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

52
CONFUCIUS
" And with you, Tsang Sin ? "
This disciple was strumming on his harpsichord, but now
the twanging ceased, he turned from the instrument, rose to his
feet, and answered thus : " Something different from the choice
of these three." "What harm?" said the Master; " I want
each one of you to tell me what his heart is set upon." " Well,
then," said he, " give me—in the latter part of spring—dressed
in full spring-tide attire—in company with five or six young
fellows of twenty,^'^ or six or seven lads under that age, to do
the ablutions in the I stream, enjoy a breeze in the rain-dance,^*
and finish up with songs on the road home."
The Master drew in his breath, sighed, and exclaimed, " Ah,
"
I take with you !
The three other disciples having gone out, leaving Tsang Sin
behind, the latter said, " What think you of the answers of those
three ? "— " Well, each told me what was uppermost in his
mind," said the Master ;— " simply that."
" Why did you smile at Tsz-lu, sir? "
" I smiled at him because to have the charge of a State requires
due regard to the Rules of Propriety, and his words
betrayed a lack of modesty."
" But Yen, then—he had a State in view, had he not ? "
" I should like to be shown a territory such as he described
which does not amount to a State."
" But had not Kung-si also a State in view? "
" What are ancestral temples and Grand Receptions, but for
the feudal lords to take part in ? If Kung-si were to become an
unimportant assistant at these functions, who could become an
important one? "
2T Lit., capped ones. At twenty they ^I.e., before the altars, where offerunderwent
the ceremony of capping, ings were placed with prayer for rain,
and were considered men. A religious dance.