CHAPTER 24

Tsae Go asked, saying, "A benevolent man, though it be told him,—'There is a man in the well', will go in after him, I suppose." Confucius said, "Why should he do so? A superior

21. CONTRASTS OF THE WISE AND THE VIRTUOUS. The two first 乐 are read ngaou, low.3d tone,=喜好, 'to find pleasure in'. The wise or knowing are active and restless, like the waters of a stream, ceaselessly flowing and advancing. The virtuous are tranquil and firm, like the stable mountains. The pursuit of knowledge brings joy. The life of the virtuous may be expected to glide calmly on and long. After all, the saying is not very comprehensible.

22. THE CONDITION OF THE STATES TS'E AND LOO. Ts'e and Loo were both within the present Shan-tung. Ts'e lay along the coast on the north, embracing the present dep. of 青州 and other territory. Loo was on the south, the larger portion of it being formed by the present dep. of 兖州. At the rise of the Chow dynasty, king Woo invested 太公望, 'the great duke Wang', with the principality of Ts'e, while his successor, king Shing, constituted the son of his uncle, the famous duke of Chow, prince of Loo. In Conf. time, Ts'e had degenerated more than Loo. 道 is 先王尽善尽美之道, 'the entirely good and admirable ways of the former kings'.

23. THE NAME WITHOUT THE REALITY IS FOLLY. This was spoken (see the 注疏) with ref. to the governments of the time, retaining ancient names without ancient principles. The 觚 was a drinking vessel; others say a wooden tablet. The latter was a later use of the term. It was made with corners as appears from the composition of the character, which is formed from 角, 'a horn', 'a sharp corner'. In Conf. time, the form was changed, while the name was kept.

24. THE BENEVOLENT EXERCISE THEIR BENEVOLENCE WITH PRUDENCE. Tsae Go could see no limitation to acting on the impulses of benevolence. We are not to suppose with modern comm. that he wished to show that benevolence was impracticable. 虽 belongs to the whole following clause, especially to the mention of a well. The second 仁 is for 人. 其—也 indicate some doubt in Go's mind. Obs. the hophal force of 逝 and 陷.

man may be made to go to the well, but he cannot be made to go down into it. He may be imposed upon, but he cannot be befooled."