高僧傳 9.9

9.9

澄閑坐歎曰：「後二日當有一小人驚動此下。」既而襄國人薛合有二子，既小且驕，輕弄鮮卑奴。奴忿，抽刃刺殺其弟，執兄于室，以刀擬心。若人入屋，便欲加手。謂合曰：「送我還國，我活汝兒，不然，共死於此。」內外驚愕，莫不往觀。勒迺自往視之，謂薛合曰：「送奴以全卿子，誠為善事。此法一開，方為後害。卿且寬情，國有常憲」命人取奴，奴遂殺兒而死。

Deng sat leisurely and sighed, saying: 'In two days, a petty person will disturb this place.' Soon after, Xue He, a man of Xiangguo, had two sons who were both young and arrogant; they made light of and mocked a Xianbei slave. In anger, the slave drew a blade, stabbed and killed the younger brother, seized the elder brother inside a room, and pointed the sword at his heart. If anyone entered the room, he intended to strike. He said to He: 'Send me back to my country, and I will let your son live; otherwise, we will die together here.' People inside and outside were alarmed and astonished, and none failed to go and watch. Le then went in person to see it, and said to Xue He: 'Sending the slave away to save your son is indeed a good deed. But once this precedent is set, it will become a future harm. Be broad-minded for now; the state has standard laws.' He ordered men to capture the slave; the slave thereupon killed the boy and died.