Page 272 - 《孟子》（一）中·英对照版

?孟
子

an inner wall of three li in circumference, and an
outer wall of seven. The enemy surround and attack
it, but they are not able to take it. Now, to surround
and attack it, there must have been vouchsafed to
them by Heaven the opportunity of time, and in
such case their not taking it is because opportunities
of time vouchsafed by Heaven are not equal to
advantages of situation afforded by the Earth. There
is a city, whose walls are distinguished for their
height, and whose moats are distinguished for their
depth, where the arms of its defenders, offensive
and defensive, are distinguished for their strength
and sharpness, and the stores of rice and other grain
are very large. Yet it is obliged to be given up and
abandoned. This is because advantages of situation
afforded by the Earth are not equal to the union
arising from the accord of Men. In accordance with
these principles it is said, ‘A people is bounded
in, not by the limits of dykes and borders; a state

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