Page 45 - 《孟子》（二）中·英对照版
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of Poetry , ‘Although Zhou was an old country, It
received a new destiny. ’ That is said with reference
to king Wen. Do you practise those things with
vigour, and you also will by them make new your
kingdom.”
The duke afterwards sent Bi Zhan to consult
Mencius about the nine-squares system of dividing
the land.
Mencius said to him, “Since your prince,
wishing to put in practice a benevolent government,
has made choice of you and put you into this
employment, you must exert yourself to the
utmost. Now, the first thing towards a benevolent
government must be to lay down the boundaries. If
the boundaries be not defined correctly, the division
of the land into squares will not be equal, and the
produce available for salaries will not be evenly
distributed. On this account, oppressive rulers and
impure ministers are sure to neglect this defining
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