《孟子》中英文版
第二编 《梁惠王下》(15)
第十五章 爱民的君主，才受人民爱戴
滕文公問曰：“滕，小國也。竭力以事大國，則不得免焉。如之何則可？”
The duke Wen of Teng asked Mencius, saying, 'Teng is a small State. Though I do my utmost to serve those large kingdoms on either side of it, we cannot escape suffering from them. What course shall I take that we may do so?'
孟子對曰：“昔者大王居邠，狄人侵之。事之以皮幣，不得免焉；事之以犬馬，不得免焉；事之以珠玉，不得免焉。乃屬其耆老而告之曰：‘狄人之所欲者，吾土地也。吾聞之也：君子不以其所以養人者害人。二三子何患乎無君？我將去之。’去邠，踰梁山，邑于岐山之下居焉。邠人曰：‘仁人也，不可失也。’從之者如歸市。或曰：‘世守也，非身之所能為也。效死勿去。’君請擇於斯二者。”
Mencius replied, 'Formerly, when king Tai dwelt in Bin, the barbarians of the north were constantly making incursions upon it. He served them with skins and silks, and still he suffered from them. He served them with dogs and horses, and still he suffered from them. He served them with pearls and gems, and still he suffered from them. Seeing this, he assembled the old men, and announced to them, saying, "What the barbarians want is my territory. I have heard this - that a ruler does not injure his people with that wherewith he nourishes them. My children, why should you be troubled about having no prince? I will leave this." Accordingly, he left Bin, crossed the mountain Liang, built a town at the foot of mount Qi, and dwelt there. The people of Pin said, "He is a benevolent man. We must not lose him." Those who followed him looked like crowds hastening to market. On the other hand, some say, "The kingdom is a thing to be kept from generation to generation. One individual cannot undertake to dispose of it in his own person. Let him be prepared to die for it. Let him not quit it." I ask you, prince, to make your election between these two courses.'
【原文】
滕文公问曰：“滕，小国也；竭力以事大国，则不得免焉。如之何则可？”
孟子对曰：“昔者大王居邠，狄人侵之；事之以皮币1，不得免焉；事之以犬马，不得免焉；事之以珠玉，不得免焉。乃属其耆2老而告之曰：‘狄人之所欲者，吾土地也。吾闻之也：君子不以其所以养人者害人。二三子何患乎无君？我将去之。’去邠，逾梁山3，邑于岐山之下居焉。邠人曰：‘仁人也，不可失也。’从之者如归市。”
“或曰：‘世守也，非身之所能为也，效死勿去：’
“君请择於斯二者。”
【注释】
1.皮币：动物毛皮和丝绸布帛。
2.耆：（qi齐）《书•伊训》：“逆忠直，远耆德，比顽童。”《书•文侯之命》：“即我御事，罔或耆寿俊在厥服。”《诗•周颂•武》：“胜殷遏刘，耆定尔功。”《诗•鲁颂•閟宫》：“俾尔耆而艾。”《礼记•曲礼》：“六十曰耆。”《礼记•王制》：“耆老皆朝于庠。”《礼记•射仪》：“耆耋好礼。”《说文》：“耆，老也。”古称六十岁曰耆。即老年人之意。
3.梁山：在今陕西乾县西北。
【译文】
滕文公问：“滕国，是个小国，即使尽心尽力侍奉大国，也不免受到压迫。怎么办才好呢？”
孟子回答说：“从前周太王居住在邠地，狄族人来侵犯，侍奉他们以动物皮毛和丝绸布帛，都还免不了被侵犯；侍奉他们以狗和马，也免不了被侵犯；侍奉他们以珠玉宝贝，也免不了被侵犯。乃召集属下年纪大的人说：‘狄族人想要的，是我们的土地。我曾听说过：君子不会拿用来养活人民的东西去害人。你们不要担心没有君王，我将要离开这里。’于是离开邠地，越过梁山，在岐山下筑城定居。邠地的人民都说：‘古公是爱民的人，不能失去他。’跟从他迁徙的人如同赶集一样多。
“也有人说：‘这祖宗留下来的基业应世代相守，不能因自身的原因而放弃，宁可牺牲性命也不离去。’
“大王请在这两种做法中选择吧。”
【读解】
似乎滕文公对于“为善”也是做不到的。于是孟子只好又举出古公迁岐的例子。这等于是向滕文公出了两个计策，一是效法古公太王迁徙以避强权，保存族人以图东山再起。二是按一般人的做法，誓死捍卫自己的土地，即使全部牺牲也再所不惜。这两种办法哪一种好呢？孟子没有明说，因为孟子心里很清楚，无论取哪一种，滕国人民都不会追随滕文公，要迁徙，只有滕文公家族的几百或上千人；要死守，也只有这些人。广大的人民百姓都是不会追随他的，因为滕文公从来就不是一个“爱民”的君主，也没有施行“爱民”的政策。一个领导人如果不爱民，人民又怎么会爱领导人呢？ |
