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THE TEXTS OF TÂOISM.
BK. X.
division of the plunder shows his benevolence. Without all these five qualities no one in the world has ever attained to become a great robber. Looking at the subject in this way, we see that good men do not arise without having the principles of the sages, and that Kih could not have pursued his course without the same principles. But the good men in the world are few, and those who are not good are many ;-it follows that the sages benefit the world in a few instances and injure it in many. Hence it is that we have the sayings, 'When the lips are gone the teeth are cold";' «The poor wine of Lû gave occasion to the siege of Han-tana;' 'When sages are born great robbers arise 3.' When the stream is dried, the valley is empty; when the mound is levelled, the deep pool (beside it) is filled up. When the sages have died, the great robbers will not arise ; the world would be at peace, and there would be no more troubles. While the sagely men have not died, great robbers will not cease to appear. The more right that is attached to the views of) the sagely men for the government of the world, the more advantage will accrue to (such men as) the robber Kih. If we make for men pecks and bushels
1 This is an instance of cause and effect naturally happening.
2 At a meeting of the princes, presided over by king Hsüan of Khû (B. C. 369-340), the ruler of Lû brought very poor wine for the king, which was presented to him as wine of Kâo, in consequence of a grudge against that kingdom by his officer of wines. In consequence of this king Hsüan ordered siege to be laid to Han-tan, the capital of Kâo. This is an instance of cause and effect occurring irregularly.
3 There seems to be no connexion of cause and effect here; but Kwang-ize goes on in his own way to make out that there is such a connexion.
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