[Footnote 27: The loser had to drink a cup of wine.] 8. Tzu-hsia asked, What is the meaning of: Her cunning smiles, Her dimples light, Her lovely eyes, So clear and bright, All unadorned, The background white. Colouring, said the Master, is second to the plain ground. Then good form is second, said Tzu-hsia. Shang,[28] said the Master, thou hast hit my meaning! Now I can talk of poetry to thee. [Footnote 28: Tzu-hsia.] 9. The Master said, I can speak of the manners of Hsia; but as proof of them Chi[29] is not enough. I can speak of the manners of Yin; but as proof of them Sung is not enough. This is due to their dearth of books and great men. If there were enough of these, I could use them as proofs. [Footnote 29: Chi was the homeland of the House of Hsia, Sung that of the House of Yin.] 10. The Master said, After the drink offering at the Great Sacrifice, I have no wish to see more. 11. One asked the meaning of the Great Sacrifice. The Master said, I do not know. He that knew the meaning would overlook all below heaven as I do this--and he pointed to his palm. 12. He worshipped as if those whom he worshipped were before him; he worshipped the spirits as if they were before him. The Master said: For me, to take no part in the sacrifice is the same as not sacrificing. 13. Wang-sun Chia[30] said, What is the meaning of, It is better to court the hearth-god than the god of the home? [Footnote 30: Wang-sun Chia was minister of Wei, and had more influence than his master. The hearth-god ranks below the god of the home (the Roman _lares_), but since he sees all that goes on in the house, and ascends to heaven at the end of the year to report what has happened, it is well to be on good terms with him.] Not so, said the Master. A sin against Heaven leaves no room for prayer. 14. The Master said, Chou[31] looks back on two lines of kings. How rich, how rich it is in art! I follow Chou. [Footnote 31: The royal house of Chou, which was then ruling China.] 15. On going into the Great Temple the Master asked about everything. One said, Who says that the Tsou man's son knows the rites? On going into the Great Temple he asked about everything. When he heard this, the Master said, Such is the rite. 16. The Master said, In shooting, the arrow need not go right through the target, for men are not the same in strength. This was the old rule. 17. Tzu-kung wished to do away with the sheep offering at the new moon. The Master said, Thou lovest the sheep, Tz'u: I love the rite. 18. The Master said: Serve the king with all courtesy, men call it fawning. 19. Duke Ting asked how a lord should treat his lieges, and how lieges should serve their lord. Confucius answered, The lord should treat his lieges with courtesy; lieges should serve their lord faithfully. 20. The Master said, The poem _The Osprey_ is glad, but not wanton; it is sad, but not morbid. 21. Duke Ai asked Tsai Wo about the earth-altars.