Xmas 2011!

Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἡ γένεσις οὕτως ἦν. μνηστευθείσης τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Μαρίας τῷ Ἰωσήφ πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εὑρέθη ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου. Ἰωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς δίκαιος ὢν καὶ μὴ θέλων αὐτὴν δειγματίσαι ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν. ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου κατ’ ὄναρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ λέγων· Ἰωσὴφ υἱὸς Δαυίδ, μὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν Μαρίαν τὴν γυναῖκά σου· τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἁγίου. τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν· αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν. τοῦτο δὲ ὅλον γέγονεν ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος·

ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει καὶ τέξεται υἱόν, καὶ καλέσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμμανουήλ, ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον μεθ’ ἡμῶν ὁ θεός. ἐγερθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ παρέλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν αὐτὴν ἕως οὗ ἔτεκεν υἱόν· καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν.

ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει καὶ τέξεται υἱόν, καὶ καλέσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμμανουήλ, ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον μεθ’ ἡμῶν ὁ θεός. ἐγερθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ παρέλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν αὐτὴν ἕως οὗ ἔτεκεν υἱόν· καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν.

Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα λέγοντες· ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων; εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ καὶ ἤλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ. ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἡρῴδης ἐταράχθη καὶ πᾶσα Ἱεροσόλυμα μετ’ αὐτοῦ, καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ ἐπυνθάνετο παρ’ αὐτῶν ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται. οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας· οὕτως γὰρ γέγραπται διὰ τοῦ προφήτου·

καὶ σύ Βηθλέεμ γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα· ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ.

Τότε Ἡρῴδης λάθρᾳ καλέσας τοὺς μάγους ἠκρίβωσεν παρ’ αὐτῶν τὸν χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος, καὶ πέμψας αὐτοὺς εἰς Βηθλέεμ εἶπεν πορευθέντες ἐξετάσατε ἀκριβῶς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου· ἐπὰν δὲ εὕρητε ἀπαγγείλατέ μοι, ὅπως κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν προσκυνήσω αὐτῷ. οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἀστὴρ ὃν εἶδον ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ. προῆγεν αὐτοὺς, ἕως ἐλθὼν ἐστάθη ἐπάνω οὗ ἦν τὸ παιδίον. ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα. καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν. καὶ χρηματισθέντες κατ’ ὄναρ μὴ ἀνακάμψαι πρὸς Ἡρῴδην, δι’ ἄλλης ὁδοῦ ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν.

ἀναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ’ ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ λέγων· ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν εἴπω σοι· μέλλει γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό. ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς Ἡρῴδου· ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος·

ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου.

Τότε Ἡρῴδης ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων ἐθυμώθη λίαν, καὶ ἀποστείλας ἀνεῖλεν πάντας τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς ἐν Βηθλέεμ καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν / πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω, κατὰ τὸν χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσεν παρὰ τῶν μάγων. τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἰερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος·

φωνὴ ἐν Ῥαμὰ ἠκούσθη
κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς·
Ῥαχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς,
καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακληθῆναι,
ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν.

Τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἡρῴδου ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ’ ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ λέγων ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ πορεύου εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ· τεθνήκασιν γὰρ οἱ ζητοῦντες τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ παιδίου. ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς γῆν Ἰσραήλ. ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Ἀρχέλαος βασιλεύει τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἀντὶ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Ἡρῴδου ἐφοβήθη ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν· χρηματισθεὶς δὲ κατ’ ὄναρ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς πόλιν λεγομένην Ναζαρέτ· ὅπως πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν ὅτι Ναζωραῖος κληθήσεται.

ἡ Ὀδύσσεια

Ἄνδρα μοι ἔννεπε, Μοῦσα, πολύτροπον, ὃς μάλα πολλὰ
πλάγχθη, ἐπεὶ Τροίης ἱερὸν πτολίεθρον ἔπερσεν
πολλῶν δ’ ἀνθρώπων ἴδεν ἄστεα καὶ νόον ἔγνω,
πολλὰ δ’ ὅ γ’ ἐν πόντῳ πάθεν ἄλγεα ὃν κάτα θυμόν,
ἀρνύμενος ἥν τε ψυχὴν καὶ νόστον ἑταίρων.

Ạndra moi ẹnnepe, Moụsa, polỵtropon, họs mala pọlla
plạnchthē, epeị Troiẹ̄s hierọn ptoliẹthron epẹrsen:
pọllōn d’ạnthrōpọ̄n iden ạstea kaị noon ẹgnō,
pọlla d’ ho g’ ẹn pontọ̄ pathen ạlgea họn kata thỵmon,
ạrnymenọs hēn tẹ psychẹ̄n kai nọston hetaịrōn.

Ἄνδρα μοι ἔννεπε, Μοῦσα,
of-the-man to-me tell, Muse

πολύτροπον, ὃς μάλα πολλὰ
of-many-turns, who very many/much

πλάγχθη, ἐπεὶ Τροίης ἱερὸν πτολίεθρον ἔπερσεν
was-tossed-about, after Troy’s holy citadel had-sacked.

πολλῶν δ’ ἀνθρώπων ἴδεν ἄστεα καὶ νόον ἔγνω,
many of men (he-)saw cities-of and minds-of knew

πολλὰ δ’ ὅ γ’ ἐν πόντῳ πάθεν ἄλγεα ὃν κάτα θυμόν,
many but? his indeed? on ocean suffered pains his in soul

ἀρνύμενος ἥν τε ψυχὴν καὶ νόστον ἑταίρων.
gain the? both? life and the-return-home of-his-comerades

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὣς ἑτάρους ἐρρύσατο, ἱέμενός περ:
αὐτῶν γὰρ σφετέρῃσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο,
νήπιοι, οἳ κατὰ βοῦς Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο
ἤσθιον: αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσιν ἀφείλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
τῶν ἁμόθεν γε, θεά, θύγατερ Διός, εἰπὲ καὶ ἡμῖν.

ạll’ oud’ họ̄s hetaroụs errhỵsato, hịemenọs per;
aụtōn gạr spheterẹ̄sin atạsthaliẹ̄sin olọnto,
nẹ̄pioi, hoị kata boụs Hyperịonos Ẹ̄elioịo
ẹ̄sthion; aụtar ho toịsin apheịleto nọstimon ẹ̄mar.
Tọ̄n hamothẹn ge, theạ, thygatẹr Dios, eịpe kai hẹ̄min.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὣς ἑτάρους ἐρρύσατο, ἱέμενός περ:
yet but-not so the-companions (were)rescued, (his will for)movement/action notwithstanding

αὐτῶν γὰρ σφετέρῃσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο,
themselves namely their-own recklessness/wickedness themselves-destroyed

νήπιοι, οἳ κατὰ βοῦς Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο
children/helpless-ones, the-ones? through? cattle of(gen.)-Hyperios[the-high-one] of(gen.)-Helios[sun]

ἤσθιον: αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσιν ἀφείλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
(they)ate: whereupon/nevertheless? he following?ὁ following?τοῖσιν took-away the-return day

τῶν ἁμόθεν γε, θεά, θύγατερ Διός, εἰπὲ καὶ ἡμῖν.
of-the? from-somewhere at-any-rate, goddess, daughter (of) heaven/Zeus, you-say to-us

De Principatibus by “NICOLAI MACLAVELLI” (learning Italian from Machiavelli)

(probably written in 1513)

I. Quot sint genera principatuum et quibus modis acquirantur.

Tutti gli stati, tutti e’ dominii che hanno avuto et hanno imperio sopra gli uomini, sono stati e sono o repubbliche o principati. E’ principati sono o ereditari, de’ quali el sangue del loro signore ne sia suto lungo tempo principe, o e’ sono nuovi. E’ nuovi, o sono nuovi tutti, come fu Milano a Francesco Sforza, o sono come membri aggiunti allo stato ereditario del principe che li acquista, come è el regno di Napoli al re di Spagna. Sono questi dominii così acquistati, o consueti a vivere sotto uno principe, o usi a essere liberi; et acquistonsi o con le armi d’altri o con le proprie, o per fortuna o per virtù.

I. How many kinds of Principalities there are, and by what means they are acquired

All states, all powers, that have held and hold rule over men have been and are either republics or principalities. Principalities are either hereditary, in which the family has been long established; or they are new. The new are either entirely new, as was Milan to Francesco Sforza, or they are, as it were, members annexed to the hereditary state of the prince who has acquired them, as was the kingdom of Naples to that of the King of Spain. Such dominions thus acquired are either accustomed to live under a prince, or to live in freedom; and are acquired either by the arms of the prince himself, or of others, or else by fortune or by ability.

II. De principatibus hereditariis         

Io lascerò indrieto el ragionare delle repubbliche, perché altra volta ne ragionai a lungo. Volterommi solo al principato, et andrò tessendo li orditi soprascritti, e disputerò come questi principati si possino governare e mantenere.  Dico, adunque, che nelli stati ereditarii et assuefatti al sangue del loro principe sono assai minori difficultà a mantenerli che ne’ nuovi; perché basta solo non preterire l’ordine de’ sua antenati, e di poi temporeggiare con li accidenti; in modo che, se tale principe è di ordinaria industria, sempre si manterrà nel suo stato, se non è una estraordinaria et eccessiva forza che ne lo privi, e privato che ne fia, quantunque di sinistro abbi l’occupatore, lo riacquista. Noi abbiamo in Italia, in exemplis, el duca di Ferrara, il quale non ha retto alli assalti de’ Viniziani nello ’84, né a quelli di papa Iulio nel ’10, per altre cagioni che per essere antiquato in quello dominio. Perché el principe naturale ha minori cagioni e minore necessità di offendere: donde conviene che sia più amato; e se estraordinarii vizii non lo fanno odiare, è ragionevole che naturalmente sia benevoluto da’ sua. E nella antiquità e continuazione del dominio sono spente le memorie e le cagioni delle innovazioni: perché sempre una mutazione lascia lo addentellato per la edificazione dell’altra.

II.Concerning hereditary principalities

I will leave out all discussion on republics, inasmuch as in another place I have written of them at length, and will address myself only to principalities. In doing so I will keep to the order indicated above, and discuss how such principalities are to be ruled and preserved. I say at once there are fewer difficulties in holding hereditary states, and those long accustomed to the family of their prince, than new ones; for it is sufficient only not to transgress the customs of his ancestors, and to deal prudently with circumstances as they arise, for a prince of average powers to maintain himself in his state, unless he be deprived of it by some extraordinary and excessive force; and if he should be so deprived of it, whenever anything sinister happens to the usurper, he will regain it. We have in Italy, for example, the Duke of Ferrara, who could not have withstood the attacks of the Venetians in ’84, nor those of Pope Julius in ’10, unless he had been long established in his dominions. For the hereditary prince has less cause and less necessity to offend; hence it happens that he will be more loved; and unless extraordinary vices cause him to be hated, it is reasonable to expect that his subjects will be naturally well disposed towards him; and in the antiquity and duration of his rule the memories and motives that make for change are lost, for one change always leaves the toothing for another.

Un beau matin

Il n’avait peur de personne
Il n’avait peur de rien
Mais un matin un beau matin
Il croit voir quelque chose
Mais il dit Ce n’est rien
Et il avait raison
Avec sa raison sans nul doute
Ce n’était rien
Mais le matin ce même matin
Il croit entendre quelqu’un
Et il ouvrit la porte
Et il la referma en disant Personne
Et il avait raison
Avec sa raison sans nul doute
Il n’y avait personne
Mais soudain il eut peur
Et il comprit qu’il était seul
Mais qu’il n’était pas tout seul
Et c’est alors qu’il vit
Rien en personne devant lui.

(Jacques Prevert)

On traveling

orbis terrarum liber est, et illi qui non commeant modo unam paginam legunt

La sagesse des nations

Minerva pleure
sa dent da sagesse pousse
et la guerre recommence sans cesse

(Jacques Prevert)

Ἀπολογία Σωκράτους

(Originally started writing this in January 2010, now returning to it in July 2011… have to stop being so lazy)

For starters, for Greek learning… Link to original.

ὅτι μὲν ὑμεῖς, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, πεπόνθατε ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν κατηγόρων, οὐκ οἶδα· ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὀλίγου ἐμαυτοῦ ἐπελαθόμην, οὕτω πιθανῶς ἔλεγον. καίτοι ἀληθές γε ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν οὐδὲν εἰρήκασιν. μάλιστα δὲ αὐτῶν ἓν ἐθαύμασα τῶν πολλῶν ὧν ἐψεύσαντο, τοῦτο ἐν ᾧ ἔλεγον ὡς χρῆν ὑμᾶς εὐλαβεῖσθαι μὴ ὑπ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐξαπατηθῆτε

Then same with alphabet, my amateurish attempt:

ὅτι μὲν ὑμεῖς, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, πεπόνθατε ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν κατηγόρων, οὐκ οἶδα·
Hoti men hymeis, oo andres Athenaioi, peponthate hypo toon emoon kategoroon, ouk oida.

ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὀλίγου ἐμαυτοῦ ἐπελαθόμην, οὕτω πιθανῶς ἔλεγον.
egoo d’ oun kai aytos hyp’ aytoon oligou emaytou epelathomen, oytoo pithanoos elegon.

καίτοι ἀληθές γε ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν οὐδὲν εἰρήκασιν.
kaitoi alethes ge hoos epos eipein ouden eirekasin.

μάλιστα δὲ αὐτῶν ἓν ἐθαύμασα τῶν πολλῶν ὧν ἐψεύσαντο, τοῦτο ἐν ᾧ ἔλεγον ὡς χρῆν ὑμᾶς εὐλαβεῖσθαι μὴ ὑπ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐξαπατηθῆτε
malista de aytoon hen ethaymasa toon polloon hoon epseysanto, toyto en hoo elegon hoos khren hymas eylabeisthai me hyp’ emou exapatethete.

And once more, with word for word translation and comments:

ὅτι μὲν ὑμεῖς, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, [πεπόνθατε] ὑπὸ [τῶν] ἐμῶν κατηγόρων, οὐκ [οἶδα]·
That while ye, o men Athenians, [you have suffered] in [of the] mine prosecutors, not [i know].
Hoti men hymeis, oo andres Athenaioi, peponthate hypo toon emoon kategoroon, ouk oida.

ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὀλίγου ἐμαυτοῦ ἐπελαθόμην, [οὕτω] πιθανῶς [ἔλεγον].
I d? then and himself in these just/only myself forget, [and so] probably/believably [they spoke].
egoo d’ oun kai aytos hyp’ aytoon oligou emaytou epelathomen, oytoo pithanoos elegon.

καίτοι ἀληθές γε ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν οὐδὲν [εἰρήκασιν].
though truth/true ! (Wikipedia: γε generally follows the word it affects, but may follow the word’s definite article, or an attached preposition. It may also attach to other particles, with a mild intensifying effect) as epos/saga said nothing [they have said].
kaitoi alethes ge hoos epos eipein ouden eirekasin.

μάλιστα δὲ αὐτῶν ἓν [ἐθαύμασα] ( ) τῶν πολλῶν ( ) ὧν ἐψεύσαντο, [τοῦτο ἐν] ᾧ ( ) [ἔλεγον] ὡς χρῆν ὑμᾶς εὐλαβεῖσθαι [μὴ] ὑπ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐξαπατηθῆτε
yes but these this [made me wonder} (θαύμ=wonder, ἐθαύμασα=the aorist active form) of the many (πολλῶν=many, οἱ πολλοί=hoi polloi=the many, the majority) whom falsehoods? (ψεύδω=lies), [so that] not (ᾧ is dative singular of ὅς=not) [they said] guard? yourself diligently [to not] in me deceived.
malista de aytoon hen ethaymasa toon polloon hoon epseysanto, toyto en hoo elegon hoos khren hymas eylabeisthai me hyp’ emou exapatethete.

My attempt at translation; corrections and comments are welcome:

What you, o Athenian men, have felt from my prosecutors, I do not know. I almost forgot myself, so believably they spoke. Though there is no truth in the words they spoke. But I wonder most, of their many falsehoods, that you should guard yourselves against deception by me.

ὅτι μὲν ὑμεῖς, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, πεπόνθατε ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν κατηγόρων, οὐκ οἶδα· ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὀλίγου ἐμαυτοῦ ἐπελαθόμην, οὕτω πιθανῶς ἔλεγον. καίτοι ἀληθές γε ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν οὐδὲν εἰρήκασιν. μάλιστα δὲ αὐτῶν ἓν ἐθαύμασα τῶν πολλῶν ὧν ἐψεύσαντο, τοῦτο ἐν ᾧ ἔλεγον ὡς χρῆν ὑμᾶς εὐλαβεῖσθαι μὴ ὑπ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἐξαπατηθῆτε.

Yao Yue: Last chapter of the Analects of Confucius

Two great sources for reading the work:
Chinese Text Project and Zhongwen.com

堯曰：“咨！爾舜！天之曆數在爾躬。允執其中。四海困窮，天祿永終。”舜亦以命禹。曰：“予小子履，敢用玄牡，敢昭告于皇皇后帝：有罪不敢赦。帝臣不蔽，簡在帝心。朕躬有罪，無以萬方；萬方有罪，罪在朕躬。”周有大賚，善人是富。“雖有周親，不如仁人。百姓有過，在予一人。”謹權量，審法度，修廢官，四方之政行焉。興滅國，繼絕世，舉逸民，天下之民歸心焉。所重：民、食、喪、祭。寬則得眾，信則民任焉，敏則有功，公則說。子張問於孔子曰：“何如斯可以從政矣？” 子曰：“尊五美，屏四惡，斯可以從政矣。” 子張曰：“何謂五美？”子曰：“君子惠而不費，勞而不怨，欲而不貪，泰而不驕，威而不猛。”子張曰：“何謂惠而不費？” 子曰：“因民之所利而利之，斯不亦惠而不費乎？擇可勞而勞之，又誰怨？欲仁而得仁，又焉貪？君子無眾寡，無小大，無敢慢，斯不亦泰而不驕乎？君子正其衣冠，尊其瞻視，儼然人望而畏之，斯不亦威而不猛乎？”子張曰：“何謂四惡？” 子曰：“不教而殺謂之虐；不戒視成謂之暴；慢令致期謂之賊；猶之與人也，出納之吝，謂之有司。” 子曰：“不知命，無以為君子也。不知禮，無以立也。不知言，無以知人也。”

My translation of the first few lines (this is taking some time…)

堯曰：“咨！爾舜！天之曆數在爾躬。允執其中。四海困窮，天祿永終。”

Yao yue: Zi! Er Shun! Tian zhi li shu zai er gong(shen). Yun zhe qi zhong. Si hai kun qiong, tian lu yong zhong.

(Ancient King) Yao said: I ask of you (Yao’s successor King) Shun! The calendar and numbers of the world now depend on you. Keep the great balance. If (the lands and people surrounded by) the four seas are in poverty, the heavenly payments
(payments to the kings) will cease forever.

舜亦以命禹。曰：“予小子履，敢用玄牡，敢昭告于皇皇后帝：
有罪不敢赦。帝臣不蔽，簡在帝心。朕躬有罪，無以萬方；萬方有罪，罪在朕躬。”

Shun yi yi ming Yu. Yue: Yu xiao zi lv, gan yong xuan mu, gan zhao gao yu huang huang hou di:
you zui bu gan she. Di chen bu bi, jian zai di xin. Zhen gong/shen you zui, wu yi wan fang; wan fang you zui,
zui zai zhen gong/shen.

(Ancient King) Shun was nominating (his successor King) Yu. He said: I, child of Lv, will make an offering of a black ox,
and I will respectfully tell the great King: sins shall not be hidden. The King and Ministers don’t hide (things from each
other), all is known to the King. If We (majestic 1st person) have sin, it is not because of the multitude
(i.e. the King’s subjects); if the multitude have sin, the sin is Our’s.

New pastime in China: Bed Jumping

Original news and machine translation.

Cao Cao’s tomb found?

They say Cao Cao’s tomb has been found in Henan Province.

Learning Chinese characters (Hanzi)

窑 yao2
酿 niang4
允 yun3
执 zhi2
穷 qiong2
禄 lu4
禹 yu3
履 lü3
玄 xuan2
牡 mu3
昭 zhao1
赦 she4
蔽 bi4
谨 jin3
审 shen3
逸 yi4
斯 si1
尊 zun1
并 bing3 ping2
怨 yuan4
泰 tai4
择 ze2
众 zhong4
寡 gua3
瞻 zhan1
俨 yan3
贼 zei2
犹 you2
与 yu3 yu4
纳 na4
吝 lin4

Come alive in 2010

Don’t ask yourself the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

China’s richest man makes cars and batteries

Reading about Wang Chuanfu, the founder of BYD company making cars, batteries etc. whose HQ is located in Shenzhen Longgang district. This is the book.

Some vocab in Chinese…

Nickel-cadmium batteries = 镍镉电池
Nickel-metal hybride batteries (NiMH) = 镍氢电池
Lithium ion batteries = 锂离子电池

And how batteries work.

Henry Miller on writing (from Sexus)

Traditions invented

Read an interesting book on the topic. “Many practices which are considered traditional are in fact quite recent inventions, often deliberately constructed to serve particular ideological ends.”