| | 梁惠王下: |
齐宣王问曰：“人皆谓我毁明堂。毁诸？已乎？” |
| Liang Hui Wang II: |
The king Xuan of Qi said, 'People all tell me to pull down and remove the Hall of Distinction. Shall I pull it down, or stop the movement for that object?' |
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孟子对曰：“夫明堂者，王者之堂也。王欲行王政，则勿毁之矣。” |
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Mencius replied, 'The Hall of Distinction is a Hall appropriate to the sovereigns. If your Majesty wishes to practise the true royal government, then do not pull it down.' |
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王曰：“王政可得闻与？” |
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The king said, 'May I hear from you what the true royal government is?' |
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对曰：“昔者文王之治岐也，耕者九一，仕者世禄，关市讥而不征，泽梁无禁，罪人不孥。老而无妻曰鳏。老而无夫曰寡。老而无子曰独。幼而无父曰孤。此四者，天下之穷民而无告者。文王发政施仁，必先斯四者。《》云：‘哿矣富人，哀此茕独。’” |
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'Formerly,' was the reply, 'king Wen's government of Qi was as follows: The husbandmen cultivated for the government one-ninth of the land; the descendants of officers were salaried; at the passes and in the markets, strangers were inspected, but goods were not taxed: there were no prohibitions respecting the ponds and weirs; the wives and children of criminals were not involved in their guilt. There were the old and wifeless, or widowers; the old and husbandless, or widows; the old and childless, or solitaries; the young and fatherless, or orphans - these four classes are the most destitute of the people, and have none to whom they can tell their wants, and king Wen, in the institution of his government with its benevolent action, made them the first objects of his regard, as it is said in the Book of Poetry, "The rich may get through life well; But alas! for the miserable and solitary!"' |
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王曰：“善哉言乎！” |
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The king said, 'O excellent words!' |
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曰：“王如善之，则何为不行？” |
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Mencius said, 'Since your Majesty deems them excellent, why do you not practise them?' |
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王曰：“寡人有疾，寡人好货。” |
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'I have an infirmity,' said the king; 'I am fond of wealth.' |
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对曰：“昔者公刘好货，《》云：‘乃积乃仓，乃裹糇粮，于橐于囊。思戢用光。弓矢斯张，干戈戚扬，爰方启行。’故居者有积仓，行者有裹粮也，然后可以爰方启行。王如好货，与百姓同之，于王何有？” |
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The reply was, 'Formerly, Gong Liu was fond of wealth. It is said in the Book of Poetry, "He reared his ricks, and filled his granaries, He tied up dried provisions and grain, In bottomless bags, and sacks, That he might gather his people together, and glorify his State. With bows and arrows all-displayed, With shields, and spears, and battle-axes, large and small, He commenced his march." In this way those who remained in their old seat had their ricks and granaries, and those who marched had their bags of provisions. It was not till after this that he thought he could begin his march. If your Majesty loves wealth, give the people power to gratify the same feeling, and what difficulty will there be in your attaining the royal sway?' |
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王曰：“寡人有疾，寡人好色。” |
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The king said, 'I have an infirmity; I am fond of beauty.' |
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对曰：“昔者大王好色，爱厥妃。《》云：‘古公亶甫，来朝走马，率西水浒，至于岐下。爰及姜女，聿来胥宇。’当是时也，内无怨女，外无旷夫。王如好色，与百姓同之，于王何有？” |
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The reply was, 'Formerly, king Tai was fond of beauty, and loved his wife. It is said in the Book of Poetry, "Gu Gong Tan Fu, Came in the morning, galloping his horse, By the banks of the western waters, As far as the foot of Qi hill, Along with the lady of Jiang; They came and together chose the site for their settlement." At that time, in the seclusion of the house, there were no dissatisfied women, and abroad, there were no unmarried men. If your Majesty loves beauty, let the people be able to gratify the same feeling, and what difficulty will there be in your attaining the royal sway?' |
