Page 180 - 《孟子》（一）中·英对照版
P. 180
?孟
子
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.”
【注释】［1］皮币：动物毛皮和丝绸布帛之类
的礼品。［2］耆老：老年人。
【译文】滕文公问：“滕国是个小国，竭力去
侍奉大国，却无法免于亡国的危险，怎么办
才好呢？”
孟子回答：“从前，周太王居住在邠地，
狄人侵犯那里。他拿兽皮丝绸送给狄人，不
能免遭侵犯；拿宝马名犬送给狄人，不能免
遭侵犯；拿珠宝玉器送给狄人，不能免遭侵
犯。于是召集邠地的老年人，对他们说：‘狄
人想要的，是我们的土地。我听说过这样的
158
