Page 145 - 《孟子》（三）中·英对照版

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the prince. He who without a regular office should
receive the pay of the prince must be deemed
disrespectful.”

Wan Zhang asked, “If the prince sends a
scholar a present, he accepts it; —I do not know
whether this present may be constantly repeated.”

Mencius answered, “There was the conduct
of the duke Mu to Zisi. He made frequent inquiries
after Zisi’s health, and sent him frequent presents
of cooked meat. Zisi was displeased; and at length,
having motioned to the messenger to go outside the
great door, he bowed his head to the ground with his
face to the north, did obeisance twice, and declined
the gift, saying, ‘From this time forth I shall know
that the prince supports me as a dog or a horse.’ And
so from that time a servant was no more sent with
the presents. When a prince professes to be pleased
with a man of talents and virtue, and can neither
promote him to office, nor support him in the proper

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