Page 71 - 《孟子》（一）中·英对照版

梁
惠
王
上

such a case as that of taking the Tai mountain under
your arm, and leaping over the north sea with it.
Your Majesty’s not exercising the royal sway is a
case like that of breaking off a branch from a tree.
Treat with the reverence due to age the elders in
your own family, so that the elders in the families
of others shall be similarly treated; treat with the
kindness due to youth the young in your own family,
so that the young in the families of others shall be
similarly treated—do this, and the kingdom may
be made to go round in your palm. It is said in the
Book of Poetry, ‘His example affected his wife. It
reached to his brothers, and his family of the State
was governed by it.’ The language shows how king
Wen simply took his kindly heart, and exercised it
towards those parties. Therefore the carrying out
his kindness of heart by a prince will suffice for the
love and protection of all within the four seas, and if
he do not carry it out, he will not be able to protect

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