Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 27.djvu/362



1. 𝖅ǎng-𝖟ze asked, "The princes are assembled in a body to appear before the son of Heaven; they have entered the gate, but are not able to go through with the rites (of audience);—how many occurrences will make these be discontinued?"

Confucius said, "Four." "May I ask what they are?" said the other. The reply was:—"The grand ancestral temple taking fire; an eclipse of the sun; funeral rites of the queen; their robes all unsightly through soaking rain. If, when the princes are all there, an eclipse of the sun take place, they follow the son of Heaven to save it ; each one dressed in the colour of his quarter, and with the weapon proper to it . If there be a fire in the grand ancestral temple, they follow him to extinguish it without those robes and weapons."

2. 𝖅ǎng-𝖟ze said, "Princes are visiting one another. (The strangers) have entered the gate after the customary bowings and courtesies, but they are not able to go through with the rites (of audience);—how many occurrences will make these be discontinued?"

Confucius said, "Six;" and, in answer to the