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92

14[1]

Mêng, Prince of Ch`ang, wishing to study under Min-tzŭ,[2]
sent his carriage to go meet him. Min-tzŭ said, "Etiquette (li)
demands that [the pupil] come to study, not that [the master]
go to teach.[3] If you study by having your teacher come to you,
you will be unable to learn.[4] If I go to teach you, I will be unable
to influence you. Where you would say you were unable to learn
[if I do not go], I would say I would be unable to influence you
[if I did go]."

Mêng Prince of Ch`ang then said, "I respectfully obey your
command." Next day, lifting up his robe [and hastily taking a
low seat],[5] he asked to receive instruction. The Ode says,[6]

By daily progress and monthly advance.

 
[1]

This paragraph is translated from an inferior text by Legge, Shih, Proleg. 89.

[2]

Shên Hsiang (in Ch'un-shu tsa-i 1.1a) remarks that they were not contemporaries,
and that Han Ying must have been ignorant of the fact. Chao (82) suggests that
there may have been another Min-tzŭ.

[3]

Cf. Li Ki 1.4: "I have heard in accordance with etiquette of [scholars] coming to
learn; I have not heard of [the master] going to teach." (Legge 1.63.)

[4]

For [OMITTED] D has [OMITTED]; so Legge, who punctuates before [OMITTED].

[5]

[OMITTED]: Chou says [OMITTED] should be read like [OMITTED] as in [OMITTED] (Li Ki 1.17):
"holding up your robe, go quickly to a corner [of the mat]."

[6]

Shih 599 No. 288.