The Master said to Pih-yu, "Do you give yourself to the Chow-nan, and the Chaou-nan. The man, who has not studied the Chow-nan and the Chaou-nan, is like one who stands with his face right against a wall. Is he not so?"

9. BENEFITS DERIVED FROM STUDYING THE BOOK OF POETRY. 1. 小子;—see V. 21; VIII. 3. I translate 诗 here by 'the Book of Poetry', because the lesson is supposed to have been given, after Conf. had completed his compilation of the Odes. The夫is that, as in XI. 9. 1, et al. The description in them of good and evil may have this effect. 3. Their awarding of praise and blame may show a man his own character. 4. Their exhibitions of gravity in the midst of pleasure may have this effect. 羣, as in XV. 21. 5. Their blending of pity and earnest desire with reproofs may teach how to regulate our resentments. 6. 草木, 'grasses and trees',=plants generally.

10. THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING THE CHOW-NAN AND CHAOU-NAN. Chow-nan and Chaou-nan are the titles of the first two Books in the National Songs, or first part of the She-king. For the meaning of the titles, see the She-king, I. i. and I. ii. They are supposed to inculcate important lessons about personal virtue and family-government. Choo He explains 为 by 学, 'to learn', 'to study'. It denotes the entire mastery of the studies. 女 (for 汝)为云云 is imperative, the 乎 at the end, not being interrogative.正面墙而立 is for 正面对墙而立. In such a situation, one cannot advance a step, nor see any thing. I have added—'Is he not so?' to bring out the force of the 与.—This chapter in the old editions, is incorporated with the preceding one.