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THE TEXTS OF TÂOISM.
BK. XIV.
used their weapons as if they might legitimately do so, (saying that they were) killing thieves and not killing other men. The people formed themselves into different combinations ;-so it was throughout the kingdom. Everywhere there was great consternation, and then arose the Literati and (the followers of) Mo (T1). From them came first the doctrine of the relationships (of society); and what can be said of the now prevailing customs (in the marrying of) wives and daughters ? I tell you that the rule of the Three Kings and Five Tis may be called by that name, but nothing can be greater than the disorder which it produced. The wisdom of the Three Kings was opposed to the brightness of the sun and moon above, contrary to the exquisite purity of the hills and streams below, and subversive of the beneficent gifts of the four seasons between. Their wisdom has been more fatal than the sting of a scorpion or the bite of a dangerous beast 1. Unable to rest in the true attributes of their nature and constitution, they still regarded themselves as sages :was it not a thing to be ashamed of? But they were shameless. Zze-kung stood quite disconcerted and ill at ease.
8. Confucius said to Lão Tan, I have occupied myself with the Shih, the Shù, the Lî, the Yo, the
Yi, and the Khun Khiù, those six Books, for what I myself consider a long time?, and am thoroughly
1 What beast is meant here cannot be ascertained from the characters in the text,一鮮規 之 獸 ,
2 But with the preparation of the Khun Khill Confucius's life ended; it is very plain that no conversation such as Kwang-tze has fabricated here could ever have taken place.
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