《孟子》中英文版
第四编 《公孫丑下》(11)
第十一章 孟子之辞职,是勇于承认和改正错误
孟子去齊,宿於晝。
Mencius, having taken his leave of Qi, was passing the night in Zhou.
有欲為王留行者,坐而言。不應,隱几而臥。客不悅曰:“弟子齊宿而後敢言,夫子臥而不聽,請勿復敢見矣。”
A person who wished to detain him on behalf of the king, came and sat down, and began to speak to him. Mencius gave him no answer, but leant upon his stool and slept. The visitor was displeased, and said, 'I passed the night in careful vigil, before I would venture to speak to you, and you, Master, sleep and do not listen to me. Allow me to request that I may not again presume to see you.'
曰:“坐!我明語子。昔者魯繆公無人乎子思之側,則不能安子思;泄柳、申詳,無人乎繆公之側,則不能安其身。子為長者慮,而不及子思,子絕長者乎?長者絕子乎?”
Mencius replied, 'Sit down, and I will explain the case clearly to you. Formerly, if the duke Mou had not kept a person by the side of Zi Si, he could not have induced Zi Si to remain with him. If Xie Liu and Shen Xiang had not had a remembrancer by the side of the duke Mou, he would not have been able to make them feel at home and remain with him. You anxiously form plans with reference to me, but you do not treat me as Zi Si was treated. Is it you, Sir, who cut me? Or is it I who cut you?
【原文】
孟子去齐,宿於昼1。有欲为王留行者,坐而言;不应,隐2几3而卧。
客不悦曰:“弟子齐4宿而後敢言,夫子卧而不听,请勿复敢见矣。”
曰:“坐。我明语子。昔者鲁缪公5无人乎子思之侧,则不能安子思6;泄柳7、申详8,无人乎缪公之侧,则不能安其身。子为长者9虑,而不及10子思;子绝长者乎?长者绝子乎?”
【注释】
1.昼:齐国西南部的近邑,在今山东省淄博市临淄西北。
2.隐:(yin印)倚,靠;隐几而卧,靠着几案睡眠之意。
3.几:(ji机)《书·顾命》:“相被冕服,凭玉几。”《诗·大雅·行苇》:“或肆之筵,或授之几。”《周礼·司几筵》:“掌五几五席之名物。”《礼记·曲礼》:“必操几杖以从之。”《礼记·檀弓》:“有司以几筵舍奠于墓左。”《考工记·匠人》:“室中度以几,堂上度以筵。”这是指古人席地而坐时有靠背的坐具之意。
4.齐:通“斋”。《诗·召南·采蘋》:“谁其尸之?有齐季女。”《左传·昭公十三年》:“使五人齐,而长入拜。”《论语·乡党》:“齐,必有明衣,布。齐必变食,居必迁坐。”《国语·楚语下》:“而又能齐肃衷正。”《礼记·中庸》:“齐明盛服,以承祭祀。”《仪礼·士冠礼》:“齐则缁之。”这里用为斋戒之意。
5.鲁缪公:即鲁穆公,春秋战国时期鲁国的国君,在位三十三年。
6.子思:(公元前483年~前402年)是战国初期思想家。姓孔,名伋,孔子之孙。相传曾授业于曾子。孟子受业于子思的门人,发挥子思的思想,形成思孟学派。
7.泄柳:鲁穆公时人。
8.申详:孔子学生子张的儿子,子游的女婿。
9.长者:本义指年老的人,这里是孟子的自称。
10.及:《诗·大雅·桑柔》:“其何能淑,载胥及溺。”《战囯策·齐策》:“徐公何能及君也?”韩愈《师说》:“郯子之徒,其贤不及孔子。”这里用为比得上,能与…相比之意。
【译文】
孟子离开齐国,在昼邑歇宿。有个想替齐王挽留孟子的人来看孟子,严肃地端坐着与孟子谈话,孟子不理睬他,靠着几案睡觉。
客人很不高兴地说:“我是先一天斋戒沭浴后才敢跟您说话,先生睡卧而不听,今后再也不敢请求见您了。”
孟子说:“坐下来!我明白地告诉你,从前鲁缪公要是没有人在子思身边侍候,就不能让子思安心。泄柳、申详要是没有人在鲁缪公身边侍候,就不能使自己安身。请你为年长的人考虑,远远是比不上子思的,是你拒绝长者呢?还是长者拒绝你?”
【读解】
孟子之采取辞职的行为方式,是因为他能“吾日三省吾身”,而勇于承认和改正错误,因而他既不能像子思一样安心,也不能像泄柳、申详一样安身,所以他必然就要拒绝那个想替齐王挽留孟子的人了。 |