生词：

duke  （君主）

Mencius （孟子）

run （治理、经营）

harvest  （收成）

same （同样地）

lesser （更少的）

larger （更多的）

highness（殿下）

fond （喜欢）

battle（战斗）

step （步、步幅）

behave （举止）

cowardly （胆小）

though （尽管）

complain （抱怨）

like （像）

One day, the Duke of Wei said to Mencius ,"I have put my heart into running my country . When Hexi had bad harvest ,I moved some people to Hedong . I also took food from Hedong to Hexi. When Hedong had bad harvest , I did the same.

I don't think  the kings in other countries take care of their people like I do . But why the number of their people didn't get lesser, and the number of my people didn't grow larger?"

Mencius said, "Your Highness is fond of war , so I will use a war example to explain. In a battle , some soldiers will run away because they are afraid to die. Some will run 100 steps and stop. Others  will run 50 steps  and stop . The soldiers who run 50 steps will then run 100  steps for behaving cowardly. Do you think they are right?"

The Duke said,"Of course not. Though they didn't run 100 steps but they also ran away."

Mencius replied , "If  Your  Highness understands this story, then you should not complain that your country is not growing in number."

Mencius used this story to tell the Duke that he was like the other kings. All the kings did not really care fou their people.  

【喜冤家】中山狼，无情兽，全不念当日根由。一味的骄奢淫荡贪欢媾。觑着那侯门艳质同蒲柳，作贱的公府千金似下流。叹芳魂艳魄，一载荡悠悠。

【虚花悟】将那三春勘破，桃红柳绿待如何？把这韶华打灭，觅那清淡天和。说什么，天上夭桃盛，云中杏蕊多。到头来，谁把秋挨过？则看那，白杨村里人呜咽，青枫林下鬼吟哦。更兼者，连天衰草遮坟墓。这的是，昨贫今富人劳碌，春荣秋谢花折磨。似这般，生关死劫谁能躲？闻说道，西方宝树唤婆娑，上结着长生果。

【聪明累】机关算尽太聪明反算了卿卿性命。生前心已碎，死后性空灵。家富人宁，终有个家亡人散各奔腾。枉费了，意悬悬半世心，好一似，荡悠悠三更梦。呼喇喇似大厦倾，昏惨惨似灯将尽。呀！一场欢喜忽悲辛，叹人世终难定！

【留余庆】留余庆，留余庆，忽遇恩人；幸娘亲，幸娘亲，，积得阴功。劝人生，济困扶穷，休似俺那爱银钱忘骨肉的狠舅奸兄！正是乘除加减，上有苍穹。

【晚韶华】镜里恩情，更那堪梦里功名！那美韶华去之何迅！再休提鸳鸯衾。只这带珠冠，批凤袄，也抵不了无常性命。虽说是，人生莫受老来贫，也须要阴骘积儿孙。气昂昂头戴簪缨，光灿灿胸悬金印；威赫赫爵禄高登，昏惨惨黄泉路近。问古来将相可还存？也只是虚名儿与后人钦敬。

【好事终】画梁春尽落香尘。擅风情，秉月貌，便是败家的根本。箕裘颓堕皆从敬，家事消亡首罪宁。宿孽总因情！

【飞鸟各投林】为官的，家业凋零；富贵的，金银散尽；有恩的，死里逃生；无情的，分明报应。欠命的，命已还；欠泪的，泪已尽。冤冤相报实非轻，分离聚合皆前定。欲知命短问前生，老来富贵也真侥幸。看破的，遁入空门；痴迷的，枉送了性命。好一似食尽鸟投林，落了片白茫茫大地真干净！