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The 24 Filial Exemplars (17)

Old man Lái 老莱子

17. HE AMUSED HIS PARENTS WITH PLAY AND GLAD CLOTHES

Old man Lái of the Zhōu dynasty was noted for his filial nature. He respectfully cared for his two parents, preparing them sweet and crispy foods. He was over seventy, but he never mentioned the word "old." He wore five-colored patterned clothes and played like a child before his parents; often he carried water into the room and would slip and fall, and then he would cry like a baby to amuse his parents. A verse says of him:
He plays and dances and pretends delicate nonsense;

The spring wind blows his colorful clothes;

His two parents throw open their mouths in laughter,

And their joy fills the hall..
十七、戏彩娱亲
周。老莱子至性孝。奉养二亲。备极甘脆。行年七十。言不称老。常着五彩斑斓之衣。为婴儿戏于亲侧。又常取水上堂。诈跌卧地。作婴儿啼以娱亲。有诗为颂。 诗曰
戏舞学骄痴。春风动彩衣。双亲开口笑。喜气满庭帏。


17. Xì Cǎi Yú Qīn
Zhōu Lǎo Lái zǐ xìng zhì xiào fèng yàng èr qīn. Bèi jí gān cuì. Xíng nián qīshí. Yán bù chēng lǎo. Cháng zhuó wǔcǎi bānlán zhi yī. Wèi yīngér xì yú qīn cè. Yòu cháng qǔ shuǐ shàng táng. Zhà dié wò dì. Zuò yīngér tí yǐ yú qīn. Yǒu shī wéi sòng.
Shī yuē:
Xìwǔ xué jiāochī. Chūnfēng dòng cāiyī. Shuāng qīn kāi kǒu xiào.Xǐqì mǎn tíng wéi.


十七、戲彩娛親
周。老萊子至性孝。奉養二親。備極甘脆。行年七十。言不稱老。常著五彩斑斕之衣。為嬰兒戲於親側。又常取水上堂。詐跌臥地。作嬰兒啼以娛親。有詩為頌。 詩曰
戲舞學驕癡。春風動彩衣。雙親開口笑。喜氣滿庭幃。
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