《孟子》中英文版
第十四编 《尽心下》(4)
第四章 国君好仁，天下无敌
孟子曰：“有人曰：‘我善為陳，我善為戰。’大罪也。國君好仁，天下無敵焉。南面而征北狄怨，東面而征西夷怨。曰：‘奚為後我？’武王之伐殷也，革車三百兩，虎賁三千人。王曰：‘無畏！寧爾也，非敵百姓也。’若崩厥角稽首。征之為言正也，各欲正己也，焉用戰？”
Mencius said, 'There are men who say "I am skilful at marshalling troops, I am skilful at conducting a battle!" They are great criminals. If the ruler of a State love benevolence, he will have no enemy in the kingdom. When Tang was executing his work of correction in the south, the rude tribes on the north murmured. When he was executing it in the east, the rude tribes on the west murmured. Their cry was "Why does he make us last?" When king Wu punished Yin, he had only three hundred chariots of war, and three thousand life-guards. The king said, "Do not fear. Let me give you repose. I am no enemy to the people!" On this, they bowed their heads to the earth, like the horns of animals falling off. "Royal correction" is but another word for rectifying. Each State wishing itself to be corrected, what need is there for fighting?'
【原文】
孟子曰：“有人曰：‘我善为阵，我善为战。’大罪也。国君好仁，天下无敌焉。南面而征北狄怨；东面而征西夷怨，曰：‘奚为后我？’武王之伐殷也，革车三百辆，虎贲三千人。王曰：‘无畏！宁尔也，非敌百姓也。’若崩厥角稽首。征之为言正也，各欲正己也，焉用战？”
【译文】
孟子说：“有人说：‘我善于陈兵，我善于作战。’这都是大犯罪。一个国家的君主喜好爱民，天下就没有敌人了。向南征而北边的狄族埋怨他，向东征而西边的夷族埋怨他，人民都说：‘为什么后面才到我们呢？’周武王征伐殷商，只出动兵车三百辆，勇士三千人。周武王说：‘不用害怕，我是来安定你们的，不是与老百姓为敌的。’百姓象山倒塌一样叩头行礼。征的意思就是正，都想匡正自己的国家，何必用战争呢？”
【解说】
这个“南面而征”的事，在《梁惠王下》里孟子就说过，本章重提，乃是藉以说明真正的做到“爱民”，能尽心知命的“爱民”，也就能选择到最佳行为方式。而这种行为方式不是进行战争，而是用爱的感召力和兵强马壮的威慑力去征服对方。 |
