4.2 孟子將朝王1。王使人2來3曰:“寡人4如5就見者也6,有寒疾,不可以7風。朝8將視9朝,不識10可使寡人得見乎11?”
對曰:“不幸而有疾,不能造12朝?!?/p>
明日13,出弔14于東郭氏15。公孫丑16曰:“昔者17辭以病18,今日弔,或者19不可乎?”
曰:“昔者疾,今日愈,如之20,何不弔?”
王使人問疾21,醫(yī)來。孟仲子22對曰:“昔者有王命23,有采薪之憂24,不能造朝。今病小愈,趨25造于朝。我不識能至26否乎。”使數(shù)人要27于路,曰:“請必無歸28而造于朝?!?/p>
不得已29,而之30景丑31氏宿焉32。景子曰:“內則父子,外則君臣33,人之大倫34也。父子主35恩,君臣主敬。丑見王之敬子也,未見所以36敬王也?!?/p>
曰:“惡37,是何言也!齊人無以38仁義39與王言者40,豈以仁義為不美41也?其心曰: ‘是42何足43與言仁義也。云爾44,則不敬莫大乎是45。我,非46堯舜之道,不敢以陳47于王前。故齊人莫如我敬王也?!?/p>
孟子正打算去朝見齊王,齊王派使者傳詔說:“寡人本應前去見你,可是現(xiàn)在著涼病了,怕風不能來。早上打算臨朝,不知能不能讓寡人見到你?”
孟子回答說:“不幸我也得了病,不能到朝?!?/p>
第二天,孟子到東郭家吊唁。公孫丑說:“昨天您因病而推辭不去上朝,今天又去吊唁,或許不太好吧?”
孟子說:“昨天有病,今天痊愈,這種情況,為什么不能吊唁?”
齊王派人探問病情,御醫(yī)也來了。孟子的弟弟對他們說:“昨天接到王上召命的時候,他因為身體不適,所以說不能上朝。今天病稍好了一些,急忙上朝去了。我不知能不能走到?”使者走后,孟仲子派了好幾個人在路上攔截孟子,對他說:“請務必別回家,而是上朝去?!?/p>
孟子沒有辦法,只好去景丑家,在那里過夜。景先生說:“內有父子關系,外有君臣關系,都是重大的倫理關系。父子關系重恩情,君臣關系重尊敬。我景丑看到的都是王上敬重先生,沒看見您敬王上的事?!?/p>
孟子說:“哎,這是什么話!齊國沒人跟王上講仁義,難道是他們認為仁義不美好嗎?大家心里說:‘這人哪里配跟他談仁義。說這種話,則沒有比這更大的不敬了。我,不是堯舜的道理,不敢在王上面前陳述。因此齊國沒有人像我這樣尊敬王?!?/p>
Mencius was about to go to court to see the King when the King sent a messenger over to summon him. The messenger said:“His Majesty should have come over to see you, but he is taken ill with a cold. So he cant come for fear of the wind. Tomorrow morning, however, his Majesty will hold court and wonders whether it is possible for him to see you then.”
“Unfortunately,” replied Mencius, “Im taken ill, too. Im sorry I cant go to the court.”
The next day Mencius set out to attend a wake at Minister Dongguos home. Gongsun Chou, a student of his, said: “Yesterday you declined the Kings summons by saying you were ill, yet today youre going to a wake. Is this perhaps not very appropriate?”
“Yesterday,” said Mencius, “I was ill; today Im better. Why cant I go to offer my condolence?”
After Mencius went out, the Kings messenger came to ask after his condition along with the royal physician. The younger brother of Mencius said to them: “Yesterday when the Kings summons came, he was unwell, so he said he wasnt able to go to the court. Today, as he felt slightly better, he hurried off to the court. But Im not sure if he is able to make it there.” After the messenger left, he sent several men out to intercept Mencius on the roads and tell him: “Please, dont return home under any circumstances. Go to the court instead.”
So there was nothing Mencius could do but go to Minister Jing Chous home to spend the night there. Mister Jing said: “Within the family there is the relationship between father and son; outside the family there is the relationship between sovereign and subject. These are two of the most important ethical relationships. In a father-son relationship, kindness prevails; in a sovereign-subject relationship, respect prevails. What I have seen, sir, is his Majestys respect for you, I have never seen you showing any respect for his Majesty.”
“My goodness, what are you talking about! Nobody in Qi talks to the King about benevolence and righteousness. Does this mean they think these attributes are not admirable? In their hearts they
simply say: ‘This man is not worthy of us talking to him about benevolence and righteousness. Saying such things would be the most disrespectful thing of all. I, in contrast, would never dare present anything to his Majesty which is not in line with the Ways of Kings Yao and Shun. Therefore, I can say nobody in Qi is as respectful to the King as I am.”
注 釋
1. 將朝王:將的意思是‘打算,英文是be about to‘正要;朝的意思是‘朝見,王指齊王,朝王即go to court to see the King。
2.使人:派人。這里的人不是一般人,不應像理雅各(Legge 1875)那樣譯成a person,而是使者,因此可譯成courier(Hinton 1998)或messenger(Lau 2003)。
3. 來:這里有及物和不及物兩種解讀,都說得通。作為不及物謂詞,來的意思是‘前來;作為及物謂詞,來的意思是“召之使來”(《漢語大字典》),后面孟仲子也說“昔者有王命”,可見使者傳達的是一種王命,即英文的summons,只不過言辭顯得較為客氣。孟子出于自身的職責和意愿,本來打算上朝。現(xiàn)在齊王派人來通知他,令他感到不爽。他要是去了,是聽命于齊王,而他對齊王明顯有看法,不喜歡這種聽命的感覺。這就是為什么他打定主意不去上朝。
4.寡人:英語有所謂royal we,在一定情況下相當于寡人,但這里不太合適,譯成I則喪失了王者氣派。由于是使者傳話,可以譯成第三人稱的his Majesty。
5. 如:有三種解讀。一種是‘若,即‘如果的意思(焦循《孟子正義》);一種是‘將(王引之《經(jīng)傳釋詞》);一種是‘宜;當(王引之,同上;楊伯峻 1960)。最后一種解釋最通順,可譯成should have come,也可譯成was wishing(Legge)、wanted to come(Hinton)或was to have come(Lau)。
6. 就見者也:就的意思是‘趨向;往……去(《漢語大字典》);者=諸=之,是賓語;也的意思是‘是。
7.以:因為。以風可以解讀為‘因為怕見風,譯成for fear of the wind,也可譯成may not expose myself to the wind(Legge)、must avoid the wind(Hinton)、cannot be exposed to the wind(Lau)。
8.朝:趙岐《孟子章句》的解讀是“儻可來朝”;楊伯峻也持這種解釋,意思是‘你要是來上朝,我就臨朝處理政務。這種解釋有三點說不通。第一,從使者所傳達齊王話的整體來看,齊王對孟子顯然還是相當尊敬的,可是這種解讀完全聽不出尊敬的口吻;第二,連續(xù)兩個不同主語的句子不帶主語,意思不清楚;第三,如果是這種解釋,接下來的句話就完全沒有必要。較為合理的解讀是,朝/zhāo/表示‘早晨。
9.視朝:視有‘治理;處理的意思,今天我們還說視事。視朝就是‘處理朝政(hold court)。
10.識=知。這里的不識不是簡單的‘不知道,而是‘不知道而且想知道,即英文的wonder。
11. 可使……得見乎:是否有可能讓……見到(whether it is possible for him to see)。也可以譯成whether you will give me the opportunity(Legge)、 if Ill have a chance to see(Hinton)或if I shall have the opportunity of seeing(Lau)。
12. 造:最基本的意思就是‘到;去(《漢語大字典》)。
13. 明日:第二天。
14.出弔:出去追悼死者。隱含主語是孟子。之前的譯法是went out to pay a visit of condolence(Legge)、went to offer…h(huán)is condolence(Hinton 1998)和went on a visit of condolence。這里譯成set out to attend a wake‘守靈,因為a visit of condolence或offer his condolence所花的時間可以很短,a wake的時間卻很長。
15. 東郭氏:齊國一個姓東郭的大夫家族。譯文點明其身份。
16.公孫丑:齊國人,孟子的弟子,后來與萬章等參與了《孟子》一書的寫作。譯文也點明其身份。
17. 昔者:這里指昨天。
18. 以?。阂杂胁∽鳛槔碛苫蚪杩冢╞y saying you were ill),也可以譯成on the ground of being unwell(Legge)、saying you were sick(Hinton)或excused yourself o the ground of illness(Lau)。
19. 或者:或的本義是‘疑惑。這里可以解讀為‘或許。
20. 如之:如的意思是‘像;之=是=此。連在一起,意思是‘這樣的話。
21. 問疾:探問病情(ask after his condition),英語也可以是inquire about his sickness(Legge)、to see how Mencius was feeling(Hinton 1998)、或inquire after Menciuss illness(Lau 2003)。
22.孟仲子:趙岐的注說“孟仲子,孟子之從昆弟,學于孟子者也?!睆睦サ艿囊馑际恰鷱牡男值?。音譯成Mang Chung(Legge)、Meng Chung(Hinton)或Meng Chung-tze(Lau)無法說明他和孟子的關系,所以意譯成the younger brother of Mencius。
23.命:這個命不宜譯成order(Legge 1875),可以是message(Hinton)或summons(Lau)。
24. 采薪之憂:薪的意思是‘柴火。憂在這里一般解讀為‘疾病。采薪之憂又稱負薪之憂,意思是‘拾/背柴時扭傷了身子?!抖Y記·曲禮下》里說,負薪之憂是臣子對君主常用的一個借口。用今天的話說,就是身體不適。
25. 趨:快步走??梢宰g成hastened(Legge、Lau)或hurried off(Hinton)。
26.至:抵達;到達。英文可以說have reached it(Legge)或get there(Hinton、Lau),本文譯成make it。
27. 要/yāo/于路:在路上攔截(intercept),可譯成waylay(Lau)。譯成look for…on the way(Legge)或find(Hinton)也說得通,但不準確。
28.必無歸:必=務必;無=勿,是否定祈使句標記;歸的意思是‘回到原處??勺g成Do not, under any circumstances, come home(Lau);譯成You mustnt return home,口氣弱了一些;譯成I beg that, before you return home, you will go to the court(Legge),口氣太弱。
29.不得已:趙岐的注是“孟子迫于仲子之言不得已,而心不欲至朝?!苯寡慕庾x是,已的意思是‘止,不得止就是‘不得不往朝也。也就是說,孟子不得去了朝廷。可是如果孟子上過朝了,他可以光明正大地回到住處,不必到景丑家過夜。本文贊同楊伯峻的解讀,即孟子沒有辦法回到住處,只好另找過夜之處。譯成So there was nothing Mencius could do but,也可譯成felt himself compelled to(Legge)或was forced to(Lau)。
30. 之:往;到……去。
31. 景丑:齊國的另一位大夫,姓景名丑。可能是《漢書·藝文志》里所說著《景子》三篇文章的那位儒家學者景子。譯文點明其身份。
32.宿焉:在那里過夜。
33.君臣:可以譯成sovereign and subject(Hinton);也可譯成prince and minister(Legge)或prince and subject(Lau)。
34. 人之大倫:最重要的人倫關系(the most important ethical relationships),人倫就是倫理(ethics)。按字面意思譯,是great relations among men(Legge)、great bonds of human community(Hinton)。
35. 主:以……為主,可以解讀為‘看重或‘壓倒一切(prevail)。也可譯成the ruling principle is(Legge)或rules(Hinton)。譯成exemplifies‘體現(xiàn)(Lau),意思有些走樣。
36. 所以:所是不定代詞,意思是‘什么(地方/事情)。
37.惡,是何言也!:惡是表示驚愕的語氣詞,應該譯出來。譯成Oh!What words are these?(Legge),口氣不夠強烈。本文譯成My goodness。是何言也!可譯成What a thing to say!(Hinton、Lau)。
38.以:拿,用。
39. 仁義:本文采用理雅各的譯法。不同的譯法是Humanity and Duty(Hibton)和
benevolence and rightness(Lau)。
40. 者:這里相當于英語the fact that。
41. 美:譯成admirable(Legge)比beautiful在搭配上更順。
42. 是:=此。這里指齊王,因此應當解讀為‘此人;這個人。
43. 足:本文譯成worthy of。也可以譯成fit(Legge)。
44. 云爾:趙岐對這兩個字的注解是“絕語之辭也”。云很早就有‘說的意思,爾有‘如此;這樣的意思(《漢語大字典》),云爾這里可以解讀為‘說這種話。
45. 莫大乎此:沒有比這更大的了。
46. 非:本文解讀為‘不符合(anything not in line with)。也可譯成any but(Legge)、anything less than(Hinton)或anything short of(Lau)。
47. 以陳:以表示‘用,這里可以解讀為‘拿來;陳表示‘陳述。陳于……前,本文譯成present … to,也可譯成set forth before(Legge)、offer(Hinton)或put before(Lau)。