Page 56 - 《孟子》（一）中·英对照版

?孟
子

persons, “When I looked at him from a distance, he
did not appear like a sovereign; when I drew near to
him, I saw nothing venerable about him. Abruptly
he asked me, ‘How can the kingdom be settled?’

I replied, ‘It will be settled by being united
under one sway.’

‘Who can so unite it?’
I replied, ‘He who has no pleasure in killing
men can so unite it.’
‘Who can give it to him?’
I replied, ‘All the people of the nation will
unanimously give it to him. Does Your Majesty
understand the way of the growing grain? During the
seventh and eighth months, when drought prevails,
the plants become dry. Then the clouds collect
densely in the heavens, they send down torrents of
rain, and the grain erects itself, as if by a shoot. When
it does so, who can keep it back? Now among the
shepherds of men throughout the nation, there is not

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