English Original
One day, King Hui of Liang was seated in the ancestral hall when he saw a man leading an ox pass by. He asked, "Where are you taking the ox?"
The man stopped and replied, "I am taking it to be slaughtered; its blood will be used to consecrate the temple bell."
Hearing this, the king took pity on the ox. "How can this be?" he exclaimed. "It is too cruel. Release the ox at once. It is innocent. How can you kill it? I cannot bear to see it shedding tears, trembling in fear before its death."
The man asked, "Do you mean I should let the ox go and not consecrate the bell?"
"What are you saying?" the king answered. "The bell must be consecrated! Let the ox go, but use a sheep instead."
中文翻译
一日，梁惠王坐在庙堂之上，看见堂下有人牵着一头牛走过，便问道：“你把牛牵到哪里去？”
牵牛人停下脚步答道：“我要把这头牛牵去宰杀，用它的血来涂钟（一种祭祀仪式）。”
惠王听后，对牛心生怜悯，说道：“这怎么行！你们太残忍了，快把牛放了。它没有罪过，怎能杀掉？我不忍心看到它临死前惊恐战栗、流泪的样子。”
牵牛人问道：“大王的意思是放掉这头牛，不必涂钟了，是吗？”
惠王答道：“你在说什么？钟怎么能不涂！把牛放了，换一只羊吧。”