by a guiding word? But to
think it out is better. With such as are pleased but do not think out,
or who listen but do not mend, I can do nothing.

24. The Master said, Put faithfulness and truth first; have no friends
unlike thyself; be not ashamed to mend thy faults.

25. The Master said, Three armies may be robbed of their leader, no
wretch can be robbed of his will.

26. The Master said, Yu[87] is the man to stand, clad in a worn-out
quilted gown, unashamed, amid robes of fox and badger!

Without hatred or greed,
What but good does he do?

But when Tzu-lu was everlastingly humming these words, the Master
said, This is the way towards it, but how much short of goodness
itself!

[Footnote 86: Yen Yuean.]

[Footnote 87: Tzu-lu.]

27. The Master said, Erst the cold days show how fir and cypress are
last to fade.

28. The Master said, Wisdom has no doubts; love does not fret; the
bold have no fears.

29. The Master said, With some we can learn together, but we cannot go
their way; we can go the same way with others, though our standpoint
is not the same; and with some, though our standpoint is the same our
weights and scales are not.

30.

The blossoms of the plum tree
Are dancing in play;
My thoughts are with thee,
In thy home far away.

The Master said, Her thoughts were not with him, or how could he be
far away?

BOOK X

1. Among his own country folk Confucius wore a homely look, like one
that has no word to say.

In the ancestral temple and at court his speech was full, but
cautious.

2. At court he talked frankly to men of low rank, winningly to men of
high rank. When the king was there, he looked intent and solemn.

3. When the king bade him receive guests, his face seemed to change
and his legs to bend. He bowed left and right to those beside him,
straightened his robes in front and behind, and swept forward, with
arms spread like wings. When the guest had left, he brought back word,
saying, The guest is no longer looking.

4. As he went in at the palace gate he stooped, as though it were too
low for him. He did not stand in the middle of the gate, or step on
the threshold.

When he passed the throne, his face seemed to change and his legs to
bend: he spake with bated breath. As he went up the hall to audience,
he lifted his robes, bowed his back, and masked his breathing till it
seemed to stop. As he came down, he relaxed his face below the first