Hwuy of Lew-hea being chief criminal judge, was thrice dismissed from his office. Some one said to him, "Is it not yet time for you, Sir, to leave this?" He replied, "Serving men in an upright way, where shall I go to, and not experience such a thrice-repeated dismissal? If I choose to serve men in a crooked way, what necessity is there for me to leave the country of my parents?"

HEADING OF THIS BOOK.—微子第十八, 'The viscount of Wei—No. XVIII.' This Book, consisting of only eleven chapters, treats of various individuals famous in Chinese history, as eminent for the way in which they discharged their duties to their sovereign, or for their retirement from public service. It commemorates also some of the worthies of Confucius' days, who lived in retirement rather than be in office in so degenerate times. The object of the whole is to illustrate and vindicate the course of Confucius himself.

1. THE VISCOUNTS OF WEI AND KE, AND PE-KAN:—THREE WORTHIES OF THE YIN DYNASTY. 1. Wei-tsze and Ke-tsze are continually repeated by Chinese, as if they were proper names. But Wei and Ke were the names of two small states, presided over by chiefs of the Tsze, or fourth, degree o nobility, called viscounts, for want of a more exact term. They both appear to have been within the limits of the present Shan-se, Wei being referred to the district of 潞城, dep.潞安, and Ke to 榆社, dep.辽州. The chief of Wei was an elder brother (by a concubine) of the tyrant Chow, the last emperor of the Yin dynasty, B.C.1153-1122. The chief of Ke, and Pe-kan, were both uncles of the tyrant. The first, seeing that remonstrances availed nothing, withdraw from court, wishing to preserve the sacrifices of their family, amid the ruin which he saw was impending. The second was thrown into prison, and, to escape death, feigned madness. He was used by Chow as a buffoon. Pe-kan, persisting in his remonstrances, was put barbarously to death, the tyrant having his heart torn out, that he might see, he said, a sage's heart. The之in 去之 is explained by 其位, 'his place'. Its reference may also be to 纣, the tyrant himself. On 为之奴, comp. 为之宰, V. 7, 3, et al.

2. HOW HWUY OF LEW-HEA, THOUGH OFTEN DISMISSED FROM OFFICER, STILL CLAVE TO HIS COUNTRY. Lew-hea Hwuy,—see XV. 13. The office of the 士师 is described in the Chow le, XXXIV. 3. He was under the 司寇, or minister of Crime, but with many subordinate magistrates under him. 三, up. 3d tone, as in V. 19, XI. 5. We may translate 黜, 'was dismissed from office', or 'retired from office'. 人=或人.—Some remarks akin to that in the text are ascribed to Hwuy's wife. It is observed by the commentator Hoo(胡), that there ought to be another paragraph, giving Conf. judgment upon Hwuy's conduct, but it has been lost.