Gong Sun Chou II · 孟子 2B.12

Passage 12

孟mèng子zǐ去qù齊qí，尹yǐn士shì語yǔ人rén曰yuē：「不bù識shí王wáng之zhī不bù可kě以yǐ為wéi湯tāng、武wǔ，則zé是shì不bù明míng也yě；識shí其qí不bù可kě然rán且qiě至zhì，則zé是shì干gān澤zé也yě。千qiān里lǐ而ér見jiàn王wáng，不bú遇yù故gù去qù；三sān宿sù而ér後hòu出chū晝zhòu，是shì何hé濡rú滯zhì也yě！士shì則zé茲zī不bú悅yuè。」高gāo子zǐ以yǐ告gào。曰yuē：「夫fū尹yǐn士shì惡è知zhī予yǔ哉zāi？千qiān里lǐ而ér見jiàn王wáng，是shì予yǔ所suǒ欲yù也yě。不bú遇yù故gù去qù，豈qǐ予yǔ所suǒ欲yù哉zāi？予yǔ不bù得dé已yǐ也yě。予yǔ三sān宿sù而ér出chū晝zhòu，於wū予yǔ心xīn猶yóu以yǐ為wéi速sù。王wáng庶shù幾jī改gǎi之zhī！王wáng如rú改gǎi諸zhū，則zé必bì反fǎn予yǔ。夫fū出chū晝zhòu而ér王wáng不bù予yǔ追zhuī也yě，予yǔ然rán後hòu浩hào然rán有yǒu歸guī志zhì。予yǔ雖suī然rán，豈qǐ舍shè王wáng哉zāi？王wáng由yóu足zú用yòng為wéi善shàn；王wáng如rú用yòng予yǔ，則zé豈qǐ徒tú齊qí民mín安ān？天tiān下xià之zhī民mín舉jǔ安ān。王wáng庶shù幾jī改gǎi之zhī！予yǔ日rì望wàng之zhī！予yǔ豈qǐ若ruò是shì小xiǎo丈zhàng夫fu然rán哉zāi！諫jiàn於wū其qí君jūn而ér不bú受shòu，則zé怒nù，悻xìng悻xìng然rán見jiàn於wū其qí面miàn，去qù則zé窮qióng日rì之zhī力lì而ér後hòu宿sù哉zāi？」尹yǐn士shì聞wén之zhī，曰yuē：「士shì誠chéng小xiǎo人rén也yě。」

When Mencius had left Qi, Yin Shi spoke about him to others, saying, 'If he did not know that the king could not be made a Tang or a Wu, that showed his want of intelligence. If he knew that he could not be made such, and came notwithstanding, that shows he was seeking his own benefit. He came a thousand li to wait on the king; because he did not find in him a ruler to suit him, he took his leave, but how dilatory and lingering was his departure, stopping three nights before he quitted Zhou! I am dissatisfied on account of this.' The disciple Gao informed Mencius of these remarks. Mencius said, 'How should Yin Shi know me! When I came a thousand li to wait on the king, it was what I desired to do. When I went away because I did not find in him a ruler to suit me, was that what I desired to do? I felt myself constrained to do it. When I stopped three nights before I quitted Zhou, in my own mind I still considered my departure speedy. I was hoping that the king might change. If the king had changed, he would certainly have recalled me. When I quitted Zhou, and the king had not sent after me, then, and not till then, was my mind resolutely bent on returning to Cao. But, notwithstanding that, how can it be said that I give up the king? The king, after all, is one who may be made to do what is good. If he were to use me, would it be for the happiness of the people of Qi only ? It would be for the happiness of the people of the whole kingdom. I am hoping that the king will change. I am daily hoping for this. Am I like one of your little-minded people? They will remonstrate with their prince, and on their remonstrance not being accepted, they get angry; and, with their passion displayed in their countenance, they take their leave, and travel with all their strength for a whole day, before they will stop for the night.' When Yin Shi heard this explanation, he said, 'I am indeed a small man.'