《孟子》中英文版
第八编 《离娄下》(29)
第二十九章 最佳行为方式不是装出来的
禹、稷當平世,三過其門而不入,孔子賢之。顏子當亂世,居於陋巷。一簞食,一瓢飲。人不堪其憂,顏子不改其樂,孔子賢之。孟子曰:“禹、稷、顏回同道。禹思天下有溺者,由己溺之也;稷思天下有飢者,由己飢之也,是以如是其急也。禹、稷、顏子易地則皆然。今有同室之人鬥者,救之,雖被髮纓冠而救之,可也。鄉鄰有鬥者,被髮纓冠而往救之,則惑也,雖閉戶可也。”
Yu and Ji, in an age when the world was being brought back to order, thrice passed their doors without entering them. Confucius praised them. The disciple Yan, in an age of disorder, dwelt in a mean narrow lane, having his single bamboo-cup of rice, and his single gourd-dish of water; other men could not have endured the distress, but he did not allow his joy to be affected by it. Confucius praised him. Mencius said, 'Yu, Ji, and Yan Hui agreed in the principle of their conduct. Yu thought that if any one in the kingdom were drowned, it was as if he drowned him. Ji thought that if any one in the kingdom suffered hunger, it was as if he famished him. It was on this account that they were so earnest. If Yu and Ji, and Yanzi, had exchanged places, each would have done what the other did. Here now in the same apartment with you are people fighting - you ought to part them. Though you part them with your cap simply tied over your unbound hair, your conduct will be allowable. If the fighting be only in the village or neighbourhood, if you go to put an end to it with your cap tied over your hair unbound, you will be in error. Although you should shut your door in such a case, your conduct would be allowable.'
【原文】
禹、稷当平世,三过其门而不入,孔子贤之。
颜子当乱世,居於陋巷,一箪食,一瓢饮;人不堪其忧,颜子不改乐:孔子贤之。
孟子曰:“禹、稷、颜回同道。禹思天下有溺者,由己溺之也;稷思天下有饥者,由己饥之也;是以如是其急也。禹、稷、颜子,易地则皆然。今有同室之人斗者,救之,虽被发缨冠而救之,可也。乡邻有斗者,被发缨冠而往救之,则惑也,虽闭户可也。”
【注释】
箪:(dan单)《左传·宣公二年》:“箪食与肉。”《论语·雍也》:“贤哉,回也!一箪食,一瓢饮,在陋巷,人不堪其忧,回也不改其乐。贤哉,回也!”《礼记·曲礼》:“苞苴箪笥。”《仪礼·士冠礼》:“栉实于箪。”《孟子·梁惠王下》:“箪食壶浆以迎王师。”《说文》:“箪,笥也。从竹,单声。”古代盛饭的圆形竹器。
【译文】
禹、后稷生活在太平之世,多次路过自己的家门却没有进去,孔子称赞他们。
颜渊生活在乱世,居住在简陋巷子,一筐饭,一瓢水,人们都不堪忍受那种忧患的生活,而颜渊却不改变他乐观的心态。孔子也称赞他。
孟子说:“禹、后稷、颜渊走的是同样的人生道路。大禹想到天下有遭水淹没的人,就像自己也被水淹了一样。后稷想到天下有挨饿的人,就像自己也挨饿一样。所以才那样急人之急。大禹、后稷、颜渊,如果互相交换一下位置处境,也都会有同样的表现。现在自家人互相打斗,要去救他们,即使是披头散发,帽缨紊乱去救急是可以做到的。但如果乡间邻居打斗,也是披头散发,帽缨紊乱去救急,那就难以理解了,如果是关门闭户则是可以理解的。”
【说明】
大禹、后稷、颜渊正因为以建立人与人之间相互亲爱的关系存于心中,以社会行为规范存于心中,选择了最佳行为方式,才博得了后人的尊敬和称赞。所以,同室操戈,即使是披头散发,帽缨紊乱去救急是可以做到的,因为此时救急是一种最佳行为方式,如果不闻不问,不去劝解,那就不是最佳行为方式了。相反,乡间邻里有人打斗,如果是披头散发,帽缨紊乱去救急则是不可以的,因为要出自家大门,就得注意仪表,衣冠不整而去劝解,就会徒惹人笑;因此,关门闭户不闻不问也就可以理解了。其实,孟子所说的这个是表面现象,其言下之意是,心中有了建立人与人之间相互亲爱的关系的思想,有了遵守一定的社会行为规范的思想,在行动上随时都会表现出来,因此在“救急”时,就会自自然然地涌现出来,而不会“披头散发,帽缨紊乱”了。也就是说,最佳行为方式不是假装出来的,不是靠选择才选择出来的,而是依着平常的努力学习和积累,是依着本性而自自然然地涌现出来的。 |