Sacred Books of the East Vol. 40 - Taoism Vol. 2

{fn. 1. According to the usual forms in which a covenant was made and established. The translation is free and diffuse.} {p. 165} lay our persons in the dust, it is better for us to abandon it, and maintain the purity of our conduct.' The two princes then went north to the hill of Shâu-yang{fr. 1}, where they died of starvation. If men such as they, in the matter of riches and honours, can manage to avoid them, (let them do so); but they must not depend on their lofty virtue to pursue any perverse course, only gratifying their own tendencies, and not doing service in their time:--this was the style of these two princes. {fn. 1. In the present department of Phû-kau, Shan-hsî.} {file "Book XXIV. Tâo Kih, or 'The Robber Kih'"} {p. 166} BOOK XXIX. PART III. SECTION VII. Tâo Kih, or 'The Robber Kih{fr. 1}.' 1. Confucius was on terms of friendship with Liû-hsîa Kî{fr. 2}, who had a brother named Tâo Kih. This Tâo Kih had 9,000 followers, who marched at their will through the kingdom, assailing and oppressing the different princes. They dug through walls and broke into houses; they drove away people's cattle and horses; they carried off people's wives and daughters. In their greed to get, they forgot the claims of kinship, and paid no regard to their parents and brethren. They did not sacrifice to their ancestors. Wherever they passed through the country, in the larger states the people guarded their city walls, and in the smaller the people took to their strongholds. All were distressed by them.