HE LET MOSQUITOES CONSUME HIS BLOOD

恣蚊饱血 HE LET MOSQUITOES CONSUME HIS BLOOD


晋。吴猛。年八岁。事亲至孝。家贫。榻无帷帐。每夏夜。蚊多潜肤。恣取膏。虽多不驱之。恐其去以而噬亲也。爱亲之心至矣。有诗为颂。诗曰

When Wú Mĕng of the Jìn dynasty was eight years old, he was very filial towards his parents. The family was poor, and the bed had no mosquito net. Every night in summer mosquitoes in droves nibbled at their skin and sucked their blood without restraint. Although there were many, Mĕng did not drive them away, lest in leaving him they bite his parents. So great was his love of his parents! A poem praises him:



夏夜无帷帐。蚊多不敢挥。恣取膏血饱。免使入亲帏。

On summer nights without a mosquito net,

When mosquitoes are many he dares not wave them off;

They gorge themselves on his flesh and blood,

And thus he avoids their bothering his parents.