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Sketch of the Life of Confucius
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just punishment upon Chin Chen, the usurper of the throne of Tsi I am prepared, by purification and fasting, for this audience, so that if I fail, I shall not have to accuse myself. On presenting himself, he was received with respect and immediately admitted to an audi- ence; and the prince of Lú asked him what important affair had call- ed him from his retirement. Confucius replied, "Sire, that which I have to communicate alike concerns all kings. The prefidions Chin Chen his imbrued his hands in the blood of his legitimate sove- reign Kien
You are a prince, your state borders upon Tsi; Kien was your ally, and originally of the same race as yourself. Any one of these reasons is sufficient to authorize you to declare war against Chin Chen, and all of them combined, make it your duty to take up arms. Assemble your forces, and march to exterminate a monster whom the earth upholds with regret. This crime is such that it can- not be pardoned, and in punishing it, you will at once avenge an outrage against heaven, from whoin every king derives his power: against royalty, which has been profaned by this perfidy; and against a parent, to whom you are allied by ties of blood, of alliance and of friendship."
The prince, convinced of the criminality of Chin Chen, applauded the just indignation which inspired the heart of Confucius, but sug- gested that before he took order upon such an enterprise, it would be best to confer with his ministers. "Sire," he replied, "I have acquitted myself of a duty in laying this case before you; but it will be useless to insist upon it before your ministers, whom I know are disinclined to enter into my views. Reflect, I pray you, as a sove- reign, upon what I now propose, and consult only with yourself as to its execution. Your servants are not sovereigns, and have other and their own ends to gain, to which they sometimes sacrifice the good of their master and the glory of the state. I have no other end in view than to support the cause of justice, and I conjure you, by the sacred names of justice and good order to go and exterminate this miscreant from the earth, and by restoring the throne of Tsí to its rightful owner, to exhibit to the world your justice, and strike a salutary terror into the hearts of all who may wish to imitate this successful villainy." On leaving, the prince said to Confucius, I will think seriously on what you have said, and if it be possible, will carry it into execution.”
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Towards the end of his days, when he had completed his revision of the Five Classics, he with great solemnity dedicated them to hear- He assembled all his disciples and led them out of the town
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