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THE TEXTS OF TÂOISM.
BK. XXIX.
rage ; his eyes became like blazing stars, and his hair rose up and touched his cap. 'Is not this fellow,' said he, Khung Khid, that artful hypocrite of La ? Tell him from me, "You invent speeches and babble away, appealing without ground to (the examples of) Wăn and Wa. The ornaments on your cap are as many as the branches of a tree, and your girdle is (a piece of skin) from the ribs of a dead ox. The more you talk, the more nonsense you utter. You get your food without (the labour of) ploughing, and your clothes without (that of) weaving. You wag your lips and make your tongue a drum-stick. You arbitrarily decide what is right and what is wrong, thereby leading astray the princes throughout the kingdom, and making its learned scholars not occupy their thoughts with their proper business. You recklessly set up your filial piety and fraternal duty, and curry favour with the feudal princes, the wealthy and the noble. Your offence is great; your crime is very heavy. Take yourself off home at once. If you do not do so, I will take your liver, and add it to the provision for to-day's food.'
But Confucius sent in another message, saying, 'I enjoy the good will of (your brother) Kỉ, and I wish and hope to tread the ground beneath your tent?' When the usher had communicated this message, Tâo Kih said, 'Make him come forward:' On this Confucius hastened forwards. Declining to take a mat, he drew hastily back, and bowed twice to Tâo Kih, who in a great rage stretched
1 That is, I wish to have an interview with you, to see and speak to you face to face.
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