English Original
During the Song and Ming Dynasties, Confucian morality became fashionable. Many people vied with one another to imitate the poise of a moralist.
A Confucian scholar was walking to the city. On the street, he moved with measured strides, his back arched and hands clasped behind him, adhering strictly to the prescribed posture and pace.
After a while, his back ached and he felt entirely exhausted. Glancing around, he whispered to his servant, "Look behind us. Is anyone there?"
"No," replied the servant.
Hearing this, the scholar immediately straightened up, sighed with relief, and began to walk freely with long, unbridled strides.
Another Confucian scholar was walking slowly with the same measured steps when dark clouds gathered and a heavy rain began to fall. He hurriedly dashed for over a li (about half a kilometer). Suddenly, he exclaimed with regret, "Too bad! I have erred! But a gentleman corrects his mistake as soon as he realizes it, and it is not too late."
Consequently, he braved the rain, returned to the spot where he had started running, and began to walk slowly again, step by measured step.
中文翻译
宋朝、明朝时期，儒学成了一种时髦，很多人都争着模仿儒学家的风度。
一位儒学先生进城去。走在大路上，他弓着腰，背着手，恭恭敬敬地踱着四方步，严格遵守着规定的姿态和步调。
走了一会儿，他觉得腰酸背痛，疲惫不堪。他环顾四周，然后小声问仆人："看看后头有没有人？"
仆人回答："没有。"
闻听此言，这位先生马上直起腰，长吁一口气，然后跨开大步，放肆地走了起来。
另一位儒学先生正以同样的四方步在路上慢慢走着，突然天空乌云密布，下起了倾盆大雨。他慌忙奔逃，跑了一里多路。忽然，他懊悔地喊道："不好！我失态了！但君子知错就改，为时不晚。"
于是，他冒着大雨，退回到刚才开始奔跑的地方，重新开始一步一步地踱起四方步来。