e sorrow of Shun.
The possession of beauty is what men desire: but though Shun had for
his wives the two daughters of the emperor, it was not sufficient to
remove his sorrow. Riches are what men desire, but though the empire
was the rich property of Shun, it was not enough to remove his sorrow.
Honors are what men desire, but though Shun had the dignity of being
the son of Heaven, it was not sufficient to remove his sorrow. The
reason why his being the object of men's complacency, the possession
of beauty, riches, and honors, could not remove his sorrow was because
it could be removed only by his being in entire accord with his parents.

"The desire of a child is towards his father and mother. When he
becomes conscious of the attractions of beauty, his desire is towards
young and beautiful women. When he comes to have a wife and children,
his desire is towards them. When he obtains office, his desire is
towards his ruler; and if he cannot get the regard of his ruler, he
burns within. But the man of great filial piety, all his life, has his
desire towards his parents. In the great Shun I see the case of one
whose desire was towards them when he was fifty years old."

Wan Chang asked Mencius, saying, "It is said in the 'Book of Poetry,'

'How do we proceed in taking a wife?
Announcement must first be made to our parents.'

If the rule be indeed as thus expressed, no one ought to have
illustrated it so well as Shun--how was it that Shun's marriage took
place without his informing his parents?" Mencius replied, "If he had
informed them, he would not have been able to marry. That male and
female dwell together is the greatest of human relations. If Shun had
informed his parents, he must have made void this greatest of human
relations, and incurred thereby their resentment. It was on this
account that he did not inform them."

Wan Chang said, "As to Shun's marrying without making announcement to
his parents, I have heard your instructions. But how was it that the
emperor gave him his daughters as wives without informing his
parents?" Mencius said, "The emperor also knew that, if he informed
his parents, he could not have given him his daughters as wives."

Wan Chang said, "His parents set Shun to repair a granary, and then
removed the ladder by which he had ascended; after which Koo-sow set
fire to it. They sent him to dig a well, from which he managed to get
out; but they, not knowing this, proceeded to cover i