Page 126 - 《孟子》（二）中·英对照版

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子

woman.’ When Tang began his work of executing
justice, he commenced with Ge, and though he made
eleven punitive expeditions, he had not an enemy in
the kingdom. When he pursued his work in the east,
the rude tribes in the west murmured. So did those
on the north, when he was engaged in the south.
Their cry was ‘Why does he make us last?’ Thus, the
people’s longing for him was like their longing for
rain in a time of great drought. The frequenters of
the markets stopped not. Those engaged in weeding
in the fields made no change in their operations.
While he punished their rulers, he consoled
the people. His progress was like the falling of
opportune rain, and the people were delighted. It is
said in the Book of History, ‘We have waited for our
prince. When our prince comes, we may escape from
the punishments under which we suffer.’ There being
some who would not become the subjects of Zhou,
king Wu proceeded to punish them on the east. He

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