things." Yu asked, "What are the nine virtues?" Kaoyao replied, "Affability combined with dignity; mildness combined with firmness; bluntness combined with respectfulness; aptness for government combined with reverent caution; docility combined with boldness; straightforwardness combined with gentleness; an easy negligence combined with discrimination; boldness combined with sincerity; and valor combined with righteousness. When these qualities are displayed, and that continuously, have we not the good officer? When there is a daily display of three of these virtues, their possessor could early and late regulate and brighten the clan of which he was made chief. When there is a daily severe and reverent cultivation of six of them, their possessor could brilliantly conduct the affairs of the State with which he was invested. When such men are all received and advanced, the possessors of those nine virtues will be employed in the public service. The men of a thousand and men of a hundred will be in their offices; the various ministers will emulate one another; all the officers will accomplish their duties at the proper times, observant of the five seasons as the several elements predominate in them, and thus their various duties will be fully accomplished. Let not the Son of Heaven set to the holders of States the example of indolence or dissoluteness. Let him be wary and fearful, remembering that in one day or two days there may occur ten thousand springs of things. Let him not have his various officers cumberers of their places. The work is Heaven's; men must act for it!"

3. "From Heaven are the social relationships with their several duties; we are charged with the enforcement of those five duties; and lo! we have the five courses of honorable conduct.2 From Heaven are the social distinctions with their several ceremonies; from us come the observances of those five ceremonies; and lo! they appear in regular practise.3

2 The five duties are those belonging to the five relationships, which are the constituents of society: those between husband and wife, father and son, ruler and subject, eldest brother and younger, friend and friend. 8 The five ceremonies are here those belonging to the distinctions of rank in connection with the five constituent relations of society.

When sovereign and ministers show a common reverence and united respect for these, lo! the moral nature of the people is made harmonious. Heaven graciously distinguishes the virtuous; are there not the five habiliments, five decorations of them? Heaven punishes the guilty; are there not the five punishments, to be severally used for that purpose? The business of government!-ought we not to be earnest in it? ought we not to be earnest in it?

"Heaven hears and sees as our people hear and see; Heaven brightly approves and displays its terrors as our people brightly approve and would awe-such connection is there between the upper and lower worlds. How reverent ought the masters of territories to be!"

4. Kao-yao said, "My words are in accordance with reason, and may be put in practise." Yu said, "Yes, your words may be put in practise, and crowned with success." Kao-yao added, "As to that I do not know, but I wish daily to be helpful. May the government be perfected!"

Book IV.- THE YI AND CHI 1

1. The Ti said, "Come Yu, you also must have excellent words to bring before me." Yu did obeisance, and said, "Oh! what can I say, O Ti, after Kao-yao? I can only think of maintaining a daily assiduity." Kao-yao said, "Alas! will you describe it?" Yu replied, "The inundating waters seemed to assail the heavens, and in their vast extent embraced the hills and overtopped the great mounds, so that the people were bewildered and overwhelmed. I mounted my four conveyances, and all along the hills hewed down the trees, at the same time, along with Yi, showing the multitudes how to get flesh to eat. I also opened passages for the streams throughout the nine provinces, and

1 Yi and Chi, the names of Shun's Forester and Minister of Agriculture, both of whom receive their appointments in Book i, occur near the commencement of this Book, and occasion is thence taken to give its title to the whole. But without good reason; for these worthies do not appear at all as interlocutors in it. Yu is the principal speaker; the Book belongs to the class of "Counsels."

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conducted them to the four seas. I deepened, moreover, the channels and canals, and conducted them to the streams, sowing grain, at the same time, along with Chi, and showing the multitudes how to procure the food of toil, in addition to the flesh meat. I urged them further to exchange what they had for what they had not, and to dispose of their accumulated stores. In this way all the people got grain to eat, and the myriad regions began to come under good rule." Kao-yao said, "Yes, we ought to model ourselves after your excellent words."

Yu said, "Oh! carefully maintain, O Ti, the throne which you occupy." The Ti replied, "Yes"; and Yu went on, "Find your repose in your proper resting-point. Attend to the springs of things; study stability; and let your assistants be the upright; then shall your movements be grandly responded to, as if the people only waited for your will. Thus you will brightly receive the favor of God; will not Heaven renew its appointment of you, and give you blessing?"

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The Ti said, "Alas! what are ministers? - are they not my associates? What are associates? are they not my ministers?" Yu replied, "Yes"; and the Ti went on, "My ministers constitute my legs and arms, my ears and eyes. I wish to help and support my people; you give effect to my wishes. I wish to spread the influence of my government through the four quarters; you act as my agents. I wish to see the emblematic figures of the ancients — the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountain, the dragons, and the flowery fowl (the pheasant), which are depicted on the upper garment; the temple cups, the pondweed, the flames, the grains of rice, the hatchet, and the symbol of distinction, which are embroidered on the lower garment-I wish to see all these fully displayed in the five colors, so as to form the ceremonial robes; it is yours to see them clearly for me. I wish to hear the six pitch-tubes, the five notes determined by them, and the eight kinds of musical instruments regulated again by these, examining thereby the virtues and defects of government, according as the odes that go forth from the court, set to music, and come in from the people, are

ordered by those five notes; it is yours to hear them for me. When I am doing wrong, it is yours to correct me; do not follow me to my face, and, when you have retired, have other remarks to make. Be reverent, ye associates, who are before and behind and on each side of me! As to all the obstinately stupid and calumniating talkers, who are found not to be doing what is right, are there not the target to exhibit their true character,2 the scourge to make them recollect, and the book of remembrance? 3 Do we not wish them to live along with us? There are also the masters of music to receive their compositions, set them to music, and continually publish them as corrected by themselves. If they become reformed they are to be received and employed; if they do not, let the terrors of punishment overtake them."

Yu said, "So far, good! But let your light shine, O Ti, all under heaven, even to every grassy corner of the seashore, and throughout the myriad regions the most worthy of the people will all wish to be your ministers. Then, O Ti, you may advance them to office. They will set forth, and you will receive, their reports; you will make proof of them according to their merits; you will confer chariots and robes according to their services. Who will then dare not to cultivate a humble virtue? who will dare not to respond to you with reverence? If you, O Ti, do not act thus, all your ministers together will daily proceed to a meritless character."

"Be not haughty like Chu of Tan, who found his pleasure only in indolence and dissipation, and pursued a proud, oppressive course. Day and night without ceasing he was

2 Archery was anciently made much of in China, and supposed to be a test of character. Unworthy men would not be found hitting frequently, and observing the various rules of the exercise. Confucius more than once spoke of archery as a discipline of virtue; see Analects." 3 In the Official Book of Chau, the heads of districts are required to keep a register of the characters of the people. Shun's Book of Remembrance would be a record on wood or cloth. The reference implies the use of writing.

4 This was the son of Yao. He must have been made lord of some principality, called Tan.

thus. He would make boats go where there was no water. He introduced licentious associates into his family. The consequence was that he brought the prosperity of his house to an end. I took warning from his course. When I married in Thu-shan," I remained with my wife only the days hsin, tsan, kwei, and chia. When my son Chi was wailing and weeping, I did not regard him, but kept planning with all my might my labor on the land. Then I assisted in completing the five Tenures, extending over 5000 li; in appointing in the provinces twelve Tutors, and in establishing in the regions beyond, reaching to the four seas, five Presidents. These all pursue the right path, and are meritorious; but there are still the people of Miao, who obstinately refuse to render their service. Think of this, O Ti." The Ti said, "That my virtue is followed is the result of your meritorious services so orderly displayed. And now Kao-yao, entering respectfully into your arrangements, is on every hand displaying the various punishments, as represented, with entire intelligence."

2. Khwei said, "When the sounding-stone is tapped or struck with force, and the lutes are strongly swept or gently touched, to accompany the singing, the progenitors of the Ti come to the service, the guest of Yu8 is in his place, and all the princes show their virtue in giving place to one another. In the court below the hall there are the flutes and handdrums, which join in at the sound of the rattle, and cease at that of the stopper, when the organ and bells take their place. This makes birds and beasts fall moving. When the nine parts of the service, as arranged by the Ti, have all been performed, the male and female phoenix come with their measured gambolings into the court."

Khwei said, "Oh! when I smite the sounding-stone, or gently strike it, the various animals lead on one another to 5 Yu married the daughter of the lord of Thu-shan, a principality in the present department of Fang-yung, An-hui.

6 See in the Tribute of Yu.

The li is what is called the Chinese mile, generally reckoned to be 360 paces.

8 Chu of Tan.