Page 64 - 《孟子》（二）中·英对照版

?孟
子

some labour with their strength. Those who labour
with their minds govern others; those who labour
with their strength are governed by others. Those
who are governed by others support them; those
who govern others are supported by them.’ This is a
principle universally recognised.

“In the time of Yao, when the world had not
yet been perfectly reduced to order, the vast waters,
flowing out of their channels, made a universal
inundation. Vegetation was luxuriant, and birds
and beasts swarmed. The various kinds of grain
could not be grown. The birds and beasts pressed
upon men. The paths marked by the feet of beasts
and prints of birds crossed one another throughout
the Middle Kingdom. To Yao alone this caused
anxious sorrow. He raised Shun to office, and
measures to regulate the disorder were set forth.
Shun committed to Yi the direction of the fire to
be employed, and Yi set fire to, and consumed, the

42