Gong Sun Chou II · 孟子 2B.3

Passage 03

陳chén臻zhēn問wèn曰yuē：「前qián日rì於wū齊qí，王wáng饋kuì兼jiān金jīn一yì百bǎi而ér不bú受shòu；於wū宋sòng，饋kuì七qī十shí鎰yì而ér受shòu；於wū薛xuē，饋kuì五wǔ十shí鎰yì而ér受shòu。前qián日rì之zhī不bú受shòu是shì，則zé今jīn日rì之zhī受shòu非fēi也yě；今jīn日rì之zhī受shòu是shì，則zé前qián日rì之zhī不bú受shòu非fēi也yě；夫fū子zǐ必bì居jū一yì於wū此cǐ矣yǐ。」孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「皆jiē是shì也yě。當dāng在zài宋sòng也yě，予yǔ將jiāng有yǒu遠yuǎn行xíng；行xíng者zhě必bì以yǐ贐jìn，辭cí曰yuē『饋kuì贐jìn』，予yǔ何hé為wéi不bú受shòu？當dāng在zài薛xuē也yě，予yǔ有yǒu戒jiè心xīn，辭cí曰yuē『聞wén戒jiè故gù為wéi兵bīng饋kuì之zhī』，予yǔ何hé為wéi不bú受shòu？若ruò於wū齊qí則zé未wèi有yǒu處chǔ也yě。無wú處chǔ而ér饋kuì之zhī，是shì貨huò之zhī也yě；焉yān有yǒu君jūn子zǐ而ér可kě以yǐ貨huò取qǔ乎hū？」

Chen Zhen asked Mencius, saying, 'Formerly, when you were in Qi, the king sent you a present Of 2,400 taels of fine silver, and you refused to accept it. When you were in Song, 1,680 taels were sent to you, which you accepted; and when you were in Xue, 1,200 taels were sent, which you likewise accepted. If your declining to accept the gift in the first case was right, your accepting it in the latter cases was wrong. If your accepting it in the latter cases was right, your declining to do so in the first case was wrong. You must accept, Master, one of these alternatives.' Mencius said, 'I did right in all the cases. When I was in Song, I was about to take a long journey. Travellers must be provided with what is necessary for their expenses. The prince's message was, 'A present against travelling-expenses." Why should I have declined the gift? When I was in Xue, I was apprehensive for my safety, and taking measures for my protection. The message was, "I have heard that you are taking measures to protect yourself, and send this to help you in procuring arms." Why should I have declined the gift? But when I was in Qi, I had no occasion for money. To send a man a gift when he has no occasion for it, is to bribe him. How is it possible that a superior man should be taken with a bribe?'