Page 199 - 《孟子》（二）中·英对照版

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to those of great, and those of little worth to those of
great. When bad government prevails in the kingdom,
princes of small power are submissive to those of
great, and the weak to the strong. Both these cases are
the rule of Heaven. They who accord with Heaven
are preserved, and they who rebel against Heaven
perish. The duke Jing of Qi said, ‘Not to be able to
command others, and at the same time to refuse to
receive their commands, is to cut one’s self off from all
intercourse with others.’ His tears flowed forth while
he gave his daughter to be married to the prince of
Wu. Now the small states imitate the large, and yet
are ashamed to receive their commands. This is like
a scholar’s being ashamed to receive the commands
of his master. For a prince who is ashamed of this,
the best plan is to imitate king Wen. Let one imitate
king Wen, and in five years, if his state be large, or in
seven years, if it be small, he will be sure to give laws
to the kingdom. It is said in the Book of Poetry, ‘The

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