saw the bull, and had not seen the sheep. So is
the superior man affected towards animals, that, having seen them
alive, he cannot bear to see them die, and, having heard their dying
cries, he cannot bear to eat their flesh. On this account he keeps
away from his stalls and kitchen."

The king was pleased and said, "The Ode says,

'What other men have in their minds,
I can measure by reflection.'

This might be spoken of you, my Master. I indeed did the thing, but when
I turned my thoughts inward and sought for it, I could not discover my
own mind. When you, Master, spoke those words, the movements of
compassion began to work in my mind. But how is it that this heart has
in it what is equal to the attainment of the Royal sway?"

Mencius said, "Suppose a man were to make this statement to your
Majesty, 'My strength is sufficient to lift three thousand catties,
but is not sufficient to lift one feather; my eyesight is sharp enough
to examine the point of an autumn hair, but I do not see a wagon-load
of fagots,' would your Majesty allow what he said?" "No," was the
king's remark, and Mencius proceeded, "Now here is kindness sufficient
to reach to animals, and yet no benefits are extended from it to the
people--how is this? is an exception to be made here? The truth is,
the feather's not being lifted is because the strength was not used;
the wagon-load of firewood's not being seen is because the eyesight
was not used; and the people's not being loved and protected is
because the kindness is not used. Therefore your Majesty's not
attaining to the Royal sway is because you do not do it, and not
because you are not able to do it."

The king asked, "How may the difference between him who does not do a
thing and him who is not able to do it be graphically set forth?"
Mencius replied, "In such a thing as taking the T[']ae mountain under
your arm, and leaping with it over the North Sea, if you say to
people, 'I am not able to do it,' that is a real case of not being
able. In such a matter as breaking off a branch from a tree at the
order of a superior, if you say to people, 'I am not able to do it,'
it is not a case of not being able to do it. And so your Majesty's not
attaining to the Royal sway is not such a case as that of taking the
T[']ae mountain under your arm and leaping over the North Sea with it;
but it is a case like that of breaking off a branch from a tree.

"Treat with reverence due to age the elders i