Page 79 - 《孟子》（四）中·英对照版

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have heard that the chief of the West knows well
how to nourish the old.’ Taigong, to avoid Zhou, was
dwelling on the coast of the eastern sea. When he
heard of the rise of king Wen, he said, ‘Why should I
not go and follow him? I have heard that the chief if
the West knows well how to nourish the old.’ If there
were a prince in the kingdom, who knew well how to
nourish the old, all men of virtue would feel that he
was the proper object for them to gather to. Around
the homestead with its five mu, the space beneath the
walls was planted with mulberry trees, with which
the women nourished silkworms, and thus the old
were able to have silk to wear. Each family had five
brood hens and two brood sows, which were kept to
their breeding seasons, and thus the old were able to
have flesh to eat. The husbandmen cultivated their
farms of 100 mu, and thus their families of eight
mouths were secured against want. The expression,
‘The chief of the West knows well how to nourish

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