雙語詩歌翻譯|孟子-《古代寓言·偷雞的人》

譯文：從前有一個(gè)每天都要偷鄰居家一只雞的人。有人勸告他說：“這不是行為端正、品德高尚的人所擁有的道德。”他回答說：“那就讓我減少這種行為吧，(以后)每個(gè)月偷一只雞，等到明年我就不偷了。”如果知道偷雞不對(duì)，就應(yīng)該馬上改正，為什么還要等到明年呢。

《古代寓言·偷雞的人》

今有人，日攘鄰之雞者。
或告之曰：“是非君子之道?！?br />曰：“請(qǐng)損之，月攘一雞。以待來年，然后已?！?br />如知其非義，斯速已矣，何待來年？
——《孟子》

The Chicken Thief
There was a man who used to steal a chicken from his neighbours every day.
"It is wrong to steal," someone told him.
"I'll cut down on it," promised the chicken thief. "I shall steal one chicken a month from now on, and stop altogether next year."
Since he knew he was wrong, he ought to have stopped at once. Why wait for another year?
Mencius