Page 37 - 《孟子》（三）中·英对照版
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Mencius replied, “No. Formerly, some one sent
a present of a live fish to Zichan of Zhang. Zichan
ordered his pond-keeper to keep it in the pond, but
that officer cooked it, and reported the execution
of his commission, saying, ‘When I first let it go,
it embarrassed. In a little while, it seemed to be
somewhat at ease, then it swam away joyfully.’ Zi
-chan observed, ‘It had got into its element! It had
got into its element!’ The pond-keeper then went out
and said, ‘Who calls Zichan a wise man? After I had
cooked and eaten the fish, he said, It had got into its
element! It had got into its element!’ Thus a superior
man may be imposed on by what seems to be as it
ought to be, but he cannot be entrapped by what is
contrary to right principle. Xiang came in the way in
which the love of his elder brother would have made
him come; therefore Shun sincerely believed him,
and rejoiced. What hypocrisy was there?”
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