高僧傳 9.9

9.9

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.