英語で世界に発信しよう：楽天出張所

鄭玄の家ではその使用人までもが詩経に慣れ親しんでいたのでした。

今回の英文

In Zheng Xuan's household, the waiting maids were familiar with the Book of Odes. 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:

"What are you doing there in the mire?"

The kneeling girl capped the verse from another ode, quoted she:

"That was but a simple word I said,　
Yet brought it wrath upon my head."


Such was the family in which Zheng Xuan had been born.

語句解説
In Zheng Xuan's household: 鄭玄の屋敷では
the waiting maids: 女中（までもが）（even を補ってみるとわかりやすい）
be familiar with ～に慣れ親しんでいる
Book of Odes: 詩経
one of the maids opposed Zheng Xuan's wishes:
女中の一人が鄭玄の意に逆らうことをした
as punishment: 罰として
she was made to kneel in front of the steps:
階段の前でひざまづくよう命じられた。
make fun of...: ...をからかう
quoting from the odes: 詩経より引用し
What are you doing there in the mire?
なんすれど泥中においてする？
the kneeling girl capped the verse from another ode
ひざまづいていた女中は他の詩経の語句で言い返した
that was but a simple word I said
いささか言（われ）往きてうったえしが
yet brought it wrath upon my head
かれの怒に逢えり

Such was the family in which Zhang Xuan had been born.
かくのごとく鄭玄の生まれ育った家では風流をたしなむことが
家人全員にいきわたっていたのであった。

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