HE HIRED OUT TO SUPPORT HIS MOTHER

行佣供母 HE HIRED OUT TO SUPPORT HIS MOTHER



后汉江革。少失父。独与母居。遭乱。负母逃难。数遇贼。或欲劫之去。革辄泣告有母在。贼不忍杀。转客下邳。贫穷裸跣。行佣以供母。母使身之物。莫不毕给。有诗为颂。诗曰

Jiāng Gé lived in the later Hàn dynasty. His father died when he was young, and he lived alone with his mother. The times were troubled and chaotic, so, carrying his mother on his back, he fled. Again and again they encountered bandits who wanted to force him to join them. But Gé burst into tears and told them that he bore his mother with him [whom he had to support]. The bandits could not bring themselves to kill him, and at length he reached Xià Péi [in Jiāngsū province]. Impoverished, naked, and barefoot, he hired himself out as a laborer to support his mother. His mother was able to have all she desired, and there was no end to what he gave her. A verse praises him thus:



负母逃危难。 穷途贼犯频。告知方获免。佣力以供亲。

He carries his mother out of danger;

When destitute brigands assault him many times,

He tells them his grief and is able to avoid them;

By his labors he supports his mother.