f Yaou and Shun?
had I not better in my own person see these things for myself?
Heaven's plan in the production of this people is this:--That they who
are first informed, should instruct those who are later in being
informed, and those who first apprehend principles should instruct
those who are slower to do so. I am the one of Heaven's people who
have first apprehended; I will take these principles and instruct this
people in them. If I do not instruct them, who will do so?'

"He thought that among all the people of the kingdom, even the private
men and women, if there were any that did not enjoy such benefits as
Yaou and Shun conferred, it was as if he himself pushed them into a
ditch. He took upon himself the heavy charge of all under Heaven in
this way, and therefore he went to T[']ang, and pressed upon him the
duty of attacking Hea, and saving the people.

"I have not heard of one who bent himself and at the same time made
others straight; how much less could one disgrace himself, and thereby
rectify the whole kingdom? The actions of the sages have been
different. Some have kept far away from office, and others have drawn
near to it; some have left their offices, and others have not done so;
that in which these different courses all meet, is simply the keeping
of their persons pure.

"I have heard that E Yin sought an introduction to T[']ang by the
principles of Yaou and Shun; I have not heard he did so by his
knowledge of cookery.

"In the 'Instructions of E,' it is said, 'Heaven, destroying Keeh,
commenced attacking him in the palace of Muh; we commenced in Poh.'"

Wan Chang asked Mencius, saying, "Some say that Confucius in Wei lived
with an ulcer-doctor, and in Ts[']e with Tseih Hwan, the chief of the
eunuchs; was it so?" Mencius said, "No, it was not so. Those are the
inventions of men fond of strange things.

"In Wei he lived in the house of Yen Ch[']ow-yew. The wife of the
officer Mei and the wife of Tsze-lu were sisters. Mei-tsze spoke to
Tsze-lu, saying, 'If Confucius will lodge with me, he may get to be a
high noble of Wei.' Tsze-lu reported this to Confucius, who said,
'That is as ordered by Heaven.' Confucius advanced according to
propriety, and retired according to righteousness. In regard to his
obtaining office and honor or not obtaining them, he said, 'That is as
ordered.' But if he had lodged with an ulcer-doctor and with Tseih
Hwan, the chief of the eunuchs, that would neither have been acc