Ancient China. The Shoo king, or the historical classic - University of ...

50 THE GREAT Yu's COUNSELS.^ The Emperor Ef said, fl^ Causing ^ me^ toobtain jf);n.y wish J^ in y^ the yrovernment ( of the.coLintry), until ^ every :)/ region J^ $)}is inliaencedthereby, \\^ this is to be attributed to/} :^ your j;^ejxcellence. *r^ The Emperor then Q said,^ Come here, ^ Yu IWhen ^ ;^X ^he inundation j^ alarmed^ me, -|- youj^ fulfilled ^ your promise, and ^the undertaking,accomplished X^j^ this was entirely -^^ your ^ abi-"^ You could be |^ diligent -=5= in (the busi-lity. Jness of)^|l ^he country, and ^ were able to practice^wards,when there was any doubt, he invariably made the la>v bend,to carry out his gracious intentions, and would not allow the ideaof adhering to the strict precept, to interfere with the display ofhumanity. This is the way in which his better feelings maintainedtheir unobstructed course, and travelled beyond the mere letter of thelaw, until their outflowings widely extended themselves, soaking andsaturating into the people's minds, so that the subjects of the empire,universally affected by longing delight, rose up to goodness, anddid not offend against the officers of justice. Kaou-yaou, hearingShun applaud his servant's merits, uttered this in order to give allthe ^lory to his superior ; for he did not dare to appropriate admirationto himself, or to account the merit his own.* For th-* people not to transgress the laws, and for the ruler notto inflict punishment, this was what Shun desired. " You, said he,have been able to promote the fulfilment of my wish, in the governmentof the country, so that reformation has spread throughout allquarters, like the wind influencing and agitatinsr every blade of grsss ;this is all to be ascribed to your goodness." Here Shun again uttersan exclamation, in order renewedly to admire the excelleHce ofKaou-yaou.f An " inunlatiou" means an extensive flood. The ancienttext reads it, the descent of waters. Mang-tsze said, " when watersflow out of their course it is called an inundation ;" as when amountain is precipitated, and the waters burst their bounds, whilethe outward vent is stopped up, the stream attempting to force itsway, suddenly flows backwards, and overwhelms and inundates to aboundless extent. Although this calamity commenced in the time ofYaou, yet when Shun was associated in the government, the evil wasnot stopped ; therefore Shun considered it to be a celestial warningto himself, and did not dare to view it as no concern of his, respectingwhich he could make himself easy.t Yvi sent up his report, and was able to make good his words, hetried the scheme and was able to complete the affair ; this is what thesage call* fulfilHng his promise and accomplishing the undertaking.