14
Mencius exercised his eloquence on King Hsüan of Ch`i, who
was not pleased. Ch`un-yü K`un was in attendance.[1]
Mencius
said, "Today I exhorted your ruler, but he was not pleased. I
suppose that he does not know what good is?"
Ch`un-yü K`un said, "Master, it is only that you are really not
good. Of old when Hu-pa played the cither, the fishes of the deep
came out to listen; and when Po-ya played the lute, his six horses
raised their heads from their feeding.[2]
If even fishes and horses
know what is good, how much the more must a prince[3]
[know it]."
Mencius said, "Lightning and thunder occur and split bamboo,
break trees, and convulse the empire, but they are not able
suddenly[4]
to make the deaf have hearing. The brightness of sun
and moon everywhere illumines the world, but it is not able
suddenly[4]
to make the blind have sight. Now it is like this with
your ruler."
Ch`un-yü K`un said, "Not so. Of old when I-fêng lived in
Kao-shang, the people of Ch`i were fond of singing.[5]
When Ch`i
Liang's wife grieved and wailed, people praised her voice.[6]
Truly,
`There is no sound so faint as not to be heard, and no conduct so
secret as not to show.'
[7]
If you, Master, are living as a sage in
Lu, how is it that the state of Lu is being dismembered?"
Mencius said, "If the sage is not employed, [the result is ruin];
how can there be [only] dismemberment?[8]
The fish [large
enough] to swallow a boat does not dwell in a shallow pool, nor
does the gentleman of capacity dwell in a polluted world. [Just
as] plants, when winter comes, must wither, so have I too my
seasons."
The Ode says,[9]
[Why was this time] not before me?
Or [why was it] not after me?
Is this not [said of] one who encountered a time of withering?
