Page 294 - 《孟子》（三）中·英对照版

?孟
子

in Pinglu, Chu, who was prime minister of the state,
sent him a similar present, which he received in the
same way. Subsequently, going from Zou to Ren, he
visited the guardian; but when he went from Ping-lu
to the capital of Qi, he did not visit the minister Chu.
The disciple Wulu was glad, and said, “I have got an
opportunity to obtain some instruction.” He asked
accordingly, “Master, when you went to Ren, you
visited the chief’s brother; and when you went to Qi,
you did not visit Chu. Was it not because he is only
the minister?”

Mencius replied, “No. It is said in the Book of
History, ‘In presenting an offering to a superior, most
depends on the demonstrations of respect. If those
demonstrations are not equal to the things offered,
we say there is no offering, that is, there is no act of
the will presenting the offering.’ This is because the
things so offered do not constitute an offering to a
superior.”

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