Page 149 - 《孟子》（二）中·英对照版

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that mark sages fell into decay. Oppressive sovereigns
arose one after another, who pulled down houses
to make ponds and lakes, so that the people knew
not where they could rest in quiet; they threw
fields out of cultivation to form gardens and parks,
so that the people could not get clothes and food.
Afterwards, corrupt speakings and oppressive deeds
became more rife; gardens and parks, ponds and
lakes, thickets and marshes became more numerous,
and birds and beasts swarmed. By the time of the
tyrant Zhou, the kingdom was again in a state of
great confusion. Zhou Gong assisted king Wu, and
destroyed Zhou. He smote Yan, and after three years
put its sovereign to death. He drove Feilian to a
corner by the sea, and slew him. The states which he
extinguished amounted to fifty. He drove far away
also the tigers, leopards, rhinoceroses, and elephants;
—and all the people were greatly delighted. It is said
in the Book of History, ‘Great and splendid were the

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