The Analects Chapter 18
The Viscount of Wei withdrew from the court. The Viscount of Chi became aslave to Chau. Pi-kan remonstrated1 with him and died.
Confucius said, "The Yin dynasty possessed2 these three men of virtue3."Hui of Liu-hsia, being chief criminal judge, was thrice dismissed from hisoffice. Some one said to him, "Is it not yet time for you, sir, to leavethis?" He replied, "Serving men in an upright way, where shall I go to, andnot experience such a thrice-repeated dismissal? If I choose to serve menin a crooked4 way, what necessity is there for me to leave the country of myparents?"The duke Ching of Ch'i, with reference to the manner in which he shouldtreat Confucius, said, "I cannot treat him as I would the chief of the Chifamily. I will treat him in a manner between that accorded to the chief ofthe Chil and that given to the chief of the Mang family." He also said, "Iam old; I cannot use his doctrines5." Confucius took his departure.
The people of Ch'i sent to Lu a present of female musicians, which Chi Hwanreceived, and for three days no court was held. Confucius took hisdeparture.
The madman of Ch'u, Chieh-yu, passed by Confucius, singing and saying, "OFANG! O FANG6! How is your virtue degenerated7! As to the past, reproof8 isuseless; but the future may still be provided against. Give up your vainpursuit. Give up your vain pursuit. Peril9 awaits those who now engage inaffairs of government."Confucius alighted and wished to converse10 with him, but Chieh-yu hastenedaway, so that he could not talk with him.
Ch'ang-tsu and Chieh-ni were at work in the field together, when Confuciuspassed by them, and sent Tsze-lu to inquire for the ford11.
Ch'ang-tsu said, "Who is he that holds the reins12 in the carriage there?"Tsze-lu told him, "It is K'ung Ch'iu.', "Is it not K'ung of Lu?" asked he.
"Yes," was the reply, to which the other rejoined, "He knows the ford."Tsze-lu then inquired of Chieh-ni, who said to him, "Who are you, sir?" Heanswered, "I am Chung Yu." "Are you not the disciple13 of K'ung Ch'iu of Lu?"asked the other. "I am," replied he, and then Chieh-ni said to him,"Disorder, like a swelling14 flood, spreads over the whole empire, and who ishe that will change its state for you? Rather than follow one who merelywithdraws from this one and that one, had you not better follow those whohave withdrawn15 from the world altogether?" With this he fell to covering upthe seed, and proceeded with his work, without stopping.
Tsze-lu went and reported their remarks, when the Master observed with asigh, "It is impossible to associate with birds and beasts, as if they werethe same with us. If I associate not with these people,-with mankind,-withwhom shall I associate? If right principles prevailed through the empire,there would be no use for me to change its state."Tsze-lu, following the Master, happened to fall behind, when he met an oldman, carrying across his shoulder on a staff a basket for weeds. Tsze-lusaid to him, "Have you seen my master, sir?" The old man replied, "Yourfour limbs are unaccustomed to toil16; you cannot distinguish the five kindsof grain:-who is your master?" With this, he planted his staff in theground, and proceeded to weed.
Tsze-lu joined his hands across his breast, and stood before him.
The old man kept Tsze-lu to pass the night in his house, killed a fowl,prepared millet17, and feasted him. He also introduced to him his two sons.
Next day, Tsze-lu went on his way, and reported his adventure. The Mastersaid, "He is a recluse," and sent Tsze-lu back to see him again, but whenhe got to the place, the old man was gone.
Tsze-lu then said to the family, "Not to take office is not righteous. Ifthe relations between old and young may not be neglected, how is it that hesets aside the duties that should be observed between sovereign andminister? Wishing to maintain his personal purity, he allows that greatrelation to come to confusion. A superior man takes office, and performsthe righteous duties belonging to it. As to the failure of right principlesto make progress, he is aware of that."The men who have retired18 to privacy from the world have been Po-i,Shu-ch'i, Yuchung, I-yi, Chu-chang, Hui of Liu-hsia, and Shao-lien.
The Master said, "Refusing to surrender their wills, or to submit to anytaint in their persons; such, I think, were Po-i and Shu-ch'i.
"It may be said of Hui of Liu-hsia! and of Shaolien, that they surrenderedtheir wills, and submitted to taint19 in their persons, but their wordscorresponded with reason, and their actions were such as men are anxious tosee. This is all that is to be remarked in them.
"It may be said of Yu-chung and I-yi, that, while they hid themselves intheir seclusion20, they gave a license21 to their words; but in their persons,they succeeded in preserving their purity, and, in their retirement22, theyacted according to the exigency23 of the times.