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THE TEXTS OF TÂoism.
BK XXIX.
rulers) have all been promoters of disorder and confusion. You yourself now cultivate and inculcate the ways of Wăn and Wa; you handle whatever subjects are anywhere discussed for the instruction of future ages. With your peculiar robe and narrow girdle, with your deceitful speech and hypocritical conduct, you delude the lords of the different states, and are seeking for riches and honours. There is no greater robber than you are ;-why does not all the world call you the Robber Khiù, instead of styling me the Robber Kih?
"You prevailed by your sweet speeches on Zze-lû, and made him your follower; you made him put away his high cap, lay aside his long sword, and receive your instructions, so that all the world said, “Khung Khið is able to arrest violence and repress the wrong-doer;" but in the end, when Zze-là wished to slay the ruler of Wei, and the affair proved unsuccessful, his body was exhibited in pickle over the eastern gate of the capital;—so did your teaching of him come to nothing.
Do you call yourself a scholar of talent, a sage ? Why, you were twice driven out of Lâ; you had to run away from Wei; you were reduced to extremity in Khi; you were held in a state of siege between Khăn and Zhâi; there is no resting-place for your person in the kingdom ; your instructions brought Zze-lů to pickle. Such have been the misfortunes (attending your course). You have done no good either for yourself or for others ;-how can your doctrines be worth being thought much of ?
There is no one whom the world exalts so much as it does Hwang-Ti, and still he was not able to perfect his virtue, but fought in the wilderness of
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