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PT. III. SECT. VIII. THE WRITINGS OF KWANG-8ZE. 191
the four borders there are none who do not respectfully submit, and obey the orders of the ruler. This is the sword of the feudal lord.'
'And what about the sword of the common man?' asked the king (once more). (Kwang-ze) replied, 'The sword of the common man (is wielded by) those who have their hair in a tangle, with whiskers projecting out; who wear slouching caps with coarse and unornamented tassels, and have their coats cut short behind; who have staring eyes, and talk (only) about the hazards (of their game). They hit at one another before you. Above, the sword slashes through the neck; and below, it scoops out the liver and lungs. This is the sword of the common man. (The users of it) are not different from fighting cocks; any morning their lives are brought to an end; they are of no use in the affairs of the state. Your Majesty occupies the seat of the Son of Heaven, and that you should be so fond of the swordsmanship of such common men, is unworthy, as I venture to think, of your Majesty.'
On this the king drew Kwang-zze with him, and went up to the top of the hall, where the cook set forth a meal, which the king walked round three times (unable to sit down to it). Kwang-ze said to him, 'Sit down quietly, Great King, and calm yourself. I have said all I wished to say about swords.' King Wăn, thereafter, did not quit the palace for three months, and the swordsmen all killed themselves in their own rooms1.
1 Kwang-zze's parables had had their intended effect. It was not in his mind to do anything for the swordsmen. The commentators say: Indignant at not being treated as they had been before, they all killed themselves.'
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