《明史·列传·卷一百二十六》
暮气沉沉，难以振作，又转而竞相用苛捐杂税剥削人民，人马都消耗掉了。
暮气难振，又转相掊克，士马萧耗。
They were all old and feeble, hard to cheer up, and began to compete for the exploitation of the people with harsh taxes and levies, and both men and horses were exhausted.