Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 27.djvu/374

 his ruler, the rules say that, (if he die) in a government hotel his spirit shall be recalled; but not, (if he die) in a private one. But to whatever state a commissioner may be sent, the lodging which may be assigned to him by the proper officer becomes a public hotel;—what is the meaning of his spirit not being recalled, (if he die) in a private one?"

Confucius said, "You have asked well. The houses of a high minister, a Great officer, or an ordinary officer, may be called private hotels. The government hotel, and any other which the government may appoint, may be called a public hotel. In this you have the meaning of that saying that the spirit is recalled at a public hotel."

24. 𝖅ǎng-𝖟ze asked, "Children dying prematurely, between eight and eleven, should be buried in the garden in a brick grave, and carried thither on a contrivance serving the purpose of a carriage, the place being near; but now if the grave is chosen at a distance, what do you say about their being buried there?"

Confucius said, "I have heard this account from Lâo Tan:—'Formerly,' he said, 'the recorder Yî had a son who died thus prematurely, and the grave was distant. The duke of Shâo said to him, "Why not shroud and coffin him in your palace?" The recorder said, "Dare I do so?" The