370

He was never without ginger when he ate. He did not eat much.

371

When he had been assisting at the prince's sacrifice, he did not keep the flesh which he received overnight. The flesh of his family sacrifice he did not keep over three days. If kept over three days, people could not eat it.

372

When eating, he did not converse. When in bed, he did not speak.

373

Although his food might be coarse rice and vegetable soup, he would offer a little of it in sacrifice with a grave, respectful air.

374

If his mat was not straight, he did not sit on it.

375

When the villagers were drinking together, upon those who carried staffs going out, he also went out immediately after.

376

When the villagers were going through their ceremonies to drive away pestilential influences, he put on his court robes and stood on the eastern steps.

377

When he was sending complimentary inquiries to any one in another state, he bowed twice as he escorted the messenger away.

378

Chi K'ang having sent him a present of physic, he bowed and received it, saying, "I do not know it. I dare not taste it."

379

The stable being burned down, when he was at court, on his return he said, "Has any man been hurt?" He did not ask about the horses.

380

When the he would adjust his mat, first taste it, and then give it away to others. When the prince sent him a gift of undressed meat, he would have it cooked, and offer it to the spirits of his ancestors. When the prince sent him a gift of a living animal, he would keep it alive.

381

When he was in attendance on the prince and joining in the entertainment, the prince only sacrificed. He first tasted everything.

382

When he was ill and the prince came to visit him, he had his head to the east, made his court robes be spread over him, and drew his girdle across them.

383

When the prince's order called him, without waiting for his carriage to be yoked, he went at once.

384

When he entered the ancestral temple of the state, he asked about everything.

385

When any of his friends died, if he had no relations offices, he would say, "I will bury him."

386

When a friend sent him a present, though it might be a carriage and horses, he did not bow.

387

The only present for which he bowed was that of the flesh of sacrifice.

388

In bed, he did not lie like a corpse. At home, he did not put on any formal deportment.

389

When he saw any one in a mourning dress, though it might be an acquaintance, he would change countenance; when he saw any one wearing the cap of full dress, or a blind person, though he might be in his undress, he would salute him in a ceremonious manner.

390

To any person in mourning he bowed forward to the crossbar of his carriage; he bowed in the same way to any one bearing the tables of population.

391

When he was at an entertainment where there was an abundance of provisions set before him, he would change countenance and rise up.

392

On a sudden clap of thunder, or a violent wind, he would change countenance.

393

When he was about to mount his carriage, he would stand straight, holding the cord.

394

When he was in the carriage, he did not turn his head quite round, he did not talk hastily, he did not point with his hands.

395

Seeing the countenance, it instantly rises. It flies round, and by and by settles.

396

The Master said, "There is the hen-pheasant on the hill bridge. At its season! At its season!" Tsze-lu made a motion to it. Thrice it smelt him and then rose.

397

The Master said, "The men of former times in the matters of ceremonies and music were rustics, it is said, while the men of these latter times, in ceremonies and music, are accomplished gentlemen.

398

"If I have occasion to use those things, I follow the men of former times."

399

The Master said, "Of those who were with me in Ch'an and Ts'ai, there are none to be found to enter my door."

400

Distinguished for their virtuous principles and practice, there were Yen Yuan, Min Tsze-ch'ien, Zan Po-niu, and Chung-kung; for their ability in speech, Tsai Wo and Tsze-kung; for their administrative talents, Zan Yu and Chi Lu; for their literary acquirements, Tsze-yu and Tsze-hsia.

401

The Master said, "Hui gives me no assistance. There is nothing that I say in which he does not delight."

402

The Master said, "Filial indeed is Min Tsze-ch'ien! Other people say nothing of him different from the report of his parents and brothers."

403

Nan Yung was frequently repeating the lines about a white scepter stone. Confucius gave him the daughter of his elder brother to wife.

404

Chi K'ang asked which of the disciples loved to learn. Confucius replied to him, "There was Yen Hui; he loved to learn. Unfortunately his appointed time was short, and he died. Now there is no one who loves to learn, as he did."

405

When Yen Yuan died, Yen Lu begged the carriage of the Master to sell and get an outer shell for his son's coffin.

406

The Master said, "Every one calls his son his son, whether he has talents or has not talents. There was Li; when he died, he had a coffin but no outer shell. I would not walk on foot to get a shell for him, because, having followed in the rear of the great officers, it was not proper that I should walk on foot."

407

When Yen Yuan died, the Master said, "Alas! Heaven is destroying me! Heaven is destroying me!"

408

When Yen Yuan died, the Master bewailed him exceedingly, and the disciples who were with him said, "Master, your grief is excessive!"

409

"Is it excessive?" said he. "If I am not to mourn bitterly for this man, for whom should I mourn?"

410

When Yen Yuan died, the disciples wished to give him a great funeral, and the Master said, "You may not do so."