CHAPTER XI
1. Mencius, having taken his leave of Ch＇î, was passing the night in Châu.
2. A person who wished to detain him on behalf of the king, came and sat down, and began to speak to him. Mencius gave him no answer, but leant upon his stool and slept.
3. The visitor was displeased, and said, ＇I passed the night in careful vigil, before I would venture to speak to you, and you, Master, sleep and do not listen to me.Allow me to request that I may not again presume to see you.＇
＇only＇, which also belongs to it in par.2, weakening the不敢请. 征之, —the 之 should be referred to the mean individual spoken of.
CHAPTER 11. HOW MENCIUS REPELLED A MAN, WHO, OFFICIOUSLY AND ON HIS OWN IMPULST, TRIED TO DETAIN HIM IN CH＇Ȋ.
1. 昼 was a city on the southern border of Ch＇î. Some think it should be written 昼, and refer it to a place in the present district of 临淄, but this would place it north from Lû, whither Mencius was retiring. Mencius withdrew leisurely, hoping that the king would recall him and pledge himself to follow his counsels. would please the king. 应,—4th tone. 隐,—the 3rd tone,＇to lean upon＇. The 几 was s stool or bench, on which individuals might lean forward, or otherwise, as they
2. 为 (4th tone)王,—＇for the king＇, i.e. knowing it sat upon their mats. It could be carried in the hand. See the Lî Chî, Bk. I. Sect. I. ii. I,—谋于长者, 必操几杖以从之.
3. 斋 (châi), the 1st tone,=斋, ＇to keep a vigil＇, ＇to fast＇.
Mencius replied, ＇Sit down, and I will explain the case clearly to you. Formerly, if the duke Mû had not kept a person by the side of Tsze-sze, he could not have induced Tsze-sze to remain with him. If Hsieh Liû and Shăn Hsiang had not had a remembrancer by the side of the duke Mû, he would not have been able to make them feel at home and remain with him.
4. ＇You anxiously form plans with reference to me,but you do not treat me as Tsze-sze was treated. Is it you, Sir, who cut me? Or is it I who cut you?