Unit Fourteen

The Lord and the Hermit

　　Once upon a time there was a rapacious lord. He was relentless to his tenants and quelled them by placing quotas to their living condition. Soon he collected quantitatively great revenue and lived in a radiate palace. He was also renowned for his queer clothes.
　　One day the lord’s disease relapsed, so he rallied his subordinates for help. One of them said: “I’ve heard of a recluse who knows regimen well residing nearby. Why not visit his residence for help?” Another retorted: “Be prudent, maybe it is only a rumor.” But the rash lord was filled with rapture and ratified the visiting plan. 来源：考试大
　　On the next Sunday, the lord purged himself, held a quaint rite and started for the hermit’s home. They passed rugged rustic passages full of paddles and the lord almost recoiled. Finally they arrived. The lord felt disappointed at the recluse’s reception, but he wouldn’t relinquish the chance and talked to the hermit with reverence.
　　The hermit ruminated and reverted to the main topic in a pungent voice: “I’ve heard lots of your ravenous deeds. You retract the land you’ve distributed to the farmers and order them to redeem their land. You must redress your guilt and rehabilitate their freedom. Reimburse their respective debts and build refuge for them. You can retain the residue of your property.” 来源：考试大
　　The lord was reluctant to renounce his wealth and be rent from his palace. He rebuked: “Your advice is too reckless. I’m resolute not to accept it.”
　　“Why so repulsive? You cannot repudiate my words.” The hermit reiterated his suggestion and its resonance echoed. “Remit their taxes with rebates, or a riot is imminent.”
　　The lord again refuted. At last he went back in remorse.