When Duke P`ing of Chin sent Fan Chao to inspect the government
of the state of Ch`i,[2]
Duke Ching [of Ch`i] gave a banquet
for him. Yen-tzŭ was up in front. Fan Chao hurried forward
and said, "I would like Your Highness to have a servant fill a
goblet that I might drink to your health."
Duke Ching turned to his attendant and said, "Fill my goblet
and present it to our guest."
[After Fan Chao had drunk,] Yen-tzŭ said,[3]
"Take the goblet
away."
Fan Chao was not pleased. He got up to dance and turning to
the Grand Music Master said, "Play the music of Ch`êng-chou
for me; I want to dance."[4]
The Grand Music Master replied, "Your blind servant[5]
is not
practiced in it." Fan Chao hastily left.[6]
Duke Ching said to Yen-tzŭ, "Chin is the greatest state in
the empire, and when they send Fan Chao to come here to inspect
the government of the state of Ch`i, you anger him, the envoy of
that great state. What are we to do?"
Yen-tzŭ said, "Fan Chao, by character, is not a vulgar man,
ignorant of etiquette (li). The object [of his coming] was to try
us, prince [and subjects].[7]
That is why I did not fall in with [his
desires]."
Then Duke Ching summoned the Grand Music Master and
asked, "When Fan Chao would have had you play the music of
Ch`êng-chou, why did you not do it?" He replied as had Yen-tzŭ.[8]
Afterwards Fan Chao went back and reported to Duke P`ing,
"Ch`i cannot yet be annexed. I tried their prince, and Yen-tzŭ
knew [what I was about]. I went against their [principles in the
matter of] music, and the Grand Music Master knew [what I was
doing]."
When Confucius heard of this he said, "Excellent. Yen-tzŭ,
without leaving the sacrificial vessels, could act as a buffer a
thousand li away."[9]
The Ode says,[10]
Truly is the Chief of the Chou House honored in his place.
To his movements[11]
All respond with tremulous awe.
