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Thang further made proffer of the throne to Wû Kwang1, saying, 'The wise man has planned it; the martial man has carried it through; and the benevolent man should occupy it: this was the method of antiquity. Why should you, Sir, not take the position?' Wa Kwang refused the proffer, saying, 'To depose the sovereign is contrary to right; to kill the people is contrary to benevolence. When another has encountered the risks, if I should accept the gain of his adventure, I should violate my disinterestedness. I have heard it said, "If it be not right for him to do so, one should not accept the emolument; in an age of unprincipled (government), one should not put foot on the soil (of the) country:"-how much less should I accept this position of honour! I cannot bear to see you any longer.' And with this he took a stone on his back, and drowned himself in the Lü water 2.
PT. III. SECT. VI. THE WRITINGS OF KWANG-3ZE.
10. Formerly, at the rise of the Kâu dynasty, there were two brothers who lived in Ku-kû3, and were named Po-i and Shu-khi. They spoke together and said, 'We have heard that in the west there is one who seems to rule according to the Right Way; let us go and see.' (Accordingly) they came to the south of (mount) Khi; and when king Wû heard of them, he sent (his brother) Shû Tan to see them, and make a covenant with them, engaging that their wealth should be second (only to that of the king), and that their offices should be of the first rank,
1 Not elsewhere heard of, save in the same connexion. 2 In the west of Liâo-tung.
A small principality, in the present Lwan-kâu, department of Yung-phing Kih-lî.
M 2
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