Shuh-sun Wu-shuh had been casting a slur on the character of Confucius.

“No use doing that,” said Tsz-kung; “he is irreproachable.  The wisdom and worth of other men are little hills and mounds of earth:  traversible.  He is the sun, or the moon, impossible to reach and pass.  And what harm, I ask, can a man do to the sun or the moon, by wishing to intercept himself from either?  It all shows that he knows not how to gauge capacity.”

Tsz-k’in, addressing Tsz-kung, said, “You depreciate yourself.  Confucius is surely not a greater worthy than yourself.”

Tsz-kung replied, “In the use of words one ought never to be incautious; because a gentleman for one single utterance of his is apt to be considered a wise man, and for a single utterance may be accounted unwise.  No more might one think of attaining to the Master’s perfections than think of going upstairs to Heaven!  Were it ever his fortune to be at the head of the government of a country, then that which is spoken of as ‘establishing the country’ would be establishment indeed; he would be its guide and it would follow him, he would tranquillize it and it would render its willing homage:  he would give forward impulses to it to which it would harmoniously respond.  In his life he would be its glory, at his death there would be great lamentation.  How indeed could such as he be equalled?”

BOOK XX

Extracts from the Book of History

The Emperor Yau said to Shun, “Ah, upon you, upon your person, lies the Heaven-appointed order of succession!  Faithfully hold to it, without any deflection; for if within the four seas necessity and want befall the people, your own revenue will forever come to an end.”

Shun also used the same language in handing down the appointment to Yu.

The Emperor T’ang in his prayer, said, “I, the child Li, presume to avail me of an ox of dusky hue, and presume to manifestly announce to Thee, O God, the most high and Sovereign Potentate, that to the transgressor I dare not grant forgiveness, nor yet keep in abeyance Thy ministers.  Judgment rests in Thine heart, O God.  Should we ourself transgress, may the guilt not be visited everywhere upon all.  Should the people all transgress, be the guilt upon ourself!”

Chow possessed great gifts, by which the able and good were richly endowed.

“Although,” said King Wu, “he is surrounded by his near relatives, they are not to be compared with men of humane spirit.  The people are suffering wrongs, and the remedy rests with me—­the one man.”

After Wu had given diligent attention to the various weights and measures, examined the laws and regulations, and restored the degraded officials, good government everywhere ensued.

He caused ruined States to flourish again, reinstated intercepted heirs, and promoted to office men who had gone into retirement; and the hearts of the people throughout the empire drew towards him.