Page 283 - 《孟子》（二）中·英对照版

离
娄
下

and heart; when he regards them as his dogs and
horses, they regard him as another man; when he
regards them as the ground or as grass, they regard
him as a robber and an enemy.”

The king said, “According to the rules of
propriety, a minister wears mourning when he
has left the service of a prince. How must a prince
behave that his old ministers may thus go into
mourning?”

Mencius replied, “The admonitions of a
minister having been followed, and his advice
listened to, so that blessings have descended
on the people, if for some cause he leaves the
country, the prince sends an escort to conduct him
beyond the boundaries. He also anticipates with
recommendatory intimations his arrival in the
country to which he is proceeding. When he has
been gone three years and does not return, only then
at length does he take back his fields and residence.

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