Baili Xi and Duke Mu of Qin
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English translation
Original Chinese text
万章问曰:“或曰:‘百里奚自鬻于秦养牲者,五羊之皮。食牛,以要秦缪公。’信乎?”孟子曰:“否然,好事者为之也。百里奚,虞人也。晋人以垂棘之璧与屈产之乘,假道于虞以伐虢。宫之奇谏,百里奚不谏,知虞公之不可谏而去。之秦,年已七十矣。”
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “People say Baili Xi sold himself to a Qin livestock keeper for five goatskins, fed cattle, and thereby sought an audience with Duke Mu of Qin. Is that true?” Mencius said, “No. It was made up by people fond of sensational stories. Baili Xi was a man of Yu. Jin offered a jade from Chuiji and fine horses from Qu as gifts, asking Yu for passage so it could attack Guo. Gong Zhiqi remonstrated, but Baili Xi did not; he knew the ruler of Yu could not be persuaded, so he left. When he went to Qin, he was already seventy.”
Original Chinese text
曾不知以食牛干秦缪公之为污也,可谓智乎?不可谏而不谏,可谓不智乎?知虞公之将亡而先去之,不可谓不智也。
English translation
Could he really have failed to know that seeking Duke Mu’s favor by feeding cattle would be shameful? Would that be wisdom? If Yu’s ruler could not be persuaded, was it foolish not to remonstrate? He knew Yu was about to perish and left first; that cannot be called unwise.
Original Chinese text
时举于秦,知缪公之可与有行也而相之,可谓不智乎?相秦而显其君于天下,可传于后世,不贤而能之乎?
English translation
Later he was recommended in Qin. Knowing that Duke Mu was a ruler with whom worthy work could be accomplished, he became his minister. Could that be called unwise? As minister, he made his ruler renowned throughout the realm, and his achievements could be handed down to later generations. Could someone who was not worthy have done this?
Original Chinese text
自鬻以成其君,乡党自好者不为,而谓贤者为之乎?
English translation
Would he have sold himself cheaply to make his ruler successful? Even a self-respecting person in an ordinary village would not do that; would a worthy person do so?