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Presenting
Doves
It was the custom in Hantan to catch
doves to present to the prince on New Year's Day, for this
pleased him so much that he gave rich rewards. Someone asked
the prince the reason for this custom.
"
I free the doves at New Year to show my kindness," he
said.
"
Since your subjects know you want doves to set free, they
all set about catching them," objected the other. And
the result is that many doves are killed. If you really want
to save the doves, you had better forbid people catch them.
As
things are, you ctch them to free them, and your kindness
cannot make up for
the damage you do.
The
prince agreed with him.
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make up
for |
To make up for something that is
lost, missing, or damaged means to replace it or
compensate for it. |
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