《孟子》中英文版
第八编 《离娄下》(33)
第三十三章 齐人有一妻一妾
齊人有一妻一妾而處室者，其良人出，則必饜酒肉而後反。其妻問所與飲食者，則盡富貴也。其妻告其妾曰：“良人出，則必饜酒肉而後反；問其與飲食者，盡富貴也，而未嘗有顯者來，吾將瞷良人之所之也。”
A man of Qi had a wife and a concubine, and lived together with them in his house. When their husband went out, he would get himself well filled with wine and flesh, and then return, and, on his wife's asking him with whom he ate and drank, they were sure to be all wealthy and honourable people. The wife informed the concubine, saying, 'When our good man goes out, he is sure to come back having partaken plentifully of wine and flesh. I asked with whom he ate and drank, and they are all, it seems, wealthy and honourable people. And yet no people of distinction ever come here. I will spy out where our good man goes.'
蚤起，施從良人之所之，遍國中無與立談者。卒之東郭墦閒，之祭者，乞其餘；不足，又顧而之他，此其為饜足之道也。其妻歸，告其妾曰：“良人者，所仰望而終身也。今若此。”與其妾訕其良人，而相泣於中庭。而良人未之知也，施施從外來，驕其妻妾。
Accordingly, she got up early in the morning, and privately followed wherever her husband went. Throughout the whole city, there was no one who stood or talked with him. At last, he came to those who were sacrificing among the tombs beyond the outer wall on the east, and begged what they had over. Not being satisfied, he looked about, and went to another party - and this was the way in which he got himself satiated. His wife returned, and informed the concubine, saying, 'It was to our husband that we looked up in hopeful contemplation, with whom our lot is cast for life - and now these are his ways!' On this, along with the concubine she reviled their husband, and they wept together in the middle hall. In the meantime the husband, knowing nothing of all this, came in with a jaunty air, carrying himself proudly to his wife and concubine.
由君子觀之，則人之所以求富貴利達者，其妻妾不羞也，而不相泣者，幾希矣。
In the view of a superior man, as to the ways by which men seek for riches, honours, gain, and advancement, there are few of their wives and concubines who would not be ashamed and weep together on account of them.
【原文】
齐人有一妻一妾而处室者，其良人①出，则必餍（2）酒肉而后反。除问所与饮食者，则尽富贵也。其妻告其妾曰：“良人出，则必展酒肉而后反；问其与饮食者，尽富贵也，而未尝有显者来，吾将（3）间良人之所之也。”
蚤④起，施⑤从良人之所之，遍国中③无与立谈者。卒之东郭墦间（7），之祭者，乞其余；不足，又顾而之他——此其为展足之道也。其妻归，告其妾，曰：“良人者，所仰望而终身也，今若此！－－”与其妾讪（8）其良人，而相泣于中庭（9），而良人未之知也，施施（10）从外来，骄其妻妾。
由君子观之，则人之所以求富贵利达者，其妻妾不羞也，而不相泣者，几希矣！
【注释】
①良人：古代妇女对丈夫的称呼。
②餍（yan）：饱。
③间（Jian）：窥视。
④蚤：同“早”。
⑤施（yi）：斜。这里指斜行，斜从跟随，以免被丈夫发现。
（6）国中：都城中。
（7）墦问：坟墓间。
（8）讪：讥消、讥骂。
（9）中庭：庭中。
（10）施施（shi）：得意洋洋的样子。
【译文】
齐国有一个人，家里有一妻一妾。那丈夫每次出门，必定是吃得饱饱的，喝得醉醺醺地回家。他妻子问他一道吃喝的是些什么人，据他说来全都是些有钱有势的人。他妻子告诉他的妾说：“丈夫出门，总是酒醉肉饱地回来；问他和些什么人一道吃喝，据他说来全都是些有钱有势的人，但我们却从来没见到什么有钱有势的人物到家里面来过，我打算悄悄地看看他到底去些什么地方。”
第二天早上起来，她便尾随在丈夫的后面，走遍全城，没有看到一个人站下来和他丈夫说过话。最后他走到了东郊的墓地，向祭扫坟墓的人要些剩余的祭品吃；不够，又东张西望地到别处去乞讨－－这就是他酒醉肉饱的办法。
他的妻子回到家里，告诉他的妾说：“丈夫，是我们仰望而终身依靠的人，现在他竟然是这样的！－－”二人在庭院中咒骂着，哭泣着，而丈夫还不知道，得意洋洋地从外面回来，在他的两个女人面前摆威风。
在君子看来，人们用来求取升官发财的方法，能够不使他们的妻妾引以为耻而共同哭泣的，是很少的！
【读解】
这已经成了一则很著名的寓言故事。孟子为我们勾画的，是一个内心极其卑劣下贱，外表却趾高气扬，不可一世的形象。他为了在妻妾面前摆阔气，抖威风，自吹每天都有达官贵人请他吃喝，实际上却每天都在坟地里乞讨。妻妾发现了他的秘密后痛苦不堪，而他却并不知道事情已经败露，还在妻妾面前得意洋洋。读完这一段故事，令人感到既好笑，又有几分恶心。孟子的讽刺是辛辣而深刻的。孟子的原意是讽刺他那个时代不择手段去奔走于诸侯之门，求升官发财的人，他们在光天化日下冠冕堂皇，自我炫耀，暗地里却行径卑劣，干着见不得人的勾当。
其实，在我们今天读来，也仍然可以感到生活中有这位齐国“良人”的影子。他们当然已不可能像这位齐国“良人”那样“有一妻一妾而处室”，无“妻妾”可“骄”了。但是可以“骄”同事，“骄”朋友嘛。今天我与某书记钓鱼，明天我与某局长喝酒，后天又是某大款请我上茶楼，如此等等，不一而足。某小品讽刺的用名片打扑克，鞭挞的不就是这位齐国“良人”似的人物吗？ |
