“Five days went by, and still Confucius Played all day long the ancient simple air; And when Siang would teach him more he said: ‘Not yet, my master, I would seize the thought, The subtle thought which hides within the tune.’ To which the master answered: ‘It is well. Take five days more!’ And when the time was passed Unto Siang thus spoke Confucius: ‘I do begin to see, and yet what I see Is very dim. I am as one who looks, And nothing sees except a luminous cloud; Give me but five more days, and at the end, If I have not attained the great idea Hidden of old within the melody, I will leave music as beyond my power.’ ‘Do as thou wilt, O pupil!’ cried Siang In deepest admiration; ‘never yet Had I a scholar who was like to thee. And on the fifteenth day Confucius rose And stood before Siang, and cried aloud: ‘The mist which shadowed me is blown away; I am as one who stands upon a cliff, And gazes far and wide upon the world, For I have mastered every secret thought, Yea, every shadow of a feeling dim Which flitted through the spirit of Wan Wang When he composed that air. I speak to him, I hear him clearly answer me again; And more than that, I see his very form: A man of middle stature, with a hue Half blended with the dark and with the fair; His features long, and large sweet eyes which beam With great benevolence--a noble face! His voice is deep and full, and all his air Inspires a sense of virtue and of love. I know that I behold the very man, The sage of ancient days, Wan Wang the just.’ “Then good Siang lay down upon the dust, And said: ‘Thou art my master. Even thus The ancient legend, known to none but me, Describes our first great sire. And thou hast seen That which I never yet myself beheld, Though I have played the sacred song for years, Striving with all my soul to penetrate Its mystery unto the master’s form, Whilst thou hast reached it at a single bound; Henceforth the gods alone can teach thee tune.’” Now, at the age of thirty, he became famous. Many youths, sons of nobles, became his willing scholars. At this time he visited Lao-tsze, the founder of Taoism. While in the capital, where Lao-tsze lived, he entered an old temple where he found a metal statue of a man with a triple clasp upon his mouth. On the back of the statue were engraved the words: “The ancients were guarded in their speech, and like them we should avoid loquacity. Many words invite many defeats. Avoid also engaging in many businesses, for many businesses create many difficulties.” “Observe this, my children,” said the sage to his disciples. “These words are true, and commend themselves to our reason.”