Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 437

1842.

Sketch of the Life of Confucius

419

Confucius, thus disgraced in his own country, now at the age of fifty, left it and retired to the kingdom of Wei, where he remained more than ten years without seeking to exercise any public employ, but principally occupied with completing his works and lasnucring his disciples in his doctrine. During his residence in Wel, he fre- quently made excursions into other states, taking with him such of his disciples as chose to accompany him. He was at times applauded and esteemed, but quite as often the object of persecution and con- tempt; more than once his life was endangered. He compared him- self to a dog driven from his home: "I have the fidelity of that ani- mal, and I am treated like it. But what matters the ingratitude of men? They cannot hinder me from doing all the good that has been appointed me. If my precepts are disregarded, I have the consola- tion in my own breast of knowing that I have faithfully performed my duty." He sometimes spoke in a manner that showed his own impression to be that heaven had conferred on him a special commis- sion to instruct the world. When an attempt was made on his life, he said, "As heaven has produced such a degree of virtue in me, what can Hwántúi do to me?" On another occasion of danger he said, “If heaven means not to obliterate this doctrine from the earth, the men of Kwáng can do nothing to me."

At the age of sixty-eight, after an absence of fourteen years, Con- fucius returned to his native country, where he lived a life of retire- ment, employed in putting the finishing hand to his works. In his sixty-sixth year, his wife died, and his son Peyu mourned for her a whole year; but one day overhearing his father say, "Ah! it is carried too far," he dried up his tears. Three years after, this son also died, leaving a son Tsz'sz', who afterwards emulated his grand- father's fame as a teacher, and became the author of the Chung Yung, or True Medium; he was also the instructor of Mencius. The next year, Yen Hwni, the favorite disciple of the sage, died, whose loss he bitterly mourned, saying, Heaven has destroyed me! heaven has destroyed me! He had great hopes of this pupil, and had depended upon him to perpetuate his doctrines.

An anecdote is related of him about this time of life, which the Chinese regard as highly creditable to their sage. Tsz'kung, one of his disciples, was much surprised one morning to meet his master at the door, dressed with much elegance and nicety. On asking him where he was going, Confucius, with a sigh, replied, "I am going to court, and that too without being invited. I have not been able to resist a feeling which possesses me to make a last effort to bring a