The Sayings Of Confucius Part 22

Tzu-kung said, Sir, if ye said no word, what could your little children write?

The Master said, What are the words of Heaven? The four seasons pa.s.s, the hundred things bear life. What are the words of Heaven?

20. Ju Pei wished to see Confucius. Confucius pleaded sickness; but, as the messenger left his door, he took a lute and sang, so the messenger should hear.

21. Tsai Wo[159] asked about mourning for three years. He thought that one was enough.

If for three years gentlemen forsake courtesy, courtesy must suffer.

If for three years they forsake music, music must decay. The old grain pa.s.ses, the new grain sprouts, the round of woods for the fire-drill is ended in one year.

The Master said, Feeding on rice, clad in brocade, couldst thou be at rest?

I could, he answered.

Then do what gives thee rest. But a gentleman, when he is mourning, has no taste for sweets and no ear for music; he cannot rest in his home. So he gives these up. Now, they give thee rest; then keep them.

After Tsai Wo had gone, the Master said, Yu's[160] want of love! At the age of three a child first leaves the arms of his father and mother, and mourning lasts for three years everywhere below heaven.

But did Yu have for three years the love of his father and mother?

22. The Master said, It is hard indeed when a man eats his fill all day, and has nothing to task the mind! Could he not play at chequers?

Even that were better.

23. Tzu-lu said, Do gentlemen honour daring?

They put right higher, said the Master. With daring and no sense of right gentlemen turn rebels and small men turn robbers.

24. Tzu-kung said, Do gentlemen hate too?

[Footnote 159: A disciple.]

[Footnote 160: Tsai Wo.]

They do, said the Master. They hate the sounding of evil deeds; they hate men of low estate that slander those over them; they hate daring without courtesy; they hate men that are stout and fearless, but blind.

And Tz'u,[161] he said, dost thou hate too?

I hate those that take spying for wisdom, who take want of manners for courage, and take tale-telling for honesty.

25. The Master said, Only maids and serving-lads are hard to train. If we draw near to them, they get unruly; if we hold them off, they grow spiteful.

26. The Master said, When a man of forty is hated, he will be so to the end.

[Footnote 161: Tzu-kung.]

BOOK XVIII

1. The lord of Wei[162] left, the lord of Chi[163] was made a slave, Pi-kan[164] spake out, and died.

Confucius said, Three of the Yin had love.

2. Whilst Liu-hsia Hui[165] was Chief Knight[166] he was dismissed thrice.

Men said. Is it not yet time to leave. Sir?

He answered, If I serve men the straight way, where can I go without being dismissed thrice? If I am to serve men the crooked way, why should I leave the land of my father and mother?

3. Speaking of how to treat Confucius, Ching, Duke of Ch'i, said, I cannot treat him as I do the Chi. I put him between Chi and Meng.

I am old, he said; I cannot use him.

Confucius left.

4. The men of Ch'i[167] sent a gift of music girls. Chi Huan accepted them, and for three days no court was held.

Confucius left.

[Footnote 162: Kinsmen of the tyrant Chou Hsin, who brought the house of Yin to an end.]

[Footnote 163: Kinsmen of the tyrant Chou Hsin, who brought the house of Yin to an end.]

[Footnote 164: Kinsmen of the tyrant Chou Hsin, who brought the house of Yin to an end.]

[Footnote 165: See note to Book XV, -- 13.]

[Footnote 166: Or Criminal Judge.]

[Footnote 167: To Lu, 497 B.C. The turning-point in Confucius's career. He left office and his native land, and wandered abroad for twelve long years.]

5. Chieh-yu, the mad-head of Ch'u, as he pa.s.sed Confucius, sang,

Phoenix, bright phoenix, Thy glory is ended!

Think of to-morrow; The past can't be mended.

Up and away!

The Court is today With danger attended.

Confucius alighted, for he wished to speak with him: but he hurried away, and he could not speak with him.

6. Ch'ang-chu and Chieh-ni were working in the fields. As Confucius pa.s.sed them, he sent Tzu-lu to ask for the ford.

Ch'ang-chu said, Who is that holding the reins?

He is K'ung Ch'iu, said Tzu-lu.

Is he K'ung Ch'iu of Lu?