| | 滕文公下: |
彭更问曰：“后车数十乘，从者数百人，以传食于诸侯，不以泰乎？” |
| Teng Wen Gong II: |
Peng Geng asked Mencius, saying, 'Is it not an extravagant procedure to go from one prince to another and live upon them, followed by several tens of carriages, and attended by several hundred men?' |
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孟子曰：“非其道，则一箪食不可受于人；如其道，则舜受尧之天下，不以为泰，子以为泰乎？” |
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Mencius replied, 'If there be not a proper ground for taking it, a single bamboo-cup of rice may not be received from a man. If there be such a proper ground, then Shun's receiving the kingdom from Yao is not to be considered excessive. Do you think it was excessive?' |
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曰：“否。士无事而食，不可也。” |
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Geng said, 'No. But for a scholar performing no service to receive his support notwithstanding is improper.' |
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曰：“子不通功易事，以羡补不足，则农有馀粟，女有馀布；子如通之，则梓匠轮舆皆得食于子。于此有人焉，入则孝，出则悌，守先王之道，以待后之学者，而不得食于子。子何尊梓匠轮舆而轻为仁义者哉？” |
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Mencius answered, 'If you do not have an intercommunication of the productions of labour, and an interchange of men's services, so that one from his overplus may supply the deficiency of another, then husbandmen will have a superfluity of grain, and women will have a superfluity of cloth. If you have such an interchange, carpenters and carriage-wrights may all get their food from you. Here now is a man, who, at home, is filial, and abroad, respectful to his elders; who watches over the principles of the ancient kings, awaiting the rise of future learners - and yet you will refuse to support him. How is it that you give honour to the carpenter and carriage-wright, and slight him who practises benevolence and righteousness?' |
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曰：“梓匠轮舆，其志将以求食也；君子之为道也，其志亦将以求食与？” |
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Peng Geng said, 'The aim of the carpenter and carriagewright is by their trades to seek for a living. Is it also the aim of the superior man in his practice of principles thereby to seek for a living?' |
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曰：“子何以其志为哉？其有功于子，可食而食之矣。且子食志乎？食功乎？” |
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'What have you to do,' returned Mencius, 'with his purpose? He is of service to you. He deserves to be supported, and should be supported. And let me ask - Do you remunerate a man's intention, or do you remunerate his service.' |
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曰：“食志。” |
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To this Kang replied, 'I remunerate his intention.' |
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曰：“有人于此，毁瓦画墁，其志将以求食也，则子食之乎？” |
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Mencius said, 'There is a man here, who breaks your tiles, and draws unsightly figures on your walls - his purpose may be thereby to seek for his living, but will you indeed remunerate him?' |
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曰：“否。” |
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'No,' said Geng. |
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曰：“然则子非食志也，食功也。” |
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Mencius then concluded, 'That being the case, it is not the purpose which you remunerate, but the work done.' |
