Page 309 - 《孟子》（三）中·英对照版

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being reclaimed, and the old fields well cultivated;
if the old were nourished and the worthy honoured;
and if men of distinguished talents were placed in
office: then the prince was rewarded,— rewarded
with an addition to his territory. On the other hand,
if, on entering a state, the ground was found left wild
or overrun with weeds; if the old were neglected
and the worthy unhonoured; and if the offices were
filled with hard tax-gatherers: then the prince was
reprimanded. If a prince once omitted his attendance
at court, he was punished by degradation of rank; if
he did so a second time, he was deprived of a portion
of his territory; if he did so a third time, the royal
forces were set in motion, and he was removed from
his government. Thus the sovereign commanded
the punishment, but did not himself inflict it, while
the princes inflicted the punishment, but did not
command it. The five chiefs, however, dragged the
princes to punish other princes, and hence I say that

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