Shên-t`u Ti[2]
thought he was born out of his time,[3]
and was
about to cast himself into the River. Ts`ui Chia learning of this
stopped him, saying, "I have heard that [the function of] the
saintly man and the humane gentleman between Heaven and
Earth[4]
is to be father and mother to the people. Now is it right
not to come to the rescue of a drowning man by reason of [fearing]
wet feet?"[5]
Shên-t`u said, "Not so. [Of old][6]
Chieh by putting Kuan Lung-fêng
to death, and Chou by killing the Prince Pi-kan, lost their
empires. Wu by killing Tzŭ-hsü, and Ch`ên by killing Hsieh Yeh,
had their states destroyed. Therefore the loss of a state or the
destruction of a family is not [caused by] a lack of saints and
sages, but it is the result of not using them." Whereupon embracing
a stone, he sank into the River.
When the superior man hears of this he says, "He was scrupulous
indeed, but as to his being jên, this I have yet to see."[7]
The Ode says,[8]
So it is!
Heaven has done it;—
What then shall I say?
