The head of the Chi family was going to attack Chwan-yu.

　　Zan Yu and Chi-lu had an interview with Confucius, and said, "Our chief,Chil is going to commence operations against Chwan-yu."Confucius said, "Ch'iu, is it not you who are in fault here?

　　"Now, in regard to Chwan-yu, long ago, a former king appointed its ruler topreside over the sacrifices to the eastern Mang; moreover, it is in themidst of the territory of our state; and its ruler is a minister in directconnection with the sovereign: What has your chief to do with attacking it?

　　"Zan Yu said, "Our master wishes the thing; neither of us two ministerswishes it."Confucius said, "Ch'iu, there are the words of Chau Zan, -'When he can putforth his ability, he takes his place in the ranks of office; when he findshimself unable to do so, he retires from it. How can he be used as a guideto a blind man, who does not support him when tottering, nor raise him upwhen fallen?'

　　"And further, you speak wrongly. When a tiger or rhinoceros escapes fromhis cage; when a tortoise or piece of jade is injured in itsrepository:-whose is the fault?"Zan Yu said, "But at present, Chwan-yu is strong and near to Pi; if ourchief do not now take it, it will hereafter be a sorrow to hisdescendants."Confucius said. "Ch'iu, the superior man hates those declining to say-'Iwant such and such a thing,' and framing explanations for their conduct.

　　"I have heard that rulers of states and chiefs of families are not troubledlest their people should be few, but are troubled lest they should not keeptheir several places; that they are not troubled with fears of poverty, butare troubled with fears of a want of contented repose among the people intheir several places. For when the people keep their several places, therewill be no poverty; when harmony prevails, there will be no scarcity ofpeople; and when there is such a contented repose, there will be norebellious upsettings.

　　"So it is.-Therefore, if remoter people are not submissive, all theinfluences of civil culture and virtue are to be cultivated to attract themto be so; and when they have been so attracted, they must be made contentedand tranquil.

　　"Now, here are you, Yu and Ch'iu, assisting your chief. Remoter people arenot submissive, and, with your help, he cannot attract them to him. In hisown territory there are divisions and downfalls, leavings and separations,and, with your help, he cannot preserve it.

　　"And yet he is planning these hostile movements within the state.-I amafraid that the sorrow of the Chi-sun family will not be on account ofChwan-yu, but will be found within the screen of their own court."Confucius said, "When good government prevails in the empire, ceremonies,music, and punitive military expeditions proceed from the son of Heaven.

　　When bad government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitivemilitary expeditions proceed from the princes. When these things proceedfrom the princes, as a rule, the cases will be few in which they do notlose their power in ten generations. When they proceed from the greatofficers of the princes, as a rule, the case will be few in which they donot lose their power in five generations. When the subsidiary ministers ofthe great officers hold in their grasp the orders of the state, as a rulethe cases will be few in which they do not lose their power in threegenerations.

　　"When right principles prevail in the kingdom, government will not be inthe hands of the great officers.

　　"When right principles prevail in the kingdom, there will be no discussionsamong the common people."Confucius said, "The revenue of the state has left the ducal house now forfive generations. The government has been in the hands of the greatofficers for four generations. On this account, the descendants of thethree Hwan are much reduced."Confucius said, "There are three friendships which are advantageous, andthree which are injurious. Friendship with the uplight; friendship with thesincere; and friendship with the man of much observation:-these areadvantageous. Friendship with the man of specious airs; friendship with theinsinuatingly soft; and friendship with the glib-tongued:-these areinjurious."Confucius said, "There are three things men find enjoyment in which areadvantageous, and three things they find enjoyment in which are injurious.

　　To find enjoyment in the discriminating study ............