庄暴见孟子，曰：「暴见于王，王语暴以好乐，暴未有以对也。」曰：「好乐何如？」孟子曰：「王之好乐甚，则齐国其庶几乎！」
Liang Hui Wang II Zhuang Bao, seeing Mencius, said to him, 'I had an interview with the king. His Majesty told me that he loved music, and I was not prepared with anything to reply to him. What do you pronounce about that love of music?' Mencius replied, 'If the king's love of music were very great, the kingdom of Qi would be near to a state of good government!'
他日，见于王曰：「王尝语庄子以好乐，有诸？」王变乎色，曰：「寡人非能好先王之乐也，直好世俗之乐耳。」
Another day, Mencius, having an interview with the king, said, 'Your Majesty, I have heard, told the officer Zhuang, that you love music - was it so?' The king changed colour, and said, 'I am unable to love the music of the ancient sovereigns; I only love the music that suits the manners of the present age.'
曰：「王之好乐甚，则齐其庶几乎！今之乐犹古之乐也。」曰：「可得闻与？」
Mencius said, 'If your Majesty's love of music were very great, Qi would be near to a state of good government! The music of the present day is just like the music of antiquity, as regards effecting that.' The king said, 'May I hear from you the proof of that?'
曰：「独乐乐，与人乐乐，孰乐？」曰：「不若与人。」曰：「与少乐乐，与众乐乐，孰乐？」曰：「不若与众。」
Mencius asked, 'Which is the more pleasant - to enjoy music by yourself alone, or to enjoy it with others?' 'To enjoy it with others,' was the reply. 'And which is the more pleasant - to enjoy music with a few, or to enjoy it with many?' 'To enjoy it with many.'
「臣请为王言乐：
Mencius proceeded, 'Your servant begs to explain what I have said about music to your Majesty.
今王鼓乐于此，百姓闻王钟鼓之声，管籥之音，举疾首蹙頞而相告曰：『吾王之好鼓乐，夫何使我至于此极也？父子不相见，兄弟妻子离散。』今王田猎于此，百姓闻王车马之音，见羽旄之美，举疾首蹙頞而相告曰：『吾王之好田猎，夫何使我至于此极也？
Now, your Majesty is having music here.
父子不相见，兄弟妻子离散。』此无他，不与民同乐也。
The people hear the noise of your bells and drums, and the notes of your fifes and pipes, and they all, with aching heads, knit their brows, and say to one another, "That's how our king likes his music! But why does he reduce us to this extremity of distress? Fathers and sons cannot see one another. Elder brothers and younger brothers, wives and children, are separated and scattered abroad." Now, your Majesty is hunting here. The people hear the noise of your carriages and horses, and see the beauty of your plumes and streamers, and they all, with aching heads, knit their brows, and say to one another, "That's how our king likes his hunting! But why does he reduce us to this extremity of distress? Fathers and sons cannot see one another. Elder brothers and younger brothers, wives and children, are separated and scattered abroad." Their feeling thus is from no other reason but that you do not allow the people to have pleasure as well as yourself.
今王鼓乐于此，百姓闻王钟鼓之声，管籥之音，举欣欣然有喜色而相告曰：『吾王庶几无疾病与？何以能鼓乐也？』今王田猎于此，百姓闻王车马之音，见羽旄之美，举欣欣然有喜色而相告曰『吾王庶几无疾病与？何以能田猎也？』此无他，与民同乐也。
'Now, your Majesty is having music here.
今王与百姓同乐，则王矣。」
The people hear the noise of your bells and drums, and the notes of your fifes and pipes, and they all, delighted, and with joyful looks, say to one another, "That sounds as if our king were free from all sickness!
齐宣王问曰：「文王之囿方七十里，有诸？」孟子对曰：「于传有之。」
If he were not, how could he enjoy this music?" Now, your Majesty is hunting here. The people hear the noise of your carriages and horses, and see the beauty of your plumes and streamers, and they all, delighted, and with joyful looks, say to one another, "That looks as if our king were free from all sickness! If he were not, how could he enjoy this hunting?" Their feeling thus is from no other reason but that you cause them to have their pleasure as you have yours. If your Majesty now will make pleasure a thing common to the people and yourself, the royal sway awaits you.' The king Xuan of Qi asked, 'Was it so, that the park of king Wen contained seventy square li?' Mencius replied, 'It is so in the records.'
曰：「若是其大乎？」曰：「民犹以为小也。」曰：「寡人之囿方四十里，民犹以为大，何也？」曰：「文王之囿方七十里，刍荛者往焉，雉兔者往焉，与民同之。民以为小，不亦宜乎？
'Was it so large as that?' exclaimed the king.
臣始至于境，问国之大禁，然后敢入。臣闻郊关之内有囿方四十里，杀其麋鹿者如杀人之罪。则是方四十里，为阱于国中。民以为大，不亦宜乎？」
'The people,' said Mencius, 'still looked on it as small.' The king added, 'My park contains only forty square li, and the people still look on it as large. How is this?' 'The park of king Wen,' was the reply, 'contained seventy square li, but the grass-cutters and fuel-gatherers had the privilege of entrance into it; so also had the catchers of pheasants and hares. He shared it with the people, and was it not with reason that they looked on it as small? When I first arrived at the borders of your kingdom, I inquired about the great prohibitory regulations, before I would venture to enter it; and I heard, that inside the barrier-gates there was a park of forty square lî, and that he who killed a deer in it, was held guilty of the same crime as if he had killed a man. Thus those forty square li are a pitfall in the middle of the kingdom. Is it not with reason that the people look upon them as large?'
齐宣王问曰：「交邻国有道乎？」孟子对曰：「有。惟仁者为能以大事小，是故汤事葛，文王事昆夷；惟智者为能以小事大，故大王事獯鬻，句践事吴。
The king Xuan of Qi asked, saying, 'Is there any way to regulate one's maintenance of intercourse with neighbouring kingdoms?' Mencius replied, 'There is.
以大事小者，乐天者也；以小事大者，畏天者也。乐天者保天下，畏天者保其国。
But it requires a perfectly virtuous prince to be able, with a great country, to serve a small one - as, for instance, Tang served Ge, and king Wen served the Kun barbarians.
诗云：『畏天之威，于时保之。』」
And it requires a wise prince to be able, with a small country, to serve a large one - as the king Tai served the Xun Yu, and Gou Jian served Wu. He who with a areat State serves a small one, delights in Heaven. He who with a small State serves a large one, stands in awe of Heaven. He who delights in Heaven, will affect with his love and protection the whole kingdom. He who stands in awe of Heaven, will affect with his love and protection his own kingdom. It is said in the Book of Poetry, "I fear the Majesty of Heaven, and will thus preserve its favouring decree."'
王曰：「大哉言矣！寡人有疾，寡人好勇。」
The king said,'A great saying! But I have an infirmity - I love valour.'
对曰：「王请无好小勇。夫抚剑疾视曰，『彼𫫇敢当我哉』！此匹夫之勇，敌一人者也。王请大之！
I beg your Majesty,' was the reply, 'not to love small valour.
诗云：『王赫斯怒，爰整其旅，以遏徂莒，以笃周祜，以对于天下。』此文王之勇也。文王一怒而安天下之民。
It is said in the Book of Poetry, "The king blazed with anger, And he marshalled his hosts, To stop the march to Ju, And to secure the grace of Zhou, That he might answer the expectations of the empire." This was the valour of King Wen. With one burst of anger, he gave peace to all the people of the empire.
书曰：『天降下民，作之君，作之师。惟曰其助上帝，宠之四方。有罪无罪，惟我在，天下曷敢有越厥志？』一人衡行于天下，武王耻之。此武王之勇也。而武王亦一怒而安天下之民。
It is said in the Book of History, "Heaven, having produced the inferior people, made for them rulers and teachers, with the purpose that they should be assisting to God, and therefore distinguished them throughout the four quarters of the empire. Whoever are offenders, and whoever are innocent, here am I to deal with them. How dare any under heaven set itself against the imperial will?" There was one man pursuing a violently lawless course over the empire, and King Wu was ashamed of it. This was the valour of King Wu. And King Wu also, with one burst of anger, gave peace to all the people of the empire.
今王亦一怒而安天下之民，民惟恐王之不好勇也。」
Let now your Majesty also, in one burst of anger, give peace to all the people of the empire. Let the people be only afraid that your Majesty should not love valour.'
齐宣王见孟子于雪宫。王曰：「贤者亦有此乐乎？」孟子对曰：「有。人不得，则非其上矣。
The king Xuan of Qi had an interview with Mencius in the Snow palace, and said to him, 'Do men of talents and worth likewise find pleasure in these things?' Mencius replied, 'They do; and if people generally are not able to enjoy themselves, they condemn their superiors.
不得而非其上者，非也；为民上而不与民同乐者，亦非也。
For them, when they cannot enjoy themselves, to condemn their superiors is wrong, but when the superiors of the people do not make enjoyment a thing common to the people and themselves, they also do wrong.
乐民之乐者，民亦乐其乐；忧民之忧者，民亦忧其忧。乐以天下，忧以天下，然而不王者，未之有也。
When a ruler rejoices in the joy of his people, they also rejoice in his joy; when he grieves at the sorrow of his people, they also grieve at his sorrow. A sympathy of joy will pervade the kingdom; a sympathy of sorrow will do the same - in such a state of things, it cannot be but that the ruler attain to the royal dignity.
昔者齐景公问于晏子曰：『吾欲观于转附、朝儛，遵海而南，放于琅邪。吾何修而可以比于先王观也？』
'Formerly, the duke Jing of Qi asked the minister Yan, saying, "I wish to pay a visit of inspection to Zhuan Fu, and Chao Wu, and then to bend my course southward along the shore, till I come to Lang Xie.
晏子对曰：『善哉问也！天子适诸侯曰巡狩，巡狩者巡所守也；诸侯朝于天子曰述职，述职者述所职也。无非事者。春省耕而补不足，秋省敛而助不给。夏谚曰：「吾王不游，吾何以休？吾王不豫，吾何以助？一游一豫，为诸侯度。」
What shall I do that my tour may be fit to be compared with the visits of inspection made by the ancient sovereigns?" The minister Yan replied, "An excellent inquiry!
今也不然：师行而粮食，饥者弗食，劳者弗息。睊睊胥谗，民乃作慝。方命虐民，饮食若流。流连荒亡，为诸侯忧。
When the Son of Heaven visited the princes, it was called a tour of inspection, that is, be surveyed the States under their care.
从流下而忘反谓之流，从流上而忘反谓之连，从兽无厌谓之荒，乐酒无厌谓之亡。
When the princes attended at the court of the Son of Heaven, it was called a report of office, that is, they reported their administration of their offices.
先王无流连之乐，荒亡之行。
The former kings had no fondness for what was extraordinary, nor any thought of wandering to the neglect of government.
惟君所行也。』
It is for the sovereign to choose between the two courses.
景公说，大戒于国，出舍于郊。于是始兴发补不足。召大师曰：『为我作君臣相说之乐！』盖征招角招是也。其诗曰：『畜君何尤？』畜君者，好君也。」
The duke Jing was pleased. He made great preparations in the capital, and then took up his residence outside it. Then he began to open his granaries, and supply the destitute. He called the Grand music-master, and said to him, "Make for me music suited to a sovereign and his minister pleased with each other." This was the Zhi Zhao and the Jiao Zhao. It is said in the ode, "What harm is there in restraining the sovereign?" To restrain the sovereign is to love him.
齐宣王问曰：「人皆谓我毁明堂。毁诸？已乎？」
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?'
孟子对曰：「夫明堂者，王者之堂也。王欲行王政，则勿毁之矣。」
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.'
王曰：「王政可得闻与？」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。
The king said, 'May I hear from you what the true royal government is?' The reply was, 'Formerly, in the government of Qi under king Wen, the husbandmen were aided to cultivate one part in nine, and the descendants of officers had hereditary emoluments. At the frontiers and in the markets, strangers were examined, but no taxes were levied from them; neither were any prohibitions laid on the use of the dams and weirs in ponds and lakes. The punishment for an offender did not extend to his wife and children. There were the old and wifeless, or widowers; the old and husbandless, or widows; the old and childless, or solitaries; and 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, was the first to make them objects of his care.
诗云：『哿矣富人，哀此茕独。』」
It is said in the Book of Poetry, "Happy are the rich; But pity the solitary and destitute."'
王曰：「善哉言乎！」曰：「王如善之，则何为不行？」王曰：「寡人有疾，寡人好货。」对曰：「昔者公刘好货，《诗》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。
The king said, 'O excellent words!' Mencius said, 'Since your Majesty deems them excellent, why do you not practise them? I have heard that when any one practises what is good, he cannot stop because he has an infirmity. Your Majesty has an infirmity; you love wealth. The reply was, 'Formerly, Gong Liu loved 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 bags and sacks, He thought of collecting his people, and glorifying his State; With bows and arrows all ready, With shields and spears and axes displaying, The march of his hosts commenced." They who remained had their ricks and granaries, and they who marched had their dry provisions. Only after this did they set out. Your Majesty loves wealth; let the people be able to do the same, and what difficulty will there be in your exercising the royal sway?
王如好货，与百姓同之，于王何有？」
If your Majesty loves wealth, and the people are allowed to do the same, what difficulty will there be in your exercising the royal sway?'
王曰：「寡人有疾，寡人好色。」对曰：「昔者大王好色，爱厥妃。《诗》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？」
The king said, 'I have an infirmity; I am fond of beauty.' 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?'
孟子谓齐宣王曰：「王之臣有托其妻子于其友，而之楚游者。比其反也，则冻馁其妻子，则如之何？」王曰：「弃之。」
Mencius said to the king Xuan of Qi, 'Suppose that one of your Majesty's ministers were to entrust his wife and children to the care of his friend, while he himself went into Chu to travel, and that, on his return, he should find that the friend had let his wife and children suffer from cold and hunger - how ought he to deal with him?' The king said, 'He should cast him off.'
曰：「士师不能治士，则如之何？」王曰：「已之。」
Mencius proceeded, 'Suppose that the chief criminal judge could not regulate the officers under him, how would you deal with him?' The king said, 'Dismiss him.'
曰：「四境之内不治，则如之何？」王顾左右而言他。
Mencius again said, 'If within the four borders of your kingdom there is not good government, what is to be done?' The king looked to the right and left, and spoke of other matters.
孟子见齐宣王曰：「所谓故国者，非谓有乔木之谓也，有世臣之谓也。王无亲臣矣，昔者所进，今日不知其亡也。」
Mencius, having an interview with the king Xuan of Qi, said to him, 'When men speak of "an ancient kingdom," it is not meant thereby that it has lofty trees in it, but that it has ministers sprung from families which have been noted in it for generations. Your Majesty has no intimate ministers even. Those whom you advanced yesterday are gone to-day, and you do not know it.'
王曰：「吾何以识其不才而舍之？」
The king said, 'How shall I know that they have not ability, and so avoid employing them at all?'
曰：「国君进贤，如不得已，将使卑逾尊，疏逾戚，可不慎与？
The reply was, 'The ruler of a State advances to office men of talents and virtue only as a matter of necessity.
左右皆曰贤，未可也；诸大夫皆曰贤，未可也；国人皆曰贤，然后察之；见贤焉，然后用之。左右皆曰不可，勿听；诸大夫皆曰不可，勿听；国人皆曰不可，然后察之；见不可焉，然后去之。
Since he will thereby cause the low to overstep the honourable, and distant to overstep his near relatives, ought he to do so but with caution?
左右皆曰可杀，勿听；诸大夫皆曰可杀，勿听；国人皆曰可杀，然后察之；见可杀焉，然后杀之。故曰，国人杀之也。
When all those about you say, "This is a man of talents and worth," you may not therefore believe it.
如此，然后可以为民父母。」
When your great officers all say, "This is a man of talents and virtue," neither may you for that believe it.
齐宣王问曰：「汤放桀，武王伐纣，有诸？」孟子对曰：「于传有之。」
When all the people say, "This is a man of talents and virtue," then examine into the case, and when you find that the man is such, employ him. When all those about you say, "This man won't do," don't listen to them. When all your great officers say, "This man won't do," don't listen to them. When the people all sav, "This man won't do," then examine into the case, and when you find that the man won't do, send him away. When all those about you say, "This man deserves death," don't listen to them. When all your great officers say, "This man deserves death," don't listen to them. When the people all say, "This man deserves death," then inquire into the case, and when you see that the man deserves death, put him to death. In accordance with this we have the saying, "The people killed him." You must act in this way in order to be the parent of the people.' The king Xuan of Qi asked, saying, 'Was it so, that Tang banished Jie, and that king Wu smote Zhou?' Mencius replied, 'It is so in the records.'
曰：「臣弑其君可乎？」
The king said, 'May a minister then put his sovereign to death?'
曰：「贼仁者谓之贼，贼义者谓之残，残贼之人谓之一夫。闻诛一夫纣矣，未闻弑君也。」
Mencius said, 'He who outrages the benevolence proper to his nature, is called a robber; he who outrages righteousness, is called a ruffian. The robber and ruffian we call a mere fellow. I have heard of the cutting off of the fellow Zhou, but I have not heard of the putting a sovereign to death, in his case.'
孟子见齐宣王曰：「为巨室，则必使工师求大木。工师得大木。则王喜，以为能胜其任也。匠人斲而小之，则王怒，以为不胜其任矣。夫人幼而学之，壮而欲行之。王曰『姑舍女所学而从我』，则何如？
Mencius, having an interview with the king Xuan of Qi, said to him, 'If you are going to build a large mansion, you will surely cause the Master of the workmen to look out for large trees, and when he has found such large trees, you will be glad, thinking that they will answer for the intended object.
今有璞玉于此，虽万镒，必使玉人雕琢之。至于治国家，则曰『姑舍女所学而从我』，则何以异于教玉人雕琢玉哉？」
Should the workmen hew them so as to make them too small, then your Majesty will be angry, thinking that they will not answer for the purpose.
齐人伐燕，胜之。
Now, a man spends his youth in learning the principles of right government, and, being grown up to vigour, he wishes to put them in practice; if your Majesty says to him, "For the present put aside what you have learned, and follow me," what shall we say?
宣王问曰：「或谓寡人勿取，或谓寡人取之。以万乘之国伐万乘之国，五旬而举之，人力不至于此。不取，必有天殃。取之，何如？」
Here now you have a gem unwrought, in the stone. Although it may be worth 240,000 taels, you will surely employ a lapidary to cut and polish it. But when you come to the government of the State, then you say, "For the present put aside what you have learned, and follow me." How is it that you herein act so differently from your conduct in calling in the lapidary to cut the gem?' The people of Qi attacked Yan, and conquered it. The king Xuan asked, saying, 'Some tell me not to take possession of it for myself, and some tell me to take possession of it. For a kingdom of ten thousand chariots, attacking another of ten thousand chariots, to complete the conquest of it in fifty days, is an achievement beyond mere human strength. If I do not take possession of it, calamities from Heaven will surely come upon me. What do you say to my taking possession of it?'
孟子对曰：「取之而燕民悦，则取之。古之人有行之者，武王是也。取之而燕民不悦，则勿取。古之人有行之者，文王是也。
Mencius replied, 'If the people of Yan will be pleased with your taking possession of it, then do so. Among the ancients there was one who acted on this principle, namely king Wu. If the people of Yan will not be pleased with your taking possession of it, then do not do so. Among the ancients there was one who acted on this principle, namely king Wen. When, with all the strength of your country of ten thousand chariots, you attacked another country of ten thousand chariots, and the people brought baskets of rice and vessels of congee, to meet your Majesty's host, was there any other reason for this but that they hoped to escape out of fire and water? If you make the water more deep and the fire more fierce, they will in like manner make another revolution.' The people of Qi, having smitten Yan, took possession of it, and upon this, the princes of the various States deliberated together, and resolved to deliver Yan from their power. The king Xuan said to Mencius, 'The princes have formed many plans to attack me - how shall I prepare myself for them?' Mencius replied, 'I have heard of one who with seventy li exercised all the functions of government throughout the kingdom. That was Tang. I have never heard of a prince with a thousand li standing in fear of others. It is said
以万乘之国伐万乘之国，箪食壶浆，以迎王师。岂有他哉？避水火也。如水益深，如火益热，亦运而已矣。」
in the Book of History, As soon as Tang began his work of executing justice, he commenced with Ge. The whole kingdom had confidence in him. When he pursued his work in the east, the rude tribes on the west murmured. So did those on the north, when he was engaged in the south. Their cry was "Why does he put us last?" Thus, the people looked to him, as we look in a time of great drought to the clouds and rainbows. The frequenters of the markets stopped not. The husbandmen made no change in their operations. While he punished their rulers, he consoled the people. His progress was like the falling of opportune rain, and the people were delighted. It is said again in the Book of History, "We have waited for our prince long; the prince's coming will be our reviving!"
齐人伐燕，取之。诸侯将谋救燕。宣王曰：「诸侯多谋伐寡人者，何以待之？」孟子对曰：「臣闻七十里为政于天下者，汤是也。未闻以千里畏人者也。
书曰：『汤一征，自葛始。』天下信之。『东麺而征，西夷怨；南麺而征，北狄怨。曰，奚为后我？』民望之，若大旱之望云霓也。归市者不止，耕者不变。诛其君而吊其民，若时雨降，民大悦。书曰：『徯我后，后来其苏。』
今燕虐其民，王往而征之。民以为将拯己于水火之中也，箪食壶浆，以迎王师。若杀其父兄，系累其子弟，毁其宗庙，迁其重器，如之何其可也？天下固畏齐之彊也。今又倍地而不行仁政，是动天下之兵也。
'Now the ruler of Yan was tyrannizing over his people, and your Majesty went and punished him.
王速出令，反其旄倪，止其重器，谋于燕众，置君而后去之，则犹可及止也。」
The people supposed that you were going to deliver them out of the water and the fire, and brought baskets of rice and vessels of congee, to meet your Majesty's host. But you have slain their fathers and elder brothers, and put their sons and younger brothers in confinement. You have pulled down the ancestral temple of the State, and are removing to Qi its precious vessels. How can such a course be deemed proper? The rest of the kingdom is indeed jealously afraid of the strength of Qi; and now, when with a doubled territory you do not put in practice a benevolent government - it is this which sets the arms of the kingdom in in motion. If your Majesty will make haste to issue an ordinance, restoring your captives, old and young, stopping the removal of the precious vessels, and saying that, after consulting with the people of Yen, you will appoint them a ruler, and withdraw from the country - in this way you may still be able to stop the threatened attack.'
邹与鲁哄。穆公问曰：「吾有司死者三十三人，而民莫之死也。诛之，则不可胜诛；不诛，则疾视其长上之死而不救，如之何则可也？」
There had been a brush between Zou and Lu, when the duke Mu asked Mencius, saying,'Of my officers there were killed thirty-three men, and none of the people would die in their defence. Though I sentenced them to death for their conduct, it is impossible to put such a multitude to death. If I do not put them to death, then there is the crime unpunished of their looking angrily on at the death of their officers, and not saving them. How is the exigency of the case to be met?'
孟子对曰：「凶年饥岁，君之民老弱转乎沟壑，壮者散而之四方者，几千人矣；而君之仓廪实，府库充，有司莫以告，是上慢而残下也。曾子曰：『戒之戒之！出乎尔者，反乎尔者也。』夫民今而后得反之也。君无尤焉。
Mencius replied, 'In calamitous years and years of famine, the old and weak of your people, who have been found lying in the ditches and water-channels, and the able-bodied who have been scattered about to the four quarters, have amounted to several thousands. All the while, your granaries, O prince, have been stored with grain, and your treasuries and arsenals have been full, and not one of your officers has told you of the distress. Thus negligent have the superiors in your State been, and cruel to their inferiors. The philosopher Zeng said, "Beware, beware. What proceeds from you, will return to you again." Now at length the people have paid back the conduct of their officers to them. Do not you, O prince, blame them.
君行仁政，斯民亲其上、死其长矣。」
If you will put in practice a benevolent government, this people will love you and all above them, and will die for their officers.'
滕文公问曰：「滕，小国也，间于齐楚。事齐乎？事楚乎？」
The duke Wen of Teng asked Mencius, saying, 'Teng is a small kingdom, and lies between Qi and Chu. Shall I serve Qi? Or shall I serve Chu?'
孟子对曰：「是谋非吾所能及也。无已，则有一焉：凿斯池也，筑斯城也，与民守之，效死而民弗去，则是可为也。」
Mencius replied, 'This plan which you propose is beyond me. If you will have me counsel you, there is one thing I can suggest. Dig deeper your moats; build higher your walls; guard them as well as your people. In case of attack, be prepared to die in your defence, and have the people so that they will not leave you - this is a proper course.'
滕文公问曰：「齐人将筑薛，吾甚恐。如之何则可？」
The duke Wen of Teng asked Mencius, saying, 'The people of Qi are going to fortify Xue. The movement occasions me great alarm. What is the proper course for me to take in the case?'
孟子对曰：「昔者大王居邠，狄人侵之，去之岐山之下居焉。非择而取之，不得已也。
Mencius replied, 'Formerly, when king Tai dwelt in Bin, the barbarians of the north were continually making incursions upon it.
苟为善，后世子孙必有王者矣。君子创业垂统，为可继也。若夫成功，则天也。君如彼何哉？彊为善而已矣。」
He therefore left it, went to the foot of mount Qi, and there took up his residence. He did not take that situation, as having selected it. It was a matter of necessity with him. If you do good, among your descendants, in after generations, there shall be one who will attain to the royal dignity. A prince lays the foundation of the inheritance, and hands down the beginning which he has made, doing what may be continued by his successors. As to the accomplishment of the great result, that is with Heaven. What is that Qi to you, 0 prince? Be strong to do good. That is all your business.'
滕文公问曰：「滕，小国也。竭力以事大国，则不得免焉。如之何则可？」孟子对曰：「昔者大王居邠，狄人侵之。事之以皮币，不得免焉；事之以犬马，不得免焉；事之以珠玉，不得免焉。乃属其耆老而告之曰：『狄人之所欲者，吾土地也。
The duke Wen of Teng asked Mencius, saying, 'Teng is a small State.
吾闻之也：君子不以其所以养人者害人。二三子何患乎无君？我将去之。』去邠，逾梁山，邑于岐山之下居焉。邠人曰：『仁人也，不可失也。』从之者如归市。
Though I do my utmost to serve those large kingdoms on either side of it, we cannot escape suffering from them.
或曰：『世守也，非身之所能为也。效死勿去。』
What course shall I take that we may do so?' Mencius replied, 'Formerly, when king Tai dwelt in Bin, the barbarians of the north were constantly making incursions upon it.
君请择于斯二者。」
He served them with skins and silks, and still he suffered from them. He served them with dogs and horses, and still he suffered from them. He served them with pearls and gems, and still he suffered from them. Seeing this, he assembled the old men, and announced to them, saying, "What the barbarians want is my territory. I have heard this - that a ruler does not injure his people with that wherewith he nourishes them. My children, why should you be troubled about having no prince? I will leave this." Accordingly, he left Bin, crossed the mountain Liang, built a town at the foot of mount Qi, and dwelt there. The people of Pin said, "He is a benevolent man. We must not lose him." Those who followed him looked like crowds hastening to market. On the other hand, some say, "The kingdom is a thing to be kept from generation to generation. One individual cannot undertake to dispose of it in his own person. Let him be prepared to die for it. Let him not quit it." I ask you, prince, to make your election between these two courses.'
鲁平公将出。嬖人臧仓者请曰：「他日君出，则必命有司所之。今乘舆已驾矣，有司未知所之。敢请。」公曰：「将见孟子。」曰：「何哉？君所为轻身以先于匹夫者，以为贤乎？礼义由贤者出。而孟子之后丧逾前丧。君无见焉！」公曰：「诺。」
The duke Ping of Lu was about to leave his palace, when his favourite, one Zang Cang, made a request to him, saying, 'On other days, when you have gone out, you have given instructions to the officers as to where you were going. But now, the horses have been put to the carriage, and the officers do not yet know where you are going. I venture to ask.' The duke said, 'I am going to see the scholar Meng.' 'How is this?' said the other. 'That you demean yourself, prince, in paying the honour of the first visit to a common man, is, I suppose, because you think that he is a man of talents and virtue. By such men the rules of ceremonial proprieties and right are observed. But on the occasion of this Meng's second mourning, his observances exceeded those of the former. Do not go to see him, my prince.' The duke said, 'I will not.'
乐正子入见，曰：「君奚为不见孟轲也？」曰：「或告寡人曰，『孟子之后丧逾前丧』，是以不往见也。」曰：「何哉君所谓逾者？前以士，后以大夫；前以三鼎，而后以五鼎与？」曰：「否。谓棺椁衣衾之美也。」曰：「非所谓逾也，贫富不同也。」
The officer Yue Zheng entered the court, and had an audience. He said, 'Prince, why have you not gone to see Meng Ke?' the duke said, 'One told me that, on the occasion of the scholar Meng's second mourning, his observances exceeded those of the former. It is on that account that I have not gone to see him.' 'How is this!' answered Yue Zheng. 'By what you call "exceeding," you mean, I suppose, that, on the first occasion, he used the rites appropriate to a scholar, and, on the second, those appropriate to a great officer; that he first used three tripods, and afterwards five tripods.' The duke said, 'No; I refer to the greater excellence of the coffin, the shell, the grave-clothes, and the shroud.' Yo-chAng said, 'That cannot be called "exceeding." That was the difference between being poor and being rich.'
乐正子见孟子，曰：「克告于君，君为来见也。嬖人有臧仓者沮君，君是以不果来也。」曰：「行或使之，止或尼之。行止，非人所能也。吾之不遇鲁侯，天也。臧氏之子焉能使予不遇哉？」为，去声。沮，慈吕反。尼，女乙反。焉，于虔反。克，乐正子名。
Yue Zhengzi saw Mencius and said: "Ke informed the ruler, and the ruler was going to come see you. But a favorite named Zang Cang obstructed the ruler, and so he did not come after all." Mencius said: "At times one is made to go; at times one is stopped. Going and stopping are not things people can control. That I did not meet the marquis of Lu was Heaven. How could the son of the Zang clan make me fail to meet him?" Wei is read in the departing tone. Ju is read cí lǚ fan. Ni is read nǚ yǐ fan. Yan is read yú qián fan. Ke was Yue Zhengzi's personal name.
沮尼，皆止之之意也。言人之行，必有人使之者。其止，必有人尼之者。然其所以行所以止，则固有天命，而非此人所能使，亦非此人所能尼也。然则我之不遇，岂臧仓之所能为哉？此章言圣贤之出处，关时运之盛衰。乃天命之所为，非人力之可及。」
Ju and ni both carry the sense of stopping. When a person goes, there is always someone who enables it; when he stops, there is always someone who blocks it. Yet the reason why one goes or stops lies in Heaven's decree, not in what that person can make happen or prevent. Thus how could my not being received have been something Zang Cang was able to cause? This passage says that the appearance or withdrawal of sages and worthies is tied to the rise and fall of the times. It is brought about by Heaven's mandate and is beyond the reach of human power."