6. Chi K'ang asked which disciples loved learning. Confucius answered, There was Yen Hui[91] loved learning. Alas! his mission was short, he died. Now there is no one. [Footnote 89: Yen Yuean.] [Footnote 90: The verse runs-- A flaw can be ground From a sceptre white; A slip of the tongue No man can right. ] [Footnote 91: Yen Yuean.] 7. When Yen Yuean died, Yen Lu[92] asked for the Master's carriage to furnish an outer coffin. The Master said, Brains or no brains, each of us speaks of his son. When Li[93] died he had an inner but not an outer coffin: I would not go on foot to furnish an outer coffin. As I follow in the wake of the ministers I cannot go on foot. 8. When Yen Yuean died the Master said, Woe is me! Heaven has undone me! Heaven has undone me! 9. When Yen Yuean died the Master gave way to grief. His followers said, Sir, ye are giving way. The Master said, Am I giving way? If I did not give way for this man, for whom should I give way to grief? 10. When Yen Yuean died the disciples wished to bury him in pomp. The Master said, This must not be. The disciples buried him in pomp. The Master said, Hui treated me as his father. I have failed to treat him as a son. No, not I; but ye, my two-three boys. 11. Chi-lu[94] asked what is due to the ghosts of the dead? The Master said, When we cannot do our duty to the living, how can we do it to the dead? He dared to ask about death. We know not life, said the Master, how can we know death? [Footnote 92: The father of Yen Yuean.] [Footnote 93: The Master's son.] [Footnote 94: Tzu-lu.] 12. Seeing the disciple Min standing at his side with winning looks, Tzu-lu with warlike front, Jan Yu and Tzu-kung frank and free, the Master's heart was glad. A man like Yu,[95] he said, dies before his day. 13. The men of Lu were building the Long Treasury. Min Tzu-ch'ien said, Would not the old one do? Why must it be rebuilt? The Master said, That man does not talk, but when he speaks he hits the mark. 14. The Master said, What has the lute of Yu[96] to do, twanging at my door? But when the disciples looked down on Tzu-lu, the Master said, Yu has come up into hall, but he has not yet entered the inner rooms. 15. Tzu-kung asked, Which is the better, Shih[97] or Shang[98]? The Master said, Shih goes too far, Shang not far enough. Then is Shih the better? said Tzu-kung. Too far, said the Master, is no nearer than not far enough. 16. The Chi was richer than the Duke of Chou; yet Ch'iu[99] became his tax-gatherer and made him still richer. [Footnote 95: Tzu-lu. This prophecy came true. Tzu-lu and Tzu-kao were officers of Wei when troubles arose. Tzu-lu hastened to the help of his master. He met Tzu-kao withdrawing from the danger, and was advised to do the same. But Tzu-lu would not desert the man whose pay he drew. He plunged into the fight and was killed.] [Footnote 96: Tzu-lu.] [Footnote 97: The disciple Tzu-chang.] [Footnote 98: The disciple Tzu-hsia.]