Page 131 - 《孟子》（一）中·英对照版

梁
惠
王
下

“Formerly,” was the reply, “king Wen’s
government of Qi was as follows: —The husbandmen
cultivated for the government one- ninth of the
land; the descendants of officers were salaried;
at the passes and in the markets, strangers were
inspected, but goods were not taxed: there were no
prohibitions respecting the ponds and weirs; the
wives and children of criminals were not involved
in their guilt. There were the old and wifeless, or
widowers; the old and husbandless, or widows;
the old and childless, or solitaries; the young
and fatherless, or orphans: —these four classes
are the most destitute of the people, and have
none to whom they can tell their wants, and king
Wen, in the institution of his government with its
benevolent action, made them the first objects of
his regard, as it is said in the Book of Poetry, ‘The
rich may get through life well; But alas! for the
miserable and solitary!’”

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