in twenty juan; Literary Selections in thirty juan.
28
哀太子大器，字仁宗，太宗嫡長子也。 普通四年五月丁酉生。 中大通四年，封宣城郡王，食邑二千戶。 尋爲侍中、中衛將軍，給鼓吹一部。 大同四年，授使持節、都督揚、徐二州諸軍事、中軍大將軍、揚州刺史，侍中如故。
Lamented Crown Prince Daqi, styled Renzong, was Taizong's eldest son by the chief consort. He was born in the fifth month of Putong year 4, on dingyou day. In Zhongdatong year 4 he was made Prince of Xuancheng commandery with a fief of two thousand households. Soon he was made Attendant-in-Ordinary and Central Guard general, with one set of martial music granted. In Datong year 4 he was made Bearer of the Staff, commander of Yang and Xu military affairs, Central Army grand general, and Governor of Yangzhou, remaining Attendant-in-Ordinary.
29
太清二年十月，侯景寇京邑，敕太子爲臺內大都督。 三年五月，太宗卽位。 六月丁亥，立爲皇太子。 大寶二年八月，賊景廢太宗，將害太子，時賊黨稱景命召太子，太子方講《老子》，將欲下床，而刑人掩至。 太子顏色不變，徐曰：「久知此事，嗟其晚耳。」 刑者欲以衣帶絞之。 太子曰：「此不能見殺。」 乃指繫帳竿下繩，命取絞之而絕，時年二十八。
In the tenth month of Taqing year 2 Hou Jing attacked the capital; by edict the crown prince became Grand Commander within the Terrace. In the fifth month of year 3 Taizong took the throne. On dinghai of the sixth month he was established crown prince. In the eighth month of Dabao year 2 the rebel Jing deposed Taizong and meant to kill the crown prince; Jing's men claimed an order from Jing summoned him. The crown prince was lecturing on the Laozi and was rising from his couch when executioners burst in. The crown prince's face did not change; he said calmly, "I have long known this—only that it comes so late." The executioners meant to strangle him with his sash. The crown prince said, "That will not do to kill me." He pointed to the rope on the tent pole and ordered them to take it and strangle him; he was twenty-eight.
30
太子性寬和，兼神用端嶷，在於賊手，每不屈意。 初，侯景西上，攜太子同行，及其敗歸，部伍不復整肅，太子所乘船居後，不及賊衆，左右心腹並勸因此入北。 太子曰：「家國喪敗，志不圖生； 主上蒙塵，寧忍違離？ 吾今逃匿，乃是叛父，非謂避賊。」 便涕泗鳴咽，令卽前進。 賊以太子有器度，每常憚之，恐爲後患，故先及禍。 承聖元年四月，追諡哀太子。
By nature the crown prince was mild and harmonious, with a dignified spirit and bearing; even in rebel hands he never bent his will. At first, when Hou Jing marched west he took the crown prince along; when defeated on his return the ranks were no longer disciplined. The crown prince's boat fell behind the rebel host, and his close attendants all urged him to seize the chance and flee north. The crown prince said, "House and state are ruined—I have no wish to live; the sovereign is lost in hardship—how could I bear to leave him? If I flee and hide now, I rebel against my father; it is not merely to avoid bandits." He wept aloud and ordered them to press forward at once. The rebels, seeing the crown prince's bearing and capacity, always feared him; dreading future trouble, they struck at him first. In the fourth month of Chengsheng year 1 he was posthumously titled Lamented Crown Prince.
31
太子聰穎，頗有世祖風，而凶暴猜忌。 敬帝承制，追諡愍懷太子。
The crown prince was clever and keen, much in Shizu's manner, yet fierce, violent, and suspicious. Emperor Jing, acting on imperial mandate, posthumously titled him Crown Prince Minhuai.
32
陳吏部尚書姚察曰：孟軻有言：「雞鳴而起，孳孳爲善者，舜之徒也。」 若乃布衣韋帶之士，在於畎畝之中，終日爲之，其利亦已博矣。 況乎處重明之位，居正體之尊，克念無怠，烝烝以孝。 大舜之德，其何遠之有哉！ [1]
Yao Cha, Chen Minister of Personnel, said: Mencius says, "Rising at cockcrow to labor in goodness—these are followers of Shun." For plain-clothed scholars in field and furrow to labor at it all day, the benefit is already great. How much more for one who holds the place of doubled brightness, dwells in the honor of the principal heir, keeps thought without slackness, and advances in filial piety! How far off could the virtue of great Shun be! [1] Editorial footnote marker.
33
全文以中華書局、一九七三年五月版《梁書》爲本校。
The full text was collated against the Zhonghua Shuju edition of the Book of Liang (May 1973).