The men of former times, in ceremonies and music, are called rustics. The men of these latter times are called accomplished gentlemen. If he has occasion to use those things, he follows the men of former times. Of those who were with him in Ch'an and Ts'ai, none now enter his door. Hui gives him no assistance. There is nothing he says in which Hui does not delight. Filial indeed is Min Tsze-ch'ien. Other people say nothing of him different from the report of his parents and brothers. Nan Yung was frequently repeating the lines about a white sceptre stone. Confucius gave him the daughter of his elder brother to wife. Chi K'ang asked which of the disciples loved to learn. There was Yen Hui. His appointed time was short, and he died. Now there is no one who loves to learn as he did. When Yen Yuan died, Yen Lu begged the carriage of the Master to sell and get an outer shell for his son's coffin. Everyone calls his son his son, whether he has talents or has not. There was Li. When he died, he had a coffin but no outer shell. The Master would not walk on foot to get a shell for him. When Yen Yuan died he said, Alas, Heaven is destroying me. Heaven is destroying me. The disciples said his grief was excessive. If I am not to mourn bitterly for this man, for whom should I mourn. They wished to give him a great funeral. He said they may not. They did bury him in great style. Hui behaved towards him as his father. He has not been able to treat him as his son. The fault is not his. It belongs to the disciples.
Chi Lu asked about serving the spirits of the dead. While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits. He asked about death. While you do not know life, how can you know about death. Min stood bland and precise. Tsze-lu looked bold and soldierly. The Master was pleased. Yu, there. He will not die a natural death. Some in Lu were going to rebuild the Long Treasury. Min said, suppose it were repaired after its old style. This man seldom speaks. When he does, he is sure to hit the point. What has the lute of Yu to do in my door. Yu has ascended to the hall, though he has not yet passed into the inner apartments. Shih goes beyond the due mean, and Shang does not come up to it. To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short. The head of the Chi family was richer than the duke of Chau had been, and yet Ch'iu collected his imposts for him and increased his wealth. He is no disciple of mine. My little children, beat the drum and assail him. Ch'ai is simple. Shan is dull. Shih is specious. Yu is coarse. Hui has nearly attained to perfect virtue. He is often in want. If, because a man's discourse appears solid and sincere, we allow him to be a good man, is he really a superior man, or is his gravity only in appearance.
Tsze-lu asked whether he should immediately carry into practice what he heard. There are your father and elder brothers to be consulted. Zan Yu asked the same. Immediately carry into practice what you hear. Ch'iu is retiring and slow, therefore I urged him forward. Yu has more than his own share of energy, therefore I kept him back. Put in fear in K'wang, Yen Yuan fell behind. I thought you had died. While you were alive, how should I presume to die. A great minister serves his prince according to what is right, and when he cannot, retires. Yu and Ch'iu may be called ordinary ministers. In an act of parricide or regicide, they would not follow him. Tsze-lu got Tsze-kao appointed governor of Pi. You are injuring a man's son. Why must one read books before he can be considered to have learned. It is on this account that I hate your glib-tongued people. If some ruler were to know you, what would you like to do. Tsze-lu would take a state of ten thousand chariots and in three years make the people bold. The Master smiled at him. Ch'iu would make plenty abound. Ch'ih would learn to act as a small assistant at the ancestral temple. Tien, pausing as he played on his lute, while it was yet twanging, laid the instrument aside. In the last month of spring, with the dress of the season all complete, he would wash in the I, enjoy the breeze among the rain altars, and return home singing. The Master heaved a sigh and said, I give my approval to Tien.
