Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

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THE ANALECTS 49
On the same occasion, his wailing for that disciple becoming
excessive, those who were about him said, " Sir, this is too
much "— ! " Too much ? " said he " ; if I am not to do so for
him, then—for whom else ? "
The disciples then wished for the deceased a grand funeral.
The Master could not on his part consent to this. They never-
theless gave him one. Upon this he remarked, " He used to
look upon me as if I were his father. I could never, however,
look on him as a son. 'Twas not my mistake, but yours, my
children."
Tsz-lu propounded a question about ministering to the spirits
of the departed. The Master replied, " Where there is scarcely
the ability to minister to living men, how shall there be ability
to minister to the spirits ? " On his venturing to put a ques-
tion concerning death, he answered, " Where there is scarcely
any knowledge about life, how shall there be any about
death ?
The disciple Min was by his side, looking affable and bland
Tsz-lu also, looking careless and intrepid ; and Yen Yu and
Tsz-kung, firm and precise. The Master was cheery. " One
like Tsz-lu there," said he, " does not come to a natural end."
Some persons in Lu were taking measures in regard to the
Long Treasury House. Min Tsz-k'ien observed, " How if it
were repaired on the old lines?" The Master upon this re-
marked, " This fellow is not a talker, but when he does speak he
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is bound to hit the mark !
" There is Yu's harpsichord," exclaimed the Master — " whar
is it doing at my door ? " On seeing, however, some disrespect
shown to him by the other disciples, he added, " Yu has got as
far as the top of the hall ; only he has not yet entered the
house."
Tsz-kung asked which was the worthier of the two—Tszchang
or Tsz-hia. " The former," answered the Master, " goes
beyond the mark ;
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the latter falls short of it."
" So then Tsz-chang is the better of the two, is he ? " said he.
" To go too far," be replied, " is about the same as to fall
short."
The Chief of the Ki family was a wealthier man than the
Duke of Chow had been, and yet Yen Yu gathered and hoarded
for him, increasing his wealth more and more.
" He is no follower of mine," said the Master, " It would
Vol. IV.—
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