《孟子》中英文版
第七编 《离娄上》(19)
第十九章 事亲为大，守身为大
孟子曰：“事孰為大？事親為大；守孰為大？守身為大。不失其身而能事其親者，吾聞之矣；失其身而能事其親者，吾未之聞也。孰不為事？事親，事之本也；孰不為守？守身，守之本也。曾子養曾皙，必有酒肉。將徹，必請所與。問有餘，必曰‘有’。曾皙死，曾元養曾子，必有酒肉。將徹，不請所與。問有餘，曰‘亡矣’。將以復進也。此所謂養口體者也。若曾子，則可謂養志也。事親若曾子者，可也。”
Mencius said, 'Of services, which is the greatest? The service of parents is the greatest. Of charges, which is the greatest ? The charge of one's self is the greatest. That those who do not fail to keep themselves are able to serve their parents is what I have heard. But I have never heard of any, who, having failed to keep themselves, were able notwithstanding to serve their parents. There are many services, but the service of parents is the root of all others. There are many charges, but the charge of one's self is the root of all others. The philosopher Zeng, in nourishing Zeng Xi, was always sure to have wine and flesh provided. And when they were being removed, he would ask respectfully to whom he should give what was left. If his father asked whether there was anything left, he was sure to say, "There is." After the death of Zeng Xi, when Zeng Yuan came to nourish Zengzi, he was always sure to have wine and flesh provided. But when the things were being removed, he did not ask to whom he should give what was left, and if his father asked whether there was anything left, he would answer "No;" - intending to bring them in again. This was what is called "nourishing the mouth and body." We may call Zengzi's practice "nourishing the will." To serve one's parents as Zengzi served his, may be accepted as flial piety.'
【原文】
孟子曰：“事1，孰为大？事亲为大。守，孰为大？守身为大。不失其身而能事其亲者，吾闻之矣。失其身而能事其亲者，吾未之闻也。孰不为事？事亲，事之本也。孰不为守？守身，守之本也。曾子养曾皙2，必有酒肉；将彻，必请所与；问‘有馀？’必曰‘有。’曾皙死，曾元3养曾子，必有酒肉；将彻4，必请所与；问‘有馀？’曰：‘亡5矣。’——将以复进也。此所谓养口体者也。若曾子，则可谓养志也。事亲若曾子者，可也。”
【注释】
1.事：《易·蛊·上九》：“不事王侯，高尚其事。”《书·甘誓》：“王曰：‘嗟！六事之人，予誓告汝。’”《诗·大雅·烝民》：“夙夜匪懈，以事一人。”《老子·二十三章》：“故从事于道者，同于道；德者，同于德；失者，同于失。”《论语·学而》：“子夏曰：‘贤贤易色；事父母，能竭其力；事君，能致其身。’”《礼记·中庸》：“所求乎子，以事父，未能也。”《孟子·梁惠王下》：“间於齐、楚，事齐乎？事楚乎？”《荀子·臣道》：“事圣君者，有听从无谏争。”《韩非子·存韩》：“今韩事秦三十余年，出则为扦蔽。”《玉篇·史部》：“事，奉也。”作动词，这里用为侍奉之意。
2.曾皙：曾参的父亲，亦是孔子的学生。姓曾，名点，字子皙。春秋末鲁国南武城（原属山东费县，现属平邑县）人。
3.曾元：曾子的儿子。
4.彻：《诗·小雅·楚茨》：“废彻不迟。”《诗·小雅·十月之交》：“徹我墙屋，田卒汙莱。”《左传·宣公十二年》：“且虽诸侯相见，军卫不彻，警也。”《礼记·燕礼》：“司宫彻之士。”《礼记·士冠礼》：“彻筮席。”《礼记·曲礼》：“大夫无故不彻县。”《荀子·正论》：“《雍》而彻乎五祀，执荐者百人侍西房。”《淮南子·原道》：“解车休马，罢酒彻乐。”这里用为撤除、撤去之意。
5.亡：《易·泰·九二》：“河不遐遗朋，亡得，尚中行。”《诗·唐风·葛生》：“予美亡此，谁与独处。”《老子·四十四章》：“名与身孰亲？身与货孰多？得与亡孰病？”《论语·述而》：“亡而为有，虚而为盈，约而为泰，难乎有恒矣。”《仪礼·士丧礼》：“亡则以缁，长半幅。”《列子·汤问》：“河曲智叟亡以应。”《集韵·虞韵》：“无，或作亡。”清段玉裁《说文解字注·亾部》：“亾，亦假借为有无之无。”这里用为“无”，即没有之意。
【译文】
孟子说：“侍奉之事，什么为最大？侍奉父母为最大。操守之事，什么为最大？守住自身为最大。没有丧失操守又能很好地侍奉父母亲的，我听说过。丧失了自身操守又能很好地侍奉父母亲的，我没有听说过。谁不做侍奉人的事呢？侍奉亲人，是侍奉之事的最根本；守住自身，是操守之事的最根本。曾子奉养他的父亲曾皙，每餐必定有酒和肉，饭后把饭菜撤走时，一定请示‘把剩下的饭菜送给谁？’如果问‘还有没有剩余？’必然回答说‘有。’曾皙去世以后，曾元奉养曾子，每餐也必定有酒和肉，但饭后把饭菜撤走时，不请示‘把剩下的饭菜送给谁？’如果问‘还有没有剩余？’必然回答说‘没有了。’其实他是想把剩下的饭菜下次再给曾子吃。这就是人们所说的仅仅是供养父母的身体。像曾子那样，才可称为奉养父母的意愿亲情。侍奉双亲像曾子那样的人，才算可以。”
【解说】
除了救人、教育外，侍奉双亲、守住自身也有各种各样的行为方式。孟子在这里所举的例子，也就是为了说明这个问题。 |
