Page 159 - 《孟子》（一）中·英对照版

梁
惠
王
下

The people of Qi, having smitten Yan, took
possession of it, and upon this, the princes of the
various States deliberated together, and resolved to
deliver Yan from their power. The king Xuan said to
Mencius, “The princes have formed many plans to
attack me—how shall I prepare myself for them?”

Mencius replied, “I have heard of one
who with seventy li exercised all the functions
of government throughout the kingdom. That
was Tang. I have never heard of a prince with a
thousand li standing in fear of others. It is said in
the Book of History, As soon as Tang began his
work of executing justice, he commenced with Ge.
The whole kingdom had confidence in him. When
he pursued his work in the east, the rude tribes
on the west murmured. So did those on the north,
when he was engaged in the south. Their cry was
‘Why does he put us last?’ Thus, the people looked
to him, as we look in a time of great drought to

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