Turning to Other Matters
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子谓齐宣王曰:‘王之臣有托其妻子于其友而之楚游者,比其反也,则冻馁其妻子,则如之何?’
English translation
Mencius asked King Xuan of Qi, ‘Suppose one of your ministers entrusted his wife and children to a friend before traveling to Chu. On his return he found them cold and hungry. What should he do?’
Original Chinese text
王曰:‘弃之。’曰:‘士师不能治士,则如之何?’王曰:‘已之。’
English translation
‘Dismiss the friend,’ the king said. Mencius asked, ‘And if an officer in charge of justice cannot manage those under him?’ ‘Remove him from office,’ the king replied.
Original Chinese text
曰:‘四境之内不治,则如之何?’王顾左右而言他。
English translation
Mencius then asked, ‘If the land within your borders is not well governed, what should be done?’ The king looked from side to side and changed the subject.