20
Duke Ling of Wei had been asleep in the daytime.[1]
When he
got up, his vitality became progressively weaker. A man was sent
in haste to summon the brave soldier Kung-sun Chüan. On the
way he met the Hsing-jên[2]
Pu Shang. Pu Shang said, "Why are
you in such a hurry?"
[The man] replied, "The Duke having slept in the daytime,
when he got up he sent me to summon the brave soldier Kung-sun
Chüan."
Tzŭ-hsia said, "Would another person than Chüan,[3]
but equal
to Chüan in bravery do?"
The driver said, "He would do."
Tzŭ-hsia said, "Carry me back."
When they arrived the ruler said, "I sent you to summon a
brave soldier. Why have you brought a literatus?"
The messenger said, "[This] Hsing-jên said, `Would another
person than Chüan, but equal to Chüan in bravery do?' And I
said, `He would do.' So I brought him with me."
The ruler said, "Very well. Invite the gentleman to come up,
but in addition summon Kung-sun Chüan."
[Suddenly Chüan] arrived.[4]
He came in the door grasping a
sword and impetuously cried, "Shang, if you will come down I
will leave you your head!"
Tzŭ-hsia[5]
looked at him and said, "What![6]
Put away your
sword. I am going to speak with you about courage." Whereupon
the ruler ordered him to put away his sword and come up. Tzŭ-hsia
said, "Come, now. I once was with you when we followed
our ruler to the west to visit Chao Chien-tzŭ. When Chien-tzŭ
gave our ruler an audience, his hair was not done up and he held
a lance. I was following thirteen ranks behind and came forward
and said, `When feudal lords meet it is not proper for them not
to wear court costume. If [Your Highness]
[7]
does not put on court
costume, this
Hsing-gên, Pu Shang, is going to splash your dress
with the blood from your throat.'
[8]
Now was it you or was it I
who caused him to change to court costume to receive our ruler?"
Chüan said, "It was you."
Tzŭ-hsia said, "This is one instance where your courage was
not equal to mine. Another time I was with you when we followed
our ruler to the east of A. When we met the ruler of Ch`i, he sat
on a double mat, while our ruler sat on a single mat. I was
following thirteen ranks behind and came forward and said,
`According to etiquette (li), when feudal lords meet, it is not
proper that they should face one another as befits commoners.'[9]
Now was it you or was it I who took away one of his mats?"
Chüan said, "It was you."
Tzŭ-hsia said, "This is the second instance where your courage
was not equal to mine. Another time I was with you when we
followed our ruler in the hunting park and two full-grown boars
pursued our ruler.[10]
Now was it you or was it I who seized a lance
and, striking downward,[11]
turned them?"
Chüan said, "It was you."
Tzŭ-hsia said, "This is the third instance where your courage
was not equal to mine. Now what is valued in a soldier is that
while on the one hand he can assist [in governing a state of] ten
thousand chariots, on the other hand he dares not be arrogant
toward a commoner. Outside he establishes moderation and compassion,
so that enemies do not attack or make disturbances;
inside [the state] he forbids harmful [acts], so that the ruler is
not in danger. These are the excellencies of a soldier and that to
which the superior man attaches the highest value. But covering
up the short with the long, ill-treating the few by the many,
oppressing a guiltless people and exerting authority inside the
village lanes—these are the extreme evils of which a soldier may
be guilty; they are that on which the superior man visits his
dislike, and what the masses punish and root out. The Ode says,[12]
If a man has no dignity of demeanor,
What should he do but die?
How is it you discuss courage in front of a ruler?"
Whereupon Duke Ling withdrew from the mat, raised his hands,
and said, "Though I am not intelligent, I should like[13]
to follow
your [kind of] courage."
The Ode says,[14]
He does not insult the poor or the widow,
He does not fear the strong or the oppressive.
Such was Master Pu.
