Page 221 - 《孟子》（一）中·英对照版

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Mencius replied, “Zai Wo, Zigong, and You
Ruo had wisdom sufficient to know the sage. Even
had they been ranking themselves low, they would
not have demeaned themselves to flatter their
favourite. Now, Zai Wo said, ‘According to my
view of our Master, he was far superior to Yao and
Shun.’ Zigong said, ‘By viewing the ceremonial
ordinances of a prince, we know the character of
his government. By hearing his music, we know the
character of his virtue. After the lapse of a hundred
ages I can arrange, according to their merits, the
kings of a hundred ages—not one of them can escape
me. From the birth of mankind till now, there has
never been another like our Master.’ You Ruo said,
‘Is it only among men that it is so? There is the Qi-
lin among quadrupeds, the Fenghuang among birds,
the Tai mountain among mounds and anthills, and
rivers and seas among rain-pools. Though different
in degree, they are the same in kind. So the sages

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