"Mountain forests and loamy fields swell my heart with joy. But ere the joy be passed, sorrow is upon me again. Familiarity destroys the charm. Joy and sorrow come and go, and over them I have no control. "Alas! the life of man is but as a stoppage at an inn. He knows that which comes within the range of his experience. Otherwise, he knows not. He knows that he can do what he can do, and that he cannot do what he cannot do. But there is always that which he does not know and that which he cannot do; and to struggle that it shall not be so,--is not this a cause for grief? "The best language is that which is not spoken, the best form of action is that which is without deeds. Then conformity and adaptation are not required. Spread out your knowledge and it will be found to be shallow." It will by no means cover the area of the knowable. "Read this chapter," says one critic, "and the _Tripitaka_ and the _Mahâyâna_ will open out before you as beneath a sharp-edged blade." CHAPTER XXIII. KÊNG SANG CH'U. _Argument_:--The operation of TAO is not seen--Spheres of action vary--TAO remains the same--Spontaneity essential--TAO can be divided but remains entire--It is infinite as Time and Space--It is unconditioned--The external and the internal--Illustrations. Among the disciples of Lao Tzŭ was one named Kêng Sang Ch'u. He alone had attained to the TAO of his Master. He lived up north, on the Wei-lei Mountains. Of his attendants, he dismissed those who were systematically clever or conventionally charitable. The useless remained with him; the incompetent served him. And in three years the district of Wei-lei was greatly benefited. One of the inhabitants said in conversation, "When Mr. Kêng Sang first came among us, we did not know what to make of him. Now, we could not say enough about him in a day, and even a year would leave something unsaid. Surely he must be a true Sage. Why not pray to him as to the spirits, and honour him as a tutelary god of the land?" On hearing of this, Kêng Sang Ch'u turned his face to the south Towards the abode of Lao Tzŭ. in shame, at which his disciples were astonished. But Kêng Sang said, "What cause have you for astonishment? The influence of spring quickens the life of plants, and autumn brings them to maturity. In the absence of any agent, how is this so? It is the operation of TAO. "I have heard that the perfect man may be pent up like a corpse in a tomb, yet the people will become unartificial and without care. So powerful will be his influence. But now these poor people of Wei-lei wish to exalt me among their wise and good. Surely then I am but a shallow vessel; and therefore I was shamed for the doctrine of Lao Tzŭ."