Marquis Wên of Wei had one son named Chi and a younger
named Hsin.[2]
Though Hsin was the younger, he appointed him
successor,
[3]
and gave Chi the fief of Chung-shan, where for three
years [he lived] without any intercourse [with his father]. His
tutor Chao Ts`ang-t`ang
[4]
[remonstrated] saying,
[5]
"Though a
father forget his son, it is not proper for a son to forget his father.
Why do you not send a messanger to him?"
[OMITTED]: TPYL has [OMITTED] "Though I have never acted as
an envoy, still . . ." (CHy.)
Chi said, "I would like to, but there is no one to send."
Ts`ang-t`ang said, "Let me go." When Chi agreed, he asked
what the Prince liked and what he was fond of [eating].
[Chi] said, "He likes northern dogs, and is fond of morning
geese."[7]
So he asked for a northern dog and a morning goose to
take along as a present.
When Ts`ang-t`ang got there he said, "The Prince of Chung-shan,
your vassal on the north, having a northern dog and a
morning goose, has charged Ts`ang-t`ang to present them, bowing
repeatedly."
Marquis Wên said, "Chi knows I like northern dogs and am
fond of morning goose." And so he granted an audience to the
envoy. Marquis Wên said, "Chi has nothing wrong with his
health?"
Ts`ang-t`ang stammered without replying. Thrice he asked and
thrice he failed to answer. Marquis Wên said, "Why do you not
answer me?"
Ts`ang-t`ang said, "I have heard that feudal lords do not
address one another by given names. Since you have granted him
a insignificant fief, enabling him to become marquis of a small
state, I dare not answer when you use his given name in asking
about him."
Marquis Wên said, "The Prince of Shung-shan has nothing
wrong with his health?"
Ts`ang-t`ang said, "On this occasion when I came to offer his
respects, he escorted me to the suburbs."
Marquis Wên asked, "How tall is the Prince of Chung-shan
[now]?"[8]
Ts`ang-t`ang said, "When you ask about one feudal lord, it is
in comparison with other feudal lords. In the court of a feudal
lord, those who stand by his side are all subjects,[9]
and there is
no one to compare him with. But he has almost grown out of the
clothes and furs you gave him [when he went away]."
Marquis Wên said, "Just what does the Prince of Chung-shan
like?"
He replied, "He likes the Odes."
Marquis Wên said, "Which of the Odes does he like?"
"He likes the shu-li[10]
and the ch`ên-fêng."[11]
Marquis Wên said, "How does the shu-li go?"
"There was the millet with its drooping heads;
There was the sacrificial millet coming into blade.
Slowly I moved about,
In my heart all agitated.
Those who knew me
Said I was sad at heart.
Those who did not know me
Said I was seeking for something.
Oh distant and azure Heaven!
By what man was this [brought about]?"
Marquis Wên said, "Is he resentful?"
"He would not dare be resentful. He is constantly thinking
[of you]."
Marquis Wên said, "How does the ch`ên-fêng go?"
"Swift[12]
flies the falcon
To the thick-wooded forest in the north.
While I do not see the superior man,
My heart cannot forget its grief.
How is it, how is it,
That he forgets me so very much?"
Whereupon Marquis Wên was very glad and said, "If you
want to know about your son, look to the mother, and if you want
to know about a prince, look to his envoy. If the Prince of Chung-shan
were not a sage, how could he have got a sage [to be his
envoy]?"[13]
In the end he degraded the Heir Apparent Hsin and,
summoning the Prince of Chung-shan, made him his successor.
The Ode says,[14]
The male and female phoenix fly about,
Their wings rustling,
While they settle in their proper resting place.
Many are your admirable officers, O King,
Ready to be employed by you,
Loving you, the Son of Heaven.
The superior man says, if an envoy is not upright, it is just a waste
of horses and carriage [to send him on a mission]. He must [be
able to] convey sincerity and transmit [his master's] will, making
clear what is desirable and what is not, before he can be sent on a
mission.
