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
passes, 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, Yue'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 Yue 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