Mencius met King Hui of Liang. Wang Li Yushang translated

Mencius met King Hui of Liang. The king stood by the pond, admiring the birds and animals, and said, "Do virtuous people also enjoy this kind of happiness?"

Mencius replied: "Only virtuous people can experience this kind of happiness." People without virtue cannot enjoy happiness even if they have it. [How to say this? Let me take the historical facts of King Wen of Zhou and Xia Jie as an example.] "The Book of Songs Daya Lingtai" says: "Start building the Lingtai." The Lingtai was surveyed and marked. The people will do it and it will be completed slowly. The king said, don't be too anxious. The people are like sons, and they will help. The doe is sitting in the deer garden. , the white birds were as feathery as snow. When the king went to Lingmao, the pond was full of fish jumping. "Although King Wen of Zhou used the people's strength to build a high platform and dig a deep pond, the people were happy to do this. They called this platform 'Lingtai' and took care of this pond." It is called "Lingmao" and is happy that there are many elk and fish and turtles there. In ancient times, the sage kings and wise kings could get real happiness because they could enjoy themselves with the people. [Xia Jie was on the contrary. The people cursed him to die. Comparing it to the sun: "When will the sun perish, when will I die?" "Tang Oath" records the people's lament: "O sun, when will you perish?" Ordinary people! I wish I could die together with him. Even if there are high platforms, deep pools, and rare birds and animals, how can he enjoy it alone?"