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[89] Yen Yüan.
[90] The verse runs—
[91] Yen Yüan.
[92] The father of Yen Yüan.
[93] The Master's son.
[94] Tzu-lu.
[95] Tzu-lu. This prophecy came true. Tzu-lu and Tzu-kao were officers of Wei when troubles arose. Tzu-lu hastened to the help of his master. He met Tzu-kao withdrawing from the danger, and was advised to do the same. But Tzu-lu would not desert the man whose pay he drew. He plunged into the fight and was killed.
[96] Tzu-lu.
[97] The disciple Tzu-chang.
[98] The disciple Tzu-hsia.
[99] The disciple Jan Yu.
[100] The disciple Kao Ch'ai
[101] The disciple Tseng-tzu.
[102] The disciple Tzu-chang.
[103] The disciple Tzu-lu.
[104] The disciple Yen Yüan.
[105] The disciple Tzu-kung.
[106] Tzu-lu.
[107] Jan Yu.
[108] The younger brother of Chi Huan, the head of the Chi clan.
[109] Tzu-lu. He and Jan Yu had taken office under the Chi.
[110] Jan Yu.
[111] A disciple: the father of Tseng-tzu.
[112] Jan Yu.
[113] Kung-hsi Hua.
[114] Tseng Hsi.
[115] Tzu-lu.
1. Yen Yüan asked, What is love?
The Master said, Love is to conquer self and turn to courtesy. If we could conquer self and turn to courtesy for one day, all below heaven would turn to love. Does love flow from within, or does it flow from others?
Yen Yüan said, May I ask what are its signs?
The Master said, To be always courteous of eye and courteous of ear; to be always courteous in word and courteous in deed.
Yen Yüan said, Though I am not clever, I hope to live by these words.
2. Chung-kung asked, What is love?
The Master said, Without the door to behave as though a great guest were come; to treat the people as though we tendered the great sacrifice; not to do unto others what we would not they should do unto us; to breed no wrongs in the state and breed no wrongs in the home.
Chung-kung said, Though I am not clever, I hope to live by these words.
3. Ssu-ma Niu[116] asked, What is love?
The Master said, Love is slow to speak.
To be slow to speak! Can that be called love?
The Master said, Can that which is hard to do be lightly spoken?
4. Ssu-ma Niu asked, What is a gentleman?
The Master said, A gentleman knows neither sorrow nor fear.
No sorrow and no fear! Can that be called a gentleman?
The Master said. He searches his heart: it is blameless; so why should he sorrow, what should he fear?
5. Ssu-ma Niu cried sadly, All men have brothers, I alone have none!
Tzu-hsia said, I have heard that life and death are allotted, that wealth and honours are in Heaven's hand. A gentleman is careful and does not trip; he is humble towards others and courteous. All within the four seas are brethren; how can a gentleman lament that he has none?
6. Tzu-chang asked, What is insight?
The Master said, Not to be moved by lap and wash of slander, or by plaints that pierce to the quick, may be called insight. Yea, whom lap and wash of slander, or plaints that pierce to the quick cannot move may be called far-sighted.
7. Tzu-kung asked, What is kingcraft?
The Master said, Food enough, troops enough, and the trust of the people.
Tzu-kung said, If it had to be done, which could best be spared of the three?
Troops, said the Master.
And if we had to, which could better be spared of the other two?[56]
Food, said the Master. From of old all men die, but without trust a people cannot stand.
8. Chi Tzu-ch'eng[117] said, It is the stuff alone that makes a gentleman; what can art do for him?
Alas! my lord, said Tzu-kung, how ye speak of a gentleman! No team overtakes the tongue! The art is no less than the stuff, the stuff is no less than the art. Without the fur, a tiger or a leopard's hide is no better than the hide of a dog or a goat.
9. Duke Ai said to Yu Jo,[118] In this year of dearth I have not enough for my wants; what should be done?
