《周书·列传·卷二十二》
孟氏完全没有一点害怕的神情，竟然对柳庆说： 现在如果给我加上脚镣手铐，以后再怎样把它脱下来? 元欣也派人来向柳庆申辩说孟氏无罪。
孟氏殊无惧容,乃谓庆曰： 今若加以桎梏，后复何以脱之？ 欣亦遣使辨其无罪。
Meng had no trace of fear and said to Liu Qing: If I am put in shackles and handcuffs now, how will I take them off later? Yuanxin also sent someone to Liu Qing to argue that Meng was innocent.