子zǐ曰yuē，夏xià礼lǐ吾wú能néng言yán之zhī，杞qǐ不bù足zú征zhēng也yě，殷yīn礼lǐ吾wú能néng言yán之zhī，宋sòng不bù足zú征zhēng也yě，文wén献xiàn不bù足zú故gù也yě，足zú，则zé吾wú能néng征zhēng之zhī矣yǐ。

Modern Chinese Guide

孔子说：夏朝的礼制我能讲出来，可惜它的后代杞国不足以验证；殷朝的礼制我能讲出来，可惜它的后代宋国不足以验证。这是因为杞国、宋国留存的典籍和贤人都不够。如果足够，我就能验证这些礼制了。

James Legge Translation

The Master said, "I could describe the ceremonies of the Hsia dynasty, but Chi cannot sufficiently attest my words. I could describe the ceremonies of the Yin dynasty, but Sung cannot sufficiently attest my words. (They cannot do so) because of the insufficiency of their records and wise men. If those were sufficient, I could adduce them in support of my words."

Source: James Legge, public domain, 1893.

Notes

底本：Wikisource 整理的 James Legge《The Chinese Classics》公版中英文本（1893–1895）。
简体化：原文由繁体转为简体（OpenCC），与公版英译逐句对应。

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