Oneday,KingTang,thefounderoftheShangDynasty,sawamanarranginganetonallsidesandprayingtothedeity:
一天，商朝开国君主汤看见一个人四面布下了天罗地网，正在向神祷告:
"Letthosethatflydownfromthesky,thosethatcomeoutoftheground,andthosethatcomerunningfromalldirectionsallrunintomynet!"
“从天上飞下来的，从地下钻出来的，从四面八方跑过来的，都撞到我的网里来吧!”
Tangsaid:
汤说:
"edtodie."
“请你重新祷告吧!你可以这样说:过去，蜘蛛织出了网，现在人们也学会了织网。你们这些鸟兽，想往左边的就往左走开;想往右边的就往右走开;想高飞的就高飞;想钻洞的就钻洞;我仅仅捕捉那些命里注定要死的。”
Themuch-toldtaleofKingTang'sleavingthenetopenonthreesidesspreadfarandwideatonce.WhenthepeopleofthestatessouthoftheHanRiverheardofit,theyallsaid:
商汤网开三面的佳话，一下子传开了。汉水以南各国知道后，都说:
"KingTangofShangbestowsfavourevenuponbirdsandanimals.Heissolenientthatheistrulyabenevolentman."
“商汤对禽兽也这样恩赐，这样宽恕，真是个仁慈的人。”
Thereupon,allthe40smallstatesofthetimehadaheartfeltadmirationforTangandpledgedtheirallegiancetotheShangDynasty.
于是，当时的四十个小国家都心悦诚服地归顺了商汤。
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