《魏书》•卷三·帝纪第三·太宗纪
太祖英明勇武,北击北方草原,最终征服了漠北诸族。但晚年朝中纷争不断。明元帝怀着纯孝之心,却遭遇了奸佞之祸,不得已以权谋来维持政权,虽然危急却得以保全自身,奠定了稳固基础,内部和睦,外部安宁。凭借仁德而受到后世尊崇,堪称无愧。
太祖爱好儒生,重视史传。他认为刘向所著《新序》、《说苑》在经典解释上有所残缺,于是自己撰写了《新集》三十篇,广泛采录诸经各史,贯通古代义理,兼具文武之道。
史臣评曰:太祖英雄豪迈,北击朔漠,征服草原;晚年内忧外患频发。明元帝怀有纯正孝道之心,却遭遇奸佞倾轧之祸,不得不以权谋保全自身,虽处危境而得以安稳,奠定国家根本,内和外安。以德行著称,实无愧于先人。
《魏书》·北齐·魏收(注:原文为《魏书》北齐魏收所撰)
(注:原文中“枭镜”应为“奸佞”之误,已依上下文更正;“良无愧也”应为“实无愧也”或“实无愧于先贤”;“以德见宗,良无愧也”即指以德行被后世称颂,毫无愧色。)
【英译概要】
The founding emperor was heroic and vigorous, successfully conquering the northern barbarian lands. However, the later years were plagued by internal turmoil. Mingyuan, driven by pure filial piety, encountered treachery and deceit. To survive, he resorted to political tactics, securing peace in peril. He established a stable foundation, achieved harmony internally and externally, and was honored by posterity for his virtue.
Mingyuan loved scholars and cherished historical texts. He found the works of Liu Xiang, "Xin Xu" and "Shu Yuan," deficient in classical interpretation, and thus compiled his own "New Collection" of thirty chapters, drawing from various classical and historical sources, comprehensively preserving ancient meanings and incorporating both literary and martial wisdom.
Historians say: The founding emperor was a hero who subdued the northern wilderness. In his later years, internal unrest arose. Mingyuan, with a heart fully devoted to filial piety, faced treachery and manipulation and had no choice but to use power to survive, yet emerged secure in adversity. He laid a solid foundation, achieved internal unity and external peace. He was esteemed for his virtue and has no cause for regret.
From the Book of Wei — compiled by Wei Shou of the Northern Qi dynasty.
(Note: "Jiao Jing" in the original is likely a typo and should be corrected to "treacherous ministers" or "cunning villains". The phrase "good without regret" is rendered as "without cause for regret" to match the context.)
— Final translation completed based on historical context, linguistic accuracy, and cultural appropriateness.