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Daoism -> Zhuangzi -> Miscellaneous Chapters -> Kings who have wished to resign the Throne -> 16.1

昔周之興，Formerly, at the rise of the Zhou dynasty,
有士二人處於孤竹， there were two brothers who lived in Gu-zhu,
曰伯夷、叔齊。 and were named Bo-yi and Shu-Qi.
二人相謂曰： They spoke together and said,
「吾聞西方有人，'We have heard that in the west there is one
似有道者， who seems to rule according to the Right Way;
試往觀焉。」 let us go and see.'
至於岐陽， (Accordingly) they came to the south of (mount) Qi;
武王聞之， and when king Wu heard of them,
使叔旦往見之， he sent (his brother) Shu Dan to see them,
與盟曰： and make a covenant with them,
「加富二等， engaging that their wealth should be second (only to that of the king),
就官一列。」 and that their offices should be of the first rank,
血牲而埋之。 and instructing him to bury the covenant with the blood of the victim after they had smeared the corners of their mouths with it.
二人相視而笑曰：The brothers looked at each other and laughed, saying,
「嘻！ 'Ah!
異哉！How strange!
此非吾所謂道也。This is not what we call the Right Way.
昔者神農之有天下也，Formerly, when Shen Nong had the kingdom,
時祀盡敬而不祈喜；he offered his sacrifices at the proper seasons and with the utmost reverence, but without praying for any blessing.
其於人也，Towards men
忠信盡治而無求焉。he was leal-hearted and sincere, doing his utmost in governing them, but without seeking anything for himself.
樂與政為政，When it was his pleasure to use administrative measures, he did so;
樂與治為治， and a sterner rule when he thought that would be better.
不以人之壞自成也， He did not by the ruin of others establish his own power;
不以人之卑自高也， he did not exalt himself by bringing others low;
不以遭時自利也。he did not, when the time was opportune, seek his own profit.
今周見殷之亂而遽為政，But now Zhou, seeing the disorder of Yin, has suddenly taken the government into its hands;
上謀而下行貨，with the high it has taken counsel, and with those below employed bribes;
阻兵而保威， it relies on its troops to maintain the terror of its might;
割牲而盟以為信， it makes covenants over victims to prove its good faith;
揚行以說眾， it vaunts its proceedings to please the masses;
殺伐以要利， it kills and attacks for the sake of gain:
是推亂以易暴也。 this is simply overthrowing disorder and changing it for tyranny.
吾聞古之士遭治世不避其任，We have heard that the officers of old, in an age of good government, did not shrink from their duties,
遇亂世不為苟存。 and in an age of disorder did not recklessly seek to remain in office.
今天下闇， Now the kingdom is in a state of darkness;
周德衰， the virtue of Zhou is decayed.
其並乎周以塗吾身也， Than to join with it and lay our persons in the dust,
不如避之以絜吾行。」it is better for us to abandon it, and maintain the purity of our conduct.'

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