語句解説

Yuan Shao is Cao Cao's terror. He is strongly posted in an extensive territory of four regions---Jizhou, Qingzhou, Youzhou, and Bingzhou
曹操が恐れるのは冀州、青州、幽州、並州の四州に今日だな勢力を築いている袁紹です。
with one million fighting soldiers and numerous able officers.
袁紹の軍勢は100万を数え、有能な士も数多く配下にございます。
But we have never had any dealings with each other, and he is unlikely to do such a thing for a person who has just destroyed his brother
とはいっても、袁紹とはまったくつながりがないし、弟の袁術を滅ばしたこの私に力を貸してくれるのだろうか。
There is someone here whose family have been on intimate terms with the Yuans for a hundred years. Yuan Shao would surely come, if he wrote
徐州の地に、袁家と百年近く親しく交流がある人物がおります。その人物に手紙を書かせれば袁術も動きましょう
You surely mean Zheng Xuan
それは鄭玄先生のことではないか
Now Zheng Xuan was a student and a man of great talent, who had long studied under the famed teacher Ma Rong, whose knowledge of the Book of Odes was universally recognized.
その当時、鄭玄は詩経の博識で有名な馬融のもとで長い間学んでいた、有能な学生であった。
Whenever Ma Rong lectured, he let fall a curtain behind which were a circle of singing girls.
馬融は講義をする際、常に歌い娘が集まっているところに幕をしておいたのであった。
Zheng Xuan attended these lectures for three years and never once let his eyes wander to the curtain
鄭玄は3年間、馬融の講義を聞いていたが、その間一度も幕の方向へ目をそらそうとはしなかった。
Only one man has penetrated the inner meaning of my instructions, and that one is Zheng Xuan.
わしの教えの奥義を究めたのは鄭玄ただ一人じゃ。
Once one of the maids opposed Zheng Xuan's wishes, so as punishment she was made to kneel in front of the steps. Another girl made fun of her, quoting from an ode:
下女の中で鄭玄に逆らうものがいると、罰として階段の前で座らされたのだが、他の下女はそれを見て詩経を引用し、次のように歌う
"What are you doing there in the mire?"
「胡為乎泥中」
（為んすれど、泥の中においてする）
That was but a simple word I said,
Yet brought it wrath upon my head
「薄言往愬逢彼怒」
（いささか言（われ）、往きて愬（うった）えしが彼の怒に逢（あ）えり）
In the reign of the Emperor Huan, he rose to the rank of Chair of the Secretariat.
桓公の時代には、尚書の位にまで登りつめたが
But when the Ten Eunuchs began to control the government, he gave up office and retired into the country to Xuzhou
十常侍が権勢を振るうようになると、官職を辞し、徐州にて隠居生活を始めたのだった
Liu Bei had known him before, had consulted him on many occasions, and greatly respected him.
劉備とは多くの場で意見をうかがうなど「旧知の仲ではあった。
without loss of time, in company with Chen Deng, he went to Zheng Xuan's house to ask him to draft this letter, which Zheng Xuan generously consented to do.
それを聞くと直ちに陳登を伴って鄭玄の家を訪ね、書簡を書くことを依頼したが鄭玄は快く引き受けたのであった。
Liu Bei destroyed my brother, and I ought not to help him, but out of consideration for the writer of this letter I must."
劉備はわしの弟を滅ぼした憎きやつで本来は援助すべきではないが鄭玄先生の手紙もあるし、考えてみるべきかもしれん。

Thereupon Yuan Shao assembled his officers to consider an attack upon Cao Cao.
そうしたわけで、袁紹は官吏を一堂に集め曹操討伐の協議をした。