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列傳第四十九袁粲
Biography Number Forty-Nine: Yuan Can
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袁粲，字景倩，陳郡陽夏人，太尉淑兄子也。 父濯，揚州秀才，蚤卒。 祖母哀其幼孤，名之曰愍孫。 伯叔並當世榮顯，而愍孫饑寒不足。 母琅邪王氏，太尉長史誕之女也，躬事績紡，以供朝夕。 愍孫少好學，有清才，有欲與從兄顗婚者，伯父洵即顗父，曰：「顗不堪，政可與愍孫婚耳。」 時愍孫在坐，流涕起出。 蚤以操立志行見知。 初為揚州從事，世祖安北、鎮軍、北中郎行參軍，侍中郎主簿。 世祖伐逆，轉記室參軍。 及即位，除尚書吏部郎，太子右衛率，侍中。 孝建元年，世祖率群臣並於中興寺八關齋，中食竟，愍孫別與黃門郎張淹更進魚肉食。 尚書令何尚之奉法素謹，密以白世祖，世祖使御史中丞王謙之糾奏，並免官。 二年，起為廷尉，太子中庶子，領右軍將軍。 出為輔國將軍、西陽王子尚北中郎長史、廣陵太守，行兗州事。 仍為永嘉王子仁冠軍長史，將軍、太守如故。
Yuan Can, styled Jingqian, was a native of Yangxia in Chen Commandery and a nephew of Grand Marshal Shu. His father Zhuo was a Yang Province outstanding youth and died young. His grandmother pitied him as a young orphan and named him Min Sun. His uncles were all illustrious in the age, yet Min Sun lacked food and clothing. His mother was of the Wang clan of Langye, daughter of the Grand Marshal's chief clerk Dan; she personally spun and wove to supply their daily needs. Min Sun from youth loved learning and had pure talent; someone wished to marry him to his cousin Yi; his uncle Xun, who was also Yi's father, said: "Yi is not fit; he should marry Min Sun instead." Min Sun was present; weeping, he rose and left the room. Early on he was known for integrity in aspiration and conduct. He began as a Yang Province attendant, then served as acting Army Staff Officer under the future Emperor Xiaowu in his Pacifying the North, Stabilizing the Army, and Northern Interior posts, and as chief clerk to the Secretariat Attendant. When the future emperor campaigned against rebels, he was transferred to Recording Army Staff Officer. When he took the throne, Min Sun was made Secretariat Director of the Ministry of Personnel, Right Guard of the Heir, and Palace Attendant. In the first year of Xiaojian, the emperor led the hundred officials in the eight precepts fast at Zhongxing Temple; when the midday meal was finished, Min Sun separately with Cavalier Attendant Zhang Yan further took fish and meat. Secretariat Director He Shangzhi, who always observed the law strictly, secretly reported it to the emperor; the emperor had Imperial Censor Wang Qianzhi impeach them, and both were dismissed from office. In the second year, he was recalled as Minister of Justice, Household Mentor of the Heir, and concurrently General of the Right Army. He went out as General Who Assists the State, Army Staff Officer to the Prince of Xiyang Zishang as Northern Interior Lord, and Governor of Guangling, acting for Yan Province affairs. He was then Army Staff Officer to the Prince of Yongjia Ziren as Champion, with his general and governorship posts unchanged.
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愍孫清整有風操，自遇甚厚，常著《妙德先生傳》以續嵇康《高士傳》以自況，曰：
Min Sun was pure, orderly, and possessed integrity; he thought highly of himself and often wrote "Biography of Mr. Wonderful Virtue" to continue Ji Kang's "Biographies of Lofty Men" as self-portrait, saying:
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有妙德先生，陳國人也。 氣志淵虛，姿神清映，性孝履順，棲沖業簡，有舜之遺風。 先生幼夙多疾，性疏懶，無所營尚，然九流百氏之言，雕龍談天之藝，皆泛識其大歸，而不以成名。 家貧嘗仕，非其好也。 混其聲跡，晦其心用，故深交或迕，俗察罔識。 所處席門常掩，三徑裁通，雖揚子寂漠，嚴叟沈冥，不是過也。 修道遂志，終無得而稱焉。
There was a Mr. Wonderful Virtue, a man of Chen. His spirit and aspiration were deep and serene, his bearing and spirit clear and luminous; his nature was filial and his conduct compliant; he dwelt in simplicity and his pursuits were plain—he had the remnant virtue of Shun. The gentleman from youth had many illnesses; his nature was loose and lazy and he pursued nothing in particular; yet the words of the nine streams and hundred schools, and the arts of rhetoric and cosmology, he broadly knew in outline, yet did not make a name thereby. His family was poor and he once served in office—it was not to his liking. He blended his voice and tracks and hid his heart's purpose; therefore close friends sometimes parted ways, and ordinary observers did not know him. Where he dwelt, the reed door was always shut and the three paths barely connected; though Yang Xiong was silent and remote and Yan Zun was deep and hidden, he surpassed them both. Cultivating the Way and fulfilling his aspiration, in the end he had no one who could praise him.
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又嘗謂周旋人曰：「昔有一國，國中一水，號曰狂泉。 國人飲此水，無不狂，唯國君穿井而汲，獨得無恙。 國人既並狂，反謂國主之不狂為狂。 於是聚謀，共執國主，療其狂疾。 火艾針藥，莫不畢具。 國主不任其苦，於是到泉所酌水飲之，飲畢便狂。 君臣大小，其狂若一，眾乃歡然。 我既不狂，難以獨立，比亦欲試飲此水。」
He also once said to his companions: "Formerly there was a state; in the state was a water called the Mad Spring. The people of the state drank this water and all went mad; only the lord of the state dug a well and drew water, alone remaining unharmed. The people of the state, having all gone mad, in turn said the lord of the state's sanity was madness. Thereupon they gathered in counsel, together seized the lord of the state, and treated his supposed madness. Fire cautery, needles, and medicines—nothing was lacking. The lord of the state could not bear the suffering; thereupon he went to the spring, drew water, and drank it; when he finished drinking he at once went mad. Lord and ministers, great and small, their madness was alike, and the multitude thereupon rejoiced. I am not mad and it is hard to stand alone; I too wish to try drinking this water."
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愍孫幼慕荀奉倩之為人，白世祖，求改名為粲，不許。 至是言於太宗，乃改為粲，字景倩焉。 二年，遷領軍將軍，仗士三十人入六門。 其年，徙中書令，領太子詹事，增封三百戶，固辭不受。 三年，轉尚書僕射，尋領吏部。 五年，加中書令，又領丹陽尹。 六年，上於華林園茅堂講《周易》，粲為執經。 又知東宮事，徙為右僕射。 七年，領太子詹事，僕射如故。 未拜，遷尚書令，丹陽尹如故。 坐前選武衛將軍江柳為江州刺史，柳有罪，降為守尚書令。
Min Sun from youth admired Xun Fengqian's conduct; he told the Shizu and asked to change his name to Can; permission was refused. At this time he spoke to Emperor Ming, and was then changed to Can, with style name Jingqian. In the second year, he was transferred to Commander-in-Chief, with thirty armed soldiers entering the Six Gates. That year he was moved to Secretariat Director, concurrently Household Mentor of the Heir; his fief was increased by three hundred households, but he firmly declined. In the third year, he was transferred to Secretariat Vice Director and soon headed the Ministry of Personnel. In the fifth year, he was additionally made Secretariat Director and also Governor of Danyang. In the sixth year, the emperor at the thatched hall of Hualin Garden lectured on the Book of Changes; Can held the classic. He also oversaw Eastern Palace affairs and was moved to Right Vice Director. In the seventh year, he headed the Household of the Heir as Mentor, with his vice directorship unchanged. Before he received appointment, he was moved to Secretariat Director, with his Danyang governorship unchanged. He was punished because in a prior selection he had appointed Jiang Liu as General of the Martial Guard and Governor of Jiang Province; Liu was guilty, and Can was reduced to acting Secretariat Director.
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二年，桂陽王休範為逆，粲扶曳入殿，詔加兵自隨，府置佐史。 時兵難危急，賊已至南掖門，諸將意沮，咸莫能奮。 粲慷慨謂諸將帥曰：「寇賊已逼，而眾情離沮。 孤子受先帝顧託，本以死報，今日當與褚護軍同死社稷！」 因命左右被馬，辭色哀壯。 於是陳顯達等感激出戰，賊即平殄。 事寧，授中書監，即本號開府儀同三司，領司徒，以揚州解為府，固不肯移。
In the second year, the Prince of Guiyang Xiufan rebelled; Can, supporting himself, dragged into the hall; an edict added armed guards at his side and his headquarters was given aides and clerks. At the time military hardship was urgent; the bandits had already reached the Southern Side Gate; the generals' spirits were dejected and none could rouse themselves. Can passionately told the generals: "Bandits and thieves have already pressed close, yet the troops' spirits are divided and dejected. I alone received the late emperor's entrustment and originally meant to repay with my life; today I should die with Protector General Chu for the altars of state!" Thereupon he ordered attendants to saddle horses; his words and bearing were mournful and strong. Thereupon Chen Xianda and others, stirred to action, went out to battle, and the bandits were at once destroyed. When affairs were settled, he was made Supervisor of the Secretariat, with his original title as Commissioner with the Golden Grandee's insignia and ceremonial staff equal to the Three Dukes, heading the Ministry of Rites; Yang Province was dissolved as his headquarters—he firmly refused to move.
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三年，徙尚書令，衛軍、開府如故，並固辭，服終乃受。 加侍中，進爵為侯，又不受。 時粲與齊王、褚淵、劉秉入直，平決萬機，時謂之「四貴」。 粲閑默寡言，不肯當事，主書每往諮決，或高詠對之，時立一意，則眾莫能改。 宅宇平素，器物取給。 好飲酒，善吟諷，獨酌園庭，以此自適。 居負南郭，時杖策獨遊，素寡往來，門無雜客。 及受遺當權，四方輻湊，閒居高臥，一無所接，談客文士，所見不過一兩人。
In the third year, he was moved to Secretariat Director, with his Guards General and Commissioner posts unchanged; again he firmly declined, and only after mourning ended did he accept. He was additionally made Palace Attendant and advanced in rank to marquis; again he did not accept. At the time Can, with the Prince of Qi, Chu Yuan, and Liu Bing, entered duty and jointly decided state affairs; the age called them "the Four Esteemed." Can was quiet and taciturn, unwilling to take charge of affairs; when chief clerks came to consult and decide, he sometimes answered with lofty chanting; when he once set his mind, none could change it. His dwelling was plain and simple; utensils were taken as needed. He loved wine and was skilled at chanting; alone he poured wine in the garden courtyard and thereby found his ease. He lived facing the southern outer wall; he often walked with a staff and roamed alone; he had always few visitors, and his gate had no miscellaneous guests. When he received the entrustment and held power, the four directions converged like wheel spokes; he reclined in leisure and received none of them; talking guests and literary men—those he saw did not exceed one or two.
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昇明元年，荊州刺史沈攸之舉兵，齊王自詣粲，粲稱疾不見。 粲宗人通直郎袁達以為不宜示異同，粲曰：「彼若以主幼時艱，與桂陽時不異，劫我入臺，便無辭以拒。 一如此，不復得出矣。」 時齊王入屯朝堂，秉從父弟領軍將軍韞入直門下省，伯興為直閣，黃回諸將皆率軍出新亭。 粲謀克日矯太后令，使韞、伯興率宿衛兵攻齊王於朝堂，回率軍來應。 秉、候伯等並赴石頭，本期夜發。 其日秉恇擾不知所為，晡後便束裝，未闇，載婦女席捲就粲，由此事泄。 先是，齊王遣將薛淵、蘇烈、王天生等領兵戍石頭，云以助粲，實禦之也。 又令腹心王敬則為直閣，與伯興共揔禁兵。 王蘊聞秉已奔，歎曰：「今年事敗矣！」 時齊王使蘊募人，已得數百，乃狼狽率部曲向石頭。 本期開南門，時已闇夜，薛淵等據門射之，蘊謂粲已敗，即便散走。 齊王以報敬則，率所領收蘊殺之，并誅伯興。 又遣軍主戴僧靜向石頭助薛淵，自倉門得入。 時粲與秉等列兵登東門，僧靜分兵攻府西門。 粲與秉欲還赴府，既下城，列燭自照，僧靜挺身闇往，粲子最覺有異人，以身衛粲，僧靜直前斬之，父子俱殞，左右各分散。 粲死時，年五十八。 任候伯等其夜並乘輕舸，自新亭赴石頭，聞粲敗，乃馳還； 其後並誅。 秉事在《宗室傳》。
In the first year of Shengming, Jing Province Inspector Shen Youzhi raised troops; the Prince of Qi personally went to Can; Can claimed illness and did not see him. Can's clansman the Imperial Courier Yuan Da thought one should not display difference of view; Can said: "If he, because the sovereign is young and the times hard, treats this as no different from the Guiyang affair, and forces me into the terrace, I will have no words to refuse. Once it is like this, I will not be able to come out again." At the time the Prince of Qi entered and garrisoned the court hall; Bing's father's younger brother Commander-in-Chief Yun entered the Gate Down headquarters; Boxing was Direct Attendant; Huang Hui and the various generals all led armies out to Xinting. Can plotted on a set day to forge the Empress Dowager's order, making Yun and Boxing lead palace guards to attack the Prince of Qi in the court hall; Hui would lead the army to respond. Bing, Hou Bo, and others all went to Stone Fortress; the original plan was to set out at night. That day Bing was fearful and disturbed and did not know what to do; after mid-afternoon he at once packed; before dark he loaded women and bedding and went to Can; thereby the affair was leaked. Earlier, the Prince of Qi had sent generals Xue Yuan, Su Lie, Wang Tiansheng, and others to lead troops to garrison Stone Fortress, saying to assist Can but in truth to guard against him. He also made his trusted follower Wang Jingze Direct Attendant, together with Boxing jointly commanding forbidden troops. Wang Yun heard Bing had already fled and sighed: "This year's affair is lost!" At the time the Prince of Qi sent Yun to recruit men; he had already gotten several hundred; then in distress he led his subordinates toward Stone Fortress. The original plan was to open the southern gate; it was already dark night; Xue Yuan and others held the gate and shot at them; Yun thought Can had already been defeated and at once scattered and fled. The Prince of Qi reported to Jingze; he led those under him to seize and kill Yun, and Boxing was also executed. He also sent Army Commander Dai Sengjing toward Stone Fortress to assist Xue Yuan; he entered from the Granary Gate. At the time Can and Bing and others arrayed troops and ascended the eastern gate; Sengjing divided troops to attack the headquarters' western gate. Can and Bing wished to return to the headquarters; having descended the wall, they set out candles to illuminate themselves; Sengjing advanced straight through the dark; Can's son Zui felt there was an unusual man and used his body to protect Can; Sengjing went straight forward and cut him down; father and son both perished; attendants each scattered. When Can died, he was fifty-eight. Ren Houbo and others that night all rode light boats from Xinting toward Stone Fortress; hearing Can was defeated, they galloped back; afterward they were all executed. Bing's affair is in the "Imperial Clan Biography."
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史臣曰：闢運創基，非機變無以通其務； 世及繼體，非忠貞無以守其業。 辟運之君，千載一有，世及之主，無乏於時，囗囗須機變之用短，資忠貞之路長也。 故漢室囗囗，文舉不屈曹氏； 魏鼎將移，夏侯義不北面。 若悉以二子為心，則兩代宜不亡矣。 袁粲清標簡貴，任屬負圖，朝野之望雖隆，然未以大節許也。 及其赴危亡，審存滅，豈所謂義重於生乎！ 雖不達天命，而其道有足懷者。 昔王經被旌於晉世，粲等亦改葬於聖朝，盛代同符，美矣！
The historian states: To open fortune and found the foundation, without adaptability one cannot penetrate its tasks; hereditary succession and continuing the body—without loyal steadfastness one cannot guard its enterprise. Lords who open fortune are one in a thousand years; lords of hereditary succession are not lacking in their time; □□ the short use of adaptability, the long road of loyal steadfastness. Therefore the Han house □□, Wenju would not submit to the Cao clan; when Wei's tripod was about to shift, Xiahou would not face north. If all took the two masters as their heart, then both dynasties should not have perished. Yuan Can's pure mark was simple and noble; his commission bore the burden of the state; though court and countryside hope was lofty, yet he was not yet approved in great integrity. When he went to meet danger and death, he chose preservation of principle over survival—was this not righteousness heavier than life! Though he did not penetrate Heaven's mandate, yet his Way has what is worth cherishing. Formerly Wang Jing was honored in the Jin age; Can and others were also reburied in the sagely dynasty—flourishing ages share the seal, beautiful indeed!