《孟子》中英文版
第七编 《离娄上》(1)
《離婁上 - Li Lou I》（共二十八章）
离娄上
本篇开始出现短章，长篇大论减少。内容涉及政治和为人处事的各个方面，以论“仁”的为最多。全篇原文共28章。
第一章 不以规矩，不能成方圆
孟子曰：“離婁之明，公輸子之巧，不以規矩，不能成方員：師曠之聰，不以六律，不能正五音；堯舜之道，不以仁政，不能平治天下。今有仁心仁聞而民不被其澤，不可法於後世者，不行先王之道也。
Li Lou I: Mencius said, 'The power of vision of Li Lou, and skill of hand of Gong Shu, without the compass and square, could not form squares and circles. The acute ear of the music-master Kuang, without the pitch-tubes, could not determine correctly the five notes. The principles of Yao and Shun, without a benevolent government, could not secure the tranquil order of the kingdom. There are now princes who have benevolent hearts and a reputation for benevolence, while yet the people do not receive any benefits from them, nor will they leave any example to future ages - all because they do not put into practice the ways of the ancient kings.
“故曰，徒善不足以為政，徒法不能以自行。《詩》云：‘不愆不忘，率由舊章。’遵先王之法而過者，未之有也。聖人既竭目力焉，繼之以規矩準繩，以為方員平直，不可勝用也；既竭耳力焉，繼之以六律，正五音，不可勝用也；既竭心思焉，繼之以不忍人之政，而仁覆天下矣。
'Hence we have the saying: "Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice." It is said in the Book of Poetry, "Without transgression, without forgetfulness, Following the ancient statutes." Never has any one fallen into error, who followed the laws of the ancient kings. When the sages had used the vigour of their eyes, they called in to their aid the compass, the square, the level, and the line, to make things square, round, level, and straight: the use of the instruments is inexhaustible. When they had used their power of hearing to the utmost, they called in the pitch-tubes to their aid to determine the five notes - the use of those tubes is inexhaustible. When they had exerted to the utmost the thoughts of their hearts, they called in to their aid a government that could not endure to witness the sufferings of men - and their benevolence overspread the kingdom.
“故曰，為高必因丘陵，為下必因川澤。為政不因先王之道，可謂智乎？是以惟仁者宜在高位。不仁而在高位，是播其惡於眾也。上無道揆也。下無法守也，朝不信道，工不信度，君子犯義，小人犯刑，國之所存者幸也。
'Hence we have the saying: "To raise a thing high, we must begin from the top of a mound or a hill; to dig to a great depth, we must commence in the low ground of a stream or a marsh." Can he be pronounced wise, who, in the exercise of government, does not proceed according to the ways of the former kings? Therefore only the benevolent ought to be in high stations. When a man destitute of benevolence is in a high station, he thereby disseminates his wickedness among all below him. When the prince has no principles by which he examines his administration, and his ministers have no laws by which they keep themselves in the discharge of their duties, then in the court obedience is not paid to principle, and in the office obedience is not paid to rule. Superiors violate the laws of righteousness, and inferiors violate the penal laws. It is only by a fortunate chance that a State in such a case is preserved.
“故曰，城郭不完，兵甲不多，非國之災也；田野不辟，貨財不聚，非國之害也。上無禮，下無學，賊民興，喪無日矣。《詩》曰：‘天之方蹶，無然泄泄。’泄泄，猶沓沓也。事君無義，進退無禮，言則非先王之道者，猶沓沓也。故曰：責難於君謂之恭，陳善閉邪謂之敬，吾君不能謂之賊。”
'Therefore it is said, "It is not the exterior and interior walls being incomplete, and the supply of weapons offensive and defensive not being large, which constitutes the calamity of a kingdom. It is not the cultivable area not being extended, and stores and wealth not being accumulated, which occasions the ruin of a State." When superiors do not observe the rules of propriety, and inferiors do not learn, then seditious people spring up, and that State will perish in no time. It is said in the Book of Poetry, "When such an overthrow of Zhou is being produced by Heaven, Be not ye so much at your ease!" " At your ease;" - that is, dilatory. And so dilatory may those officers be deemed, who serve their prince without righteousness, who take office and retire from it without regard to propriety, and who in their words disown the ways of the ancient kings. Therefore it is said, "To urge one's sovereign to difficult achievements may be called showing respect for him. To set before him what is good and repress his perversities may be called showing reverence for him. He who does not do these things, saying to himself, My sovereign is incompetent to this, may be said to play the thief with him."'
【原文】
孟子曰：“离娄①之明、公输子（2）之巧，不以规矩，不能成方圆；师旷③之聪，不以六律④，不能正五音⑤；尧舜之道，不以仁政，不能平治天下。今有仁心仁闻（6）而民不被其泽，不可法于后世者，不行先王之道也。故曰，徒善不足以为政，徒法不能以自行。《诗》云：‘不愆不忘，率由旧章（7）。’遵先王之法而过者，未之有也。圣人既竭目力焉，继之以规矩准绳，以为方圆平直，不可胜用也；既竭耳力焉，继之以六律正五音，不可胜用也；既竭心思焉，继之以不忍人之政，而仁覆天下矣。故曰，为高必因丘陵，为下必因川泽；为政不因先王之道，可谓智乎？是以惟仁者宜在高位。不仁而在高位，是播其恶于众也。上无道揆（8）也，下无法守也，朝不信道，工不信度，君子犯义，小人犯刑，国之所存者幸也。故曰，城郭不完，兵甲不多，非国之灾也；田野不辟，货财不聚，非国之害也。上无礼，下无学，贼民兴，丧无日矣。《诗》曰：‘天之方蹶，无然泄泄。’（9）泄泄犹沓沓也。事君无义，进退无礼，言则非先王之道者，犹沓沓也。故曰，责难于君谓之恭，陈善闭邪谓之敬，吾君不能谓之贼。”
【注释】
①离娄：相传为黄帝时人，目力极强，能于百步之外望见秋毫之末。
②公输子：即公输班（“班”也被写成“般”、“盘”），鲁国人，所以又叫鲁班，古代著名的巧匠。约生活于鲁定公或者哀公的时代，年岁比孔子小，比墨子大。事迹见于（《礼记·檀弓》、《战国策》、《墨子》等书。
③师旷：春秋时晋国的乐师，古代极有名的音乐家。事迹见于《左传》、《礼记》、《国语》等。
④六律：中国古代将音律分为阴吕、阳律两部分，各有六种音，六律即阳律的六音，分别是太簇、姑洗、获宾、夷则、无射、黄钟。
⑤五音：中国古代音阶名称，即宫、商、角、微、羽，相当于简谱中的1、2、3、5、6这五音。
（6）闻：名声。
（7）不愆不忘，率由旧章：引自《诗经－大雅－假乐》。愆（qian），过失；率，遵循。
（8）揆（kui）：度量。
（9）天之方蹶，无然泄泄（yi）：引自《诗经·大雅·板》。蹶，动；泄泄，多言，话多。
（10）非：诋毁。
【译文】
孟子说：“即使有离娄那样好的视力，公输子那样好的技巧，如果不用圆规和曲尺，也不能准确地画出方形和圆形；即使有师旷这样好的审音力，如果不用六律，也不能校正五音；即使有尧舜的学说，如果不实施仁政，也不能治理好天下。现在有些诸侯，虽然有仁爱的心和仁爱的名声，但老百姓却受不到他的恩泽，不能成为后世效法的楷模，这是因为他没有实施前代圣王的仁政的缘故。所以说，仅有善心不足以用来治理国政，仅有法度不能使之自行实施。《诗经》说：‘不要偏高啊不要遗忘，一切遵循原来的规章。’遵循前代圣王的法度而犯错误的，是从来没有过的。圣人既用尽了目力，又用圆规、曲尺、水准、绳墨等来制作方的、圆的、平的、直的东西，那些东西便用之不尽了；圣人既用尽了听力，又用六律来校正五音，各种音阶也就运用无穷了；圣人既用尽了脑力，又施行不忍人的仁政，他的仁爱之德便覆盖于天下了。所以说，筑高台一定要凭借山陵；挖深池一定要凭借山沟沼泽；如果执政不凭借前代圣王的办法，能够说是明智吗？所以只有仁慈的人才应该居于统治地位。如果不仁慈的人占据了统治地位，就会把他的恶行败德传播给老百姓。在上的没有道德规范，在下的人没有法规制度；朝廷不信道义，工匠不信尺度，官吏触犯义理，百姓触犯刑律。如此下去，国家还能生存就真是太侥幸了。所以说，城墙不坚固，武器不充足，这不是国家的灾难；田野没开辟，物资不富裕，这不是国家的祸害；如果在上位的人没有礼义，在下位的人没有教育，违法乱纪的人越来越多，国家的灭亡也就快了。《诗经》说：‘上天正在降骚乱，不要多嘴又多言。’多嘴多言就是拖沓罗嗦。侍奉君主不讲忠义，行为进退不讲礼仪，说话便诋毁前代圣王之道，这就是拖沓罗嗦。所以说，用高标准来要求君王就叫做‘恭’，向君王出好主意而堵塞坏主意就叫做‘敬’，认为自己的君王不能行仁政就叫做‘贼’。”
【读解】
还是要求当政者实施仁政的鼓吹与呐喊。具体落实到两个方面：一是“法先王”；二是选贤才。
“法先王”是因为“不以规矩，不能成方圆”；“不以六律，不能正五音”；“不以仁政，不能平治天下。”相反，“遵先王之法而过者，来之有也。”正反两方面的道理都说明了这一点，所以一定要“法先王”。孟子的“法先王”思想，实际上也就是孔子“祖述尧舜，宪章文武”思想的继承。
选贤才是因为“惟仁者宜在高位。”一旦不仁者窃据了高位，奸邪当道，残害忠良，必然就会是非颠倒，黑白混淆，世风日下，天下大乱。历史依据不胜枚举。所以，一定要注意领导干部的选拔。
这两个方面在《论语》、《孟子》中都不是什么新思想，而近乎老生常谈了。倒是所谓“不以规矩，不能成方圆”的说法成为了人们在生活中常用的格言警句。尤其是面对日益紧张激烈的市场竞争，许多新事物新现象冒出来，其是与非，正与邪，往往使人感到困惑，感到难以评说。这时候，大家对“不以规矩，不能成方圆”的感受就更加真切而深刻了。所以，要求健全法制法规的呼声日益强烈。据有人统计说，当前的中国，几乎每天都有法规出台。这种说法不知有没有夸张的成分，但大家对“规矩”的重视，全民普法教育的进行，这些都是非常真实的。说起来，所有这些，不都是在“以规矩”而“成方圆”吗？ |
