Page 42 - 《孟子》（二）中·英对照版
P. 42
?孟
子
When they have thus been involved in crime, to
follow them up and punish them: —this is to entrap
the people. How can such a thing as entrapping the
people be done under the rule of a benevolent man?
Therefore, a ruler who is endowed with talents and
virtue will be gravely complaisant and economical,
showing a respectful politeness to his ministers,
and taking from the people only in accordance with
regulated limits. Yang Hu said, ‘He who seeks to
be rich will not be benevolent. He who wishes to be
benevolent will not be rich.’
“The sovereign of the Xia dynasty enacted the
fifty mu allotment, and the payment of a tax. The
founder of the Yin enacted the seventy mu allotment,
and the system of mutual aid. The founder of the
Zhou enacted the hundred mu allotment, and the
share system. In reality, what was paid in all these
was a tithe. The share system means mutual division.
The aid system means mutual dependence. Long
20
