The Master said, "How majestic was the manner in which Shun and Yu held possession of the empire, as if it were nothing to them!"

14. EVERY MAN SHOULD MIND HIS OWN BUSINESS. So the sentiment of this ch. is generalized by the paraphrasts, and perhaps correctly. Its letter, however, has doubtless operated to prevent the spread of right notions about political liberty in China.

15. THE PRAISE OF THE MUSIC-MASTER CHE. Neither Morrison nor Medhurst gives what appears to be the meaning of 乱 in this ch. K'ang-he's dict. has it—乐之卒章曰乱. 'The last part in the musical services is called hoan.' The programme on those occasions consisted of four parts, in the last of which a number of pieces from the fung or national songs was sung, commencing with the Kwan-ts'eu. The name wan was also given to a sort of refrain, at the end of each song.—The old interpreters explain differently, — 'when the music-master Che first corrected the confusion of the Kwan-ts'eu', &c.

16. A LAMENTATION OVER MORAL ERROR ADDED TO NATURAL DEFECT. 吾不知之, 'I do not know them', that is, say comm. natural defects of endowment are generally associated with certain redeeming qualities, as hastiness with straightforwardness, &c. In the parties Conf. had in view, those redeeming qualities were absent. He did not understand them, and could do nothing for them.

17. WITH WHAT EARNESTNESS AND CONTINUOUSNESS LEARNING SHOULD BE PURSUED.

18. THE LOFTY CHARACTER OF SHUN AND YU. Shun received the empire from Yaou, B.C. 2254, and Yu received it from Shun, B.C.2204. The throne came to them not by inheritance. They were called to it by their talents and virtue. And yet the possession of empire did not affect them at all. 不与,—'It did not concern them', was as if nothing to them. Ho An takes 与=求 —'They had the empire without seeking for it.' This is not according to usage.