Tsêng-tzŭ had committed a fault.[2]
[His father,] Tsêng Hsi
beat him with a stick until he fell to the ground. After a while
he revived and getting up, said, "I hope, sir,[3]
you have not injured
yourself."[4]
The people of Lu, esteeming Tsêng-tzŭ as a sage for this act,
reported the matter to Confucius, who said to his disciples, "If
Ts`an comes, [do not let him in." Tsêng-tzŭ felt himself innocent
of any wrong and sent a man to make his excuses to the Master,
who said,][5]
"Have you not heard how of old Shun played the part
of a son? If it was a small whip he stayed for his beating, but if
it was with a large stick, he ran away. If [his father] looked
for him, having something for him to do, he was always at his side.
But if he looked for him with the intention of killing him, he was
never to be found. Now you gave yourself up and stayed [to suffer
the consequences of] his violent anger, standing with folded hands
without running away. Are you not a subject of the king? What
kind of crime is this [—causing one of the king's subjects to be
killed?]"
[6]
The Ode says,[7]
Peaceable and yielding—[8]
This too is a fault.
Another says,[9]
Blandly he looks and smiles;
Without any impatience he delivers his instructions.