Bearing and Appearance世説新語 容止第十四
1The man who held the sword at the head of the couch — he is the true hero
魏武將見匈奴使，自以形陋，不足雄遠國，使崔季珪代，帝自捉刀立床頭。既畢，令間諜問曰：「魏王何如？」匈奴使答曰：「魏王雅望非常，然床頭捉刀人，此乃英雄也。」魏武聞之，追殺此使。
When Emperor Wu of Wei was about to receive an envoy of the Xiongnu, he thought his own form too mean to look imposing to a distant country, so he had Cui Jigui stand in his place, while the ruler himself took up a sword and stood at the head of the couch.
When it was over he sent a spy to ask, "What is the King of Wei like?"
The Xiongnu envoy answered, "The King of Wei has an elegant air beyond the common. But the man who held the sword at the head of the couch — he is the true hero."
Emperor Wu of Wei heard this and sent after the envoy and killed him.
Interlinear notes 2
《魏氏春秋》曰：「武王姿貌短小，而神明英發。」
The Weishi chunqiu says, "King Wu's bearing and looks were short and small, but his spirit and understanding shone forth in flower."
《魏志》曰：「崔琰字季珪，清河東武城人。聲姿高暢，眉目疏朗，鬚長四尺，甚有威重。」
The Wei zhi says, "Cui Yan's courtesy name was Jigui; he was a man of Dongwucheng in Qinghe. His voice and bearing were lofty and free, his brows and eyes were open and clear, and his beard was four chi long, and he had great dignity and weight."
2He wiped himself with a red robe, and his color turned whiter still
何平叔美姿儀，面至白，魏明帝疑其傅粉；正夏月，與熱湯餅。既噉，大汗出，以朱衣自拭，色轉皎然。
He Pingshu was beautiful in bearing and manner, and his face was extremely white, so Emperor Ming of Wei suspected that he powdered it.
It was just the summer season, and the emperor gave him hot noodle soup. When he had eaten it a great sweat broke out, and he wiped himself with his red robe, and his color turned whiter still.
Interlinear notes 1
《魏略》曰：「晏性自喜，動靜粉帛不去手，行步顧影。」按：此言，則晏之妖麗，本資外飾。且晏養自宮中，與帝相長，豈復疑其形姿，待騐而明也。
The Wei lüe says, "Yan's nature was pleased with itself; moving or at rest, powder and silk never left his hand, and at every step he looked back at his shadow." Consider: by these words, then, Yan's bewitching beauty was founded in outward adornment. Moreover Yan was raised in the palace and grew up beside the ruler. How then should the ruler have doubted his form and bearing and waited for a test to make it plain?
3Like reeds leaning on a tree of jade
魏明帝使后弟毛曾與夏侯玄共坐，時人謂「蒹葭倚玉樹」。
Emperor Ming of Wei had Mao Zeng, the younger brother of the empress, sit together with Xiahou Xuan, and men of the time called it "reeds leaning on a tree of jade."
Interlinear notes 1
《魏志》曰：「玄為黃門侍郎，與毛曾並坐。玄甚恥之，曾說形於色。明帝恨之，左遷玄為羽林監。」
The Wei zhi says, "Xuan was Gentleman Attendant of the Yellow Gate, and he sat side by side with Mao Zeng. Xuan was deeply ashamed of it, and Zeng's delight showed in his face. Emperor Ming resented this and demoted Xuan to be Inspector of the Feathered Forest."
4Xiahou Taichu is bright as the sun and moon entering the bosom
時人目「夏侯太初朗朗如日月之入懷，李安國頹唐如玉山之將崩」。
Men of the time appraised them. "Xiahou Taichu is bright as the sun and moon entering the bosom; Li Anguo is crumbling as a mountain of jade about to fall."
Interlinear notes 1
《魏略》曰：「李豐字安國，衛尉李義子也。識別人物，海內注意。明帝得吳降人，問江東聞中國名士為誰？以安國對之。是時豐為黃門郎，改名宣。上問安國所在？左右公卿即具以豐對。上曰：『豐名乃被於吳、越邪？』仕至中書令，為晉王所誅。」
The Wei lüe says, "Li Feng's courtesy name was Anguo; he was the son of Li Yi, Commandant of the Guards. He knew and told men apart, and all within the seas gave him their attention. Emperor Ming got a man who had surrendered from Wu and asked him whom he had heard named in Jiangdong as a famous gentleman of the Central State, and he answered with Anguo. At that time Feng was Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, and he had changed his name to Xuan. The ruler asked where Anguo was, and the nobles and ministers about him at once answered with Feng. The ruler said, 'Has Feng's name then reached as far as Wu and Yue?' In office he reached Director of the Secretariat, and he was put to death by the Prince of Jin."
5Towering as a rock, like a lone pine standing by itself
嵇康身長七尺八寸，風姿特秀。見者嘆曰：「蕭蕭肅肅，爽朗清舉。」或云：「肅肅如松下風，高而徐引。」山公曰：「嵇叔夜之為人也，巖巖若孤松之獨立；其醉也，傀俄若玉山之將崩。」
Ji Kang was seven chi eight cun tall, and his air and bearing were outstandingly fine.
Those who saw him sighed. "Rustling and solemn, bracing and bright, he rises pure."
Another said, "Solemn as the wind beneath the pines, lofty and yet slow in its drawing."
Lord Shan said, "Ji Shuye as a man is towering as a rock, like a lone pine standing by itself; and when he is drunk he tilts as if he would topple, like a mountain of jade about to fall."
Interlinear notes 1
《康別傳》曰：「康長七尺八寸，偉容色，土木形骸，不加飾厲，而龍章鳳姿，天質自然。正爾在群形之中，便自知非常之器。」
The Kang biezhuan says, "Kang was seven chi eight cun tall, and his looks and color were splendid. His frame was like earth and wood, and he added no adornment or polish to it, yet the dragon's pattern and the phoenix's bearing were his by heaven's own stuff, of themselves. Standing just so among the crowd of forms, one knew at once that he was a vessel beyond the common."
6His eyes blaze and flash like lightning beneath a crag
裴令公目王安豐：「眼爛爛如巖下電。」
Director Pei appraised Wang Anfeng. "His eyes blaze and flash like lightning beneath a crag."
Interlinear notes 1
王戎形狀短小，而目甚清炤，視日不眩。
Wang Rong's shape and figure were short and small, but his eyes shone very clear, and he could look at the sun without being dazzled.
7Zuo Taichong copied him and got a shower of spittle from a crowd of old women
潘岳妙有姿容，好神情。少時挾彈出洛陽道，婦人遇者，莫不連手共縈之。左太沖絕醜，亦復效岳遊遨，於是群嫗齊共亂唾之，委頓而返。
Pan Yue was wonderfully fair in bearing and looks, and his spirit and feeling were fine.
When he was young he would go out on the Luoyang road with a pellet bow under his arm, and there was no woman who met him who did not join hands with the others and ring him round.
Zuo Taichong was extremely ugly, and he too copied Yue and went roaming. At this a crowd of old women all together spat at him in confusion, and he came back worn out and broken.
Interlinear notes 3
《岳別傳》曰：「岳姿容甚美，風儀閒暢。」
The Yue biezhuan says, "Yue's bearing and looks were very beautiful, and his air and manner were easy and free."
《續文章志》曰：「思貌醜悴，不持儀飾。」
The Xu wenzhang zhi says, "Si's looks were ugly and haggard, and he kept no manner or adornment."
《語林》曰：「安仁至美，每行，老嫗以果擲之，滿車。張孟陽至醜，每行，小兒以瓦石投之，亦滿車。」二說不同。
The Yulin says, "Anren was extremely beautiful, and every time he went out old women pelted him with fruit until his carriage was full. Zhang Mengyang was extremely ugly, and every time he went out little boys threw tiles and stones at him until his carriage too was full." The two accounts do not agree.
8The white jade handle of his chowry could not be told from his hand at all
王夷甫容貌整麗，妙於談玄；恆捉白玉柄麈尾，與手都無分別。
Wang Yifu's looks and bearing were trim and fair, and he was wonderful at talking of the dark and deep. He always held a chowry with a white jade handle, and it could not be told from his hand at all.
9Pan Anren and Xiahou Zhan were called linked jade discs
潘安仁、夏侯湛並有美容，喜同行，時人謂之「連璧」。
Pan Anren and Xiahou Zhan both had beautiful looks and liked to go about together, and men of the time called them "linked jade discs."
Interlinear notes 1
《八王故事》曰：「岳與湛著契，故好同遊。」
The Bawang gushi says, "Yue and Zhan had made a bond, and so they liked to roam together."
10His two pupils flash and glitter like lightning beneath a crag
裴令公有儁容姿，一旦有疾至困，惠帝使王夷甫往看，裴方向壁臥，聞王使至，強回視之。王出語人曰：「雙眸閃閃，若巖下電，精神挺動，體中故小惡。」
Director Pei had outstanding looks and bearing, and one morning he fell ill and came to be worn down.
Emperor Hui sent Wang Yifu to go and see him. Pei was just then lying with his face to the wall, and when he heard that Wang's errand had come he forced himself to turn and look at him.
Wang came out and said to others, "His two pupils flash and glitter like lightning beneath a crag, and his spirit stirs with a rare force. It is only inwardly that his body is a little ill."
Interlinear notes 1
《名士傳》曰：「楷病困，詔遣黃門郎王夷甫省之，楷回眸屬夷甫云：『竟未相識。』夷甫還，亦歎其神俊。」
The Mingshi zhuan says, "When Kai was ill and worn down, an edict sent the Gentleman of the Yellow Gate Wang Yifu to look in on him. Kai turned his pupils and fixed them on Yifu, saying, 'In the end we never came to know each other.' When Yifu returned he too sighed at the fineness of his spirit."
11You have only not seen his father
有人語王戎曰：「嵇延祖卓卓如野鶴之在雞群。」答曰：「君未見其父耳！」
Someone said to Wang Rong, "Ji Yanzu stands out like a wild crane among a flock of chickens."
He answered, "You have only not seen his father."
Interlinear notes 1
康已見上。
Kang has appeared above.
12To see Pei Shuze is like walking on a mountain of jade, its light shining back and lighting up a man
裴令公有儁容儀，脫冠冕，麤服亂頭皆好。時人以為「玉人」。見者曰：「見裴叔則如玉山上行，光映照人。」
Director Pei had outstanding looks and manner, and even with cap and coronet off, in coarse clothes and with his hair loose, he was fine in every way. Men of the time called him "the man of jade."
One who saw him said, "To see Pei Shuze is like walking on a mountain of jade, its light shining back and lighting up a man."
13A frame of earth and wood
劉伶身長六尺，貌甚醜顇，而悠悠忽忽，土木形骸。
Liu Ling was six chi tall, and his looks were very ugly and haggard, yet he was far off and careless, a frame of earth and wood.
Interlinear notes 1
梁祚《魏國統》曰：「劉伶，字伯倫，形貌醜陋，身長六尺；然肆意放蕩，悠焉獨暢。自得一時，常以宇宙為狹。」
Liang Zuo's Wei guo tong says, "Liu Ling's courtesy name was Bolun; his form and looks were ugly and mean, and he was six chi tall. Yet he gave rein to his will and was loose and unbound, far off and free alone. He took his own way for a time, and always thought the universe narrow."
14With pearl and jade at my side I feel the foulness of my own shape
驃騎王武子，是衛玠之舅，雋爽有風姿；見玠，輒嘆曰：「珠玉在側，覺我形穢！」
Wang Wuzi, General of Agile Cavalry, was Wei Jie's maternal uncle. He was outstanding and bracing and had air and bearing.
Whenever he saw Jie he would sigh. "With pearl and jade at my side I feel the foulness of my own shape."
Interlinear notes 1
《玠別傳》曰：「驃騎王濟，玠之舅也。嘗與同遊，語人曰：『昨日吾與外生共坐，若明珠之在側，朗然來照人。』」
The Jie biezhuan says, "Wang Ji, General of Agile Cavalry, was Jie's maternal uncle. He once roamed with him and said to others, 'Yesterday I sat with my sister's son, and it was as if a bright pearl were at my side, shining clear and coming to light up a man.'"
15On today's outing everything my eye touched was fine pearl and jade
有人詣王太尉，遇安豐、大將軍、丞相在坐；往別屋，見季胤、平子。還，語人曰：「今日之行，觸目見琳琅珠玉。」
Someone called on Grand Commandant Wang, and it happened that Anfeng, the Grand General, and the Prime Minister were sitting there.
He went to another room and saw Jiyin and Pingzi.
He came back and said to others, "On today's outing everything my eye touched was fine pearl and jade."
Interlinear notes 1
石崇《金谷詩敘》曰：「王詡字季胤，琅邪人。」《王氏譜》曰：「詡，夷甫弟也，仕至脩武令。」
Shi Chong's Jingu shi xu says, "Wang Xu's courtesy name was Jiyin; he was a man of Langye." The Wangshi pu says, "Xu was Yifu's younger brother, and in office he reached magistrate of Xiuwu."
16As if he could not bear even gauze and silk
王丞相見衛洗馬曰：「居然有羸形，雖復終日調暢，若不堪羅綺。」
Prime Minister Wang saw Wei, the Aide to the Crown Prince, and said, "There is a wasted look about him just so, and though he is smooth and free the whole day long, it is as if he could not bear even gauze and silk."
Interlinear notes 1
《玠別傳》曰：「玠素抱羸疾。」《西京賦》曰：「始徐進而羸形，似不勝乎羅綺。」
The Jie biezhuan says, "Jie had always borne a wasting sickness." The Xijing fu says, "At first she came forward slowly, with a wasted form, as if she could not bear the gauze and silk."
17Set among a crowd of men he is like pearl and jade among tiles and stones
王大將軍稱太尉：「處眾人中，似珠玉在瓦石間。」
Wang the Grand General praised the Grand Commandant. "Set among a crowd of men he is like pearl and jade among tiles and stones."
18He was not a full seven chi tall, and his belt was ten spans round
庾子嵩長不滿七尺，腰帶十圍，頹然自放。
Yu Zisong was not a full seven chi tall, and his belt was ten spans round, and he let himself go as if crumbling.
19Wei Jie, looked to death
衛玠從豫章至下都，人久聞其名，觀者如堵牆。玠先有羸疾，體不堪勞，遂成病而死。時人謂「看殺衛玠」。
When Wei Jie came from Yuzhang to the capital, men had long heard his name, and those who came to look at him stood like a wall.
Jie had had a wasting sickness before, and his body could not bear the toil, so it turned to illness and he died.
Men of the time called it "Wei Jie, looked to death."
Interlinear notes 1
《玠別傳》曰：「玠在群伍之中，寔有異人之望。齠齔時，乘白羊車於洛陽市上，咸曰：『誰家璧人？』於是家門州黨號為『璧人』。」按《永嘉流人名》曰：「玠以永嘉六年五月六日至豫章，其年六月二十日卒。」此則玠之南度豫章四十五日，豈暇至下都而亡乎？且諸書皆云玠亡在豫章，而不云在下都也。
The Jie biezhuan says, "Set even among a company, Jie truly had the look of a man apart. When he was shedding his milk teeth he rode in a white sheep carriage in the market at Luoyang, and all said, 'Whose house has this man of jade?' At this his household, his province, and his village called him 'the man of jade.'" Consider: the Yongjia liuren ming says, "Jie came to Yuzhang on the sixth day of the fifth month of the sixth year of Yongjia, and died on the twentieth day of the sixth month of that year." If so, then Jie had crossed south to Yuzhang only forty-five days before. How could he have had leisure to reach the capital and die there? Moreover all the books say that Jie died at Yuzhang, and none says at the capital.
20Craggy and steep and free, a man to make one laugh
周伯仁道桓茂倫：「嶔崎歷落可笑人。」或云謝幼輿言。
Zhou Boren spoke of Huan Maolun. "Craggy and steep and free, a man to make one laugh."
Some say these were Xie Youyu's words.
21Keep him and use him, and he could be made into a good many things
周侯說王長史父：形貌既偉，雅懷有概，保而用之，可作諸許物也。
Marquis Zhou spoke of the father of Chief Clerk Wang: his form and looks were already splendid, and there was a largeness in his elegant heart, so that if one kept him and used him he could be made into a good many things.
Interlinear notes 1
《王氏譜》曰：「訥字文開，太原人。祖默，尚書。父祜，散騎常侍。訥始過江，仕至新淦令。」
The Wangshi pu says, "Ne's courtesy name was Wenkai; he was a man of Taiyuan. His grandfather Mo was of the Department of State Affairs, and his father Hu was Cavalier Attendant. Ne first crossed the river, and in office he reached magistrate of Xingan."
22This man has the look of one who will stand beneath the banner staff
祖士少見衛君長云：「此人有旄仗下形。」
Zu Shishao saw Wei Junzhang and said, "This man has the look of one who will stand beneath the banner staff."
23I know the creek dog well; you have only to see him
石頭事故，朝廷傾覆。溫忠武與庾文康投陶公求救，陶公云：「肅祖顧命不見及，且蘇峻作亂，釁由諸庾，誅其兄弟，不足以謝天下。」于時庾在溫船後聞之，憂怖無計。別日，溫勸庾見陶，庾猶豫未能往，溫曰：「溪狗我所悉，卿但見之，必無憂也！」庾風姿神貌，陶一見便改觀。談宴竟日，愛重頓至。
In the trouble at Shitou the court was overthrown.
Wen Zhongwu went with Yu Wenkang to Lord Tao to beg for rescue, and Lord Tao said, "Suzu's dying charge did not reach me. Besides, when Su Jun raised his revolt the breach came from the Yu family, and to put his brothers to death would not be enough to apologize to the world."
At this time Yu was behind Wen's boat and heard it, and he was anxious and afraid and at a loss.
Another day Wen urged Yu to see Lord Tao, but Yu wavered and could not go.
Wen said, "I know the creek dog well; you have only to see him, and there will surely be nothing to fear."
At Yu's air and bearing, his spirit and looks, Lord Tao changed his view the moment he saw him. They talked and feasted the whole day, and his love and regard for him grew at once to the full.
Interlinear notes 2
《晉陽秋》曰：「蘇峻自姑孰至于石頭，逼遷天子。峻以倉屋為宮，使人守衛。」《靈鬼志謠徵》曰：「明帝末有謠歌：『側側力，放馬出山側。大馬死，小馬餓。』後峻遷帝於石頭，御膳不具。」
The Jin yangqiu says, "Su Jun came from Gushu to Shitou and forced the Son of Heaven to move. Jun made a granary building into the palace and set men to guard it." The Lingguizhi yaozheng says, "At the end of Emperor Ming's reign there was a ballad: 'Chill, chill, and strong; the horses are let out to the side of the hill. The great horse dies, the small horse starves.' Later Jun moved the ruler to Shitou, and the ruler's table was not furnished."
徐廣《晉紀》曰：「肅祖遺詔，庾亮、王導輔幼主而進大臣官，陶侃、祖約不在其例。侃、約疑亮寢遺詔也。」《中興書》曰：「初，庾亮欲徵蘇峻，卞壼不許。溫嶠及三吳欲起兵衛帝室，亮不聽，下制曰：『妄起兵者誅！』故峻得作亂京邑也。」
Xu Guang's Jin ji says, "By Suzu's last edict Yu Liang and Wang Dao were to aid the young ruler and to advance the offices of the great ministers, and Tao Kan and Zu Yue were not in that list. Kan and Yue suspected that Liang had suppressed the last edict." The Zhongxing shu says, "At first Yu Liang wished to summon Su Jun, but Bian Kun would not allow it. Wen Jiao and the Three Wu wished to raise troops to guard the ruler's house, but Liang would not listen, and sent down an order: 'Whoever rashly raises troops will be put to death.' So Jun was able to make his revolt in the capital."
24Only the hills and valleys are left him still
庾太尉在武昌，秋夜氣佳景清，使吏殷浩、王胡之之徒登南樓理詠。音調始遒，聞函道中有屐聲甚厲，定是庾公。俄而率左右十許人步來，諸賢欲起避之。公徐云：「諸君少住，老子於此處興復不淺！」因便據胡床，與諸人詠謔，竟坐甚得任樂。後王逸少下，與丞相言及此事。丞相曰：「元規爾時風範，不得不小穨。」右軍答曰：「唯丘壑獨存。」
When Grand Commandant Yu was at Wuchang, on an autumn night the air was fine and the scene was clear.
He had his clerks Yin Hao, Wang Huzhi, and the rest go up on the south tower and set out their chants.
Their sound and tune were just growing strong when a clatter of clogs was heard in the stairway passage, very sharp, and it was surely Lord Yu.
Presently he came walking up leading some ten men of his suite, and the worthies made to rise and get out of his way.
The lord said slowly, "Stay a little, gentlemen. The old fellow's pleasure in this place is not shallow either."
Thereupon he sat astride a folding stool and chanted and joked with them all, and in the end the whole company could give itself over to enjoyment.
Later, when Wang Yishao had come down, he spoke of this affair with the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said, "Yuangui's air and model must have crumbled a little at that time."
The General of the Right answered, "Only the hills and valleys are left him still."
Interlinear notes 1
孫綽《庾亮碑文》曰：「公雅好所託，常在塵垢之外。雖柔心應世，蠖屈其跡，而方寸湛然，固以玄對山水。」
Sun Chuo's inscription for Yu Liang says, "The lord had an elegant liking for what he attached himself to, and was always outside dust and grime. Though with a yielding heart he answered to the world and bent his track like a measuring worm, the inch of his heart was still and clear, and from the first he faced hills and streams with the dark and deep."
25It is a pity, my boy, that your talents do not match it
王敬豫有美形，問訊王公。王公撫其肩曰：「阿奴恨才不稱！」又云：「敬豫事事似王公。」
Wang Jingyu had a beautiful form, and he came to pay his respects to Lord Wang.
Lord Wang stroked his shoulder and said, "It is a pity, my boy, that your talents do not match it."
He also said, "Jingyu is like Lord Wang in every thing."
Interlinear notes 1
《語林》曰：「謝公云：『小時在殿廷會見丞相，便覺清風來拂人。』」
The Yulin says, "Lord Xie said, 'When I was small I saw the Prime Minister at a gathering in the palace courtyard, and at once I felt a clear wind come and brush over me.'"
26His face is like congealed fat and his eyes like dotted lacquer; this is a man from among the immortals
王右軍見杜弘治，嘆曰：「面如凝脂，眼如點漆，此神仙中人！」時人有稱王長史形者，蔡公曰：「恨諸人不見杜弘治耳！」
The General of the Right, Wang, saw Du Hongzhi and sighed. "His face is like congealed fat and his eyes like dotted lacquer. This is a man from among the immortals."
There was one among the men of the time who praised the form of Chief Clerk Wang, and Lord Cai said, "It is a pity that these men never saw Du Hongzhi."
Interlinear notes 1
《江左名士傳》曰：「永和中，劉真長、謝仁祖共商略中朝人士。或曰：『杜弘治清標令上，為後來之美，又面如凝脂，眼如點漆，粗可得方諸衛玠。』」
The Jiangzuo mingshi zhuan says, "In the Yonghe years Liu Zhenchang and Xie Renzu together weighed and appraised the gentlemen of the Central Court. Someone said, 'Du Hongzhi is clear in his mark and fine and high, and is the beauty of those who came after; moreover his face is like congealed fat and his eyes like dotted lacquer, so that roughly he may be set beside Wei Jie.'"
27His side-locks are like a hedgehog's hide turned back and his brows like the edge of purple stone
劉尹道桓公：鬢如反猬皮，眉如紫石稜，自是孫仲謀、司馬宣王一流人。
Governor Liu spoke of Lord Huan: his side-locks were like a hedgehog's hide turned back and his brows like the edge of purple stone, so that he was of himself a man of the same stamp as Sun Zhongmou and Prince Xuan of the Sima.
Interlinear notes 1
宋明帝《文章志》曰：「溫為溫嶠所賞，故名溫。」《吳志》曰：「孫權字仲謀，策弟也。漢使者劉琬語人曰：『吾觀孫氏兄弟，雖並有才秀明達，皆祿胙不終。唯中弟孝廉，形貌魁偉，骨體不恆，有大貴之表。』」《晉陽秋》曰：「宣王天姿傑邁，有英雄之略。」
Emperor Ming of Song's Wenzhang zhi says, "Wen was esteemed by Wen Jiao, and so he was named Wen." The Wu zhi says, "Sun Quan's courtesy name was Zhongmou; he was Ce's younger brother. The Han envoy Liu Wan said to others, 'When I look at the Sun brothers, though all of them have outstanding talent and bright understanding, none of them will see out his emolument and blessing. Only the middle brother, the filial and incorrupt one, is grand and splendid in form and looks, with a frame beyond the common, and has the marks of great nobility.'" The Jin yangqiu says, "Prince Xuan's heaven-given bearing was outstanding and far-reaching, and he had the plans of a hero."
28The big slave has of himself the phoenix feather after all
王敬倫風姿似父，作侍中，加授桓公，公服從大門入。桓公望之，曰：「大奴固自有鳳毛。」
Wang Jinglun's air and bearing were like his father's.
When he became Palace Attendant and was to confer added office on Lord Huan, he came in at the great gate in his official robes.
Lord Huan looked at him and said, "The big slave has of himself the phoenix feather after all."
Interlinear notes 1
大奴，王劭也。已見。《中興書》曰：「劭美姿容，持儀操也。」
The big slave is Wang Shao. He has appeared already. The Zhongxing shu says, "Shao's bearing and looks were beautiful, and he kept his manner and his principles."
29He gathers his collar and comes just once, and how lofty and free, how fair his carriage
林公道王長史：「斂衿作一來，何其軒軒韶舉！」
Lord Lin spoke of Chief Clerk Wang. "He gathers his collar and comes just once, and how lofty and free, how fair his carriage."
Interlinear notes 1
《語林》曰：「王仲祖有好儀形，每覽鏡自照，曰：『王文開那生如馨兒！』時人謂之達也。」
The Yulin says, "Wang Zhongzu had a fine manner and form, and every time he looked in the mirror at himself he said, 'How did Wang Wenkai ever beget such a boy!' Men of the time called him a man of understanding."
30He floats like a drifting cloud and rears like a startled dragon
時人目王右軍：「飄如遊雲，矯若驚龍。」
Men of the time appraised the General of the Right, Wang. "He floats like a drifting cloud and rears like a startled dragon."
31This must be Lord Lin
王長史嘗病，親疎不通。林公來，守門人遽啟之曰：「一異人在門，不敢不啟。」王笑曰：「此必林公。」
Chief Clerk Wang was once ill and let no one through, near or distant.
Lord Lin came, and the gatekeeper hurried in to announce him. "There is an extraordinary man at the gate, and I dared not fail to announce him."
Wang laughed and said, "This must be Lord Lin."
Interlinear notes 1
按《語林》曰：「諸人嘗要阮光祿共詣林公。阮曰：『欲聞其言，惡見其面。』」此則林公之形，信當醜異。
Consider: the Yulin says, "Several men once asked Ruan the Grand Master of Splendid Happiness to go with them to call on Lord Lin. Ruan said, 'I wish to hear his words, but I hate to see his face.'" If so, then Lord Lin's form must truly have been ugly and out of the common.
32He stretches his legs beneath the north window and plays the lute, and he has of himself the thought of a true man at the edge of heaven
或以方謝仁祖不乃重者。桓大司馬曰：「諸君莫輕道，仁祖企腳北窗下彈琵琶，故自有天際真人想。」
Someone matched Xie Renzu with another and did not think much of him.
Huan the Grand Marshal said, "Do not speak lightly, gentlemen. When Renzu stretches his legs beneath the north window and plays the lute, he has of himself the thought of a true man at the edge of heaven."
Interlinear notes 1
《晉陽秋》曰：「尚善音樂。」裴子云：「丞相嘗曰：『堅石挈腳枕琵琶，有天際想。』」堅石，尚小名。
The Jin yangqiu says, "Shang was good at music." The Pei zi says, "The Prime Minister once said, 'When Jianshi lifts his legs and pillows the lute, he has the thought of the edge of heaven.'" Jianshi was Shang's childhood name.
33This does not seem like a man of the world at all
王長史為中書郎，往敬和許。爾時積雪，長史從門外下車，步入尚書，著公服。敬和遙望，嘆曰：「此不復似世中人！」
Chief Clerk Wang had become Gentleman of the Secretariat and went to Jinghe's place.
At that time the snow lay deep, and the Chief Clerk got down from his carriage outside the gate and walked into the Imperial Secretariat wearing his official robes.
Jinghe looked at him from a distance and sighed. "This does not seem like a man of the world at all."
Interlinear notes 1
敬和，王洽已見。
Jinghe is Wang Qia. He has appeared already.
34When the Prince Chancellor gives his aid, he is of himself clear as a divine lord
簡文作相王時，與謝公共詣桓宣武。王珣先在內，桓語王：「卿嘗欲見相王，可住帳裏。」二客既去，桓謂王曰：「定何如？」王曰：「相王作輔，自然湛若神君，公亦萬夫之望。不然，僕射何得自沒？」
When Jianwen was Prince Chancellor, he went with Lord Xie to call on Huan Xuanwu.
Wang Xun was inside first, and Huan said to Wang, "You have long wanted to see the Prince Chancellor. You may stay behind the curtain."
When the two guests had gone, Huan said to Wang, "What is he really like?"
Wang said, "When the Prince Chancellor gives his aid, he is of himself clear as a divine lord. And you, my lord, are the hope of ten thousand men. If it were not so, how could the Vice Director have sunk himself out of sight?"
Interlinear notes 2
《續晉陽秋》曰：「帝美風姿，舉止端詳。」
The Xu Jin yangqiu says, "The ruler was beautiful in air and bearing, and his movements were correct and careful."
僕射，謝安。
The Vice Director is Xie An.
35Only when the Prince of Kuaiji came was he lofty and free, like the dawn glow rising
海西時，諸公每朝，朝堂猶暗；唯會稽王來，軒軒如朝霞舉。
In Haixi's time, whenever the lords came to court the hall of audience was still dark; only when the Prince of Kuaiji came was he lofty and free, like the dawn glow rising.
36He has only to sit respectfully, pinching his nose and glancing aside, and he has of himself the bearing of one who lies and dwells among hills and marshes
謝車騎道謝公：「遊肆復無乃高唱，但恭坐捻鼻顧睞，便自有寢處山澤閒儀。」
Xie, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, spoke of Lord Xie. "In his roaming and his freedom he chants aloud no more; he has only to sit respectfully, pinching his nose and glancing aside, and he has of himself the bearing of one who lies and dwells among hills and marshes."
37Look into Lord Lin's two eyes and they are dark, dark, brightly black
謝公云：「見林公雙眼，黯黯明黑。」孫興公見林公：「稜稜露其爽。」
Lord Xie said, "Look into Lord Lin's two eyes and they are dark, dark, brightly black."
Sun Xinggong saw Lord Lin and said, "Edged and angled, they show his briskness."
38The guests looked at his spirit and bearing and all at once drew back and hid
庾長仁與諸弟入吳，欲住亭中宿。諸弟先上，見群小滿屋，都無相避意。長仁曰：「我試觀之。」乃策杖將一小兒，始入門，諸客望其神姿，一時退匿。
Yu Zhangren went into Wu with his younger brothers and meant to lodge in a post pavilion.
The younger brothers went up first and saw a crowd of small men filling the room, with no mind at all to make way.
Zhangren said, "Let me try looking at them."
So he took his staff and led one small boy, and as soon as he came in at the gate the guests looked at his spirit and bearing and all at once drew back and hid.
Interlinear notes 1
長仁已見，一說是庾亮。
Zhangren has appeared already. One account says this was Yu Liang.
39Washed clean as a willow in a spring moon
有人嘆王恭形茂者，云：「濯濯如春月柳。」
Someone sighed at the luxuriance of Wang Gong's form and said, "Washed clean as a willow in a spring moon."