22 THE OPERATIONS AND MANIFESTATIONS 



called the the astronomer Tzu Wei for consultation on the 

 portent. He reported that the appearance of Mars signified 

 a judgment of Heaven, since the Heart constellation was 

 the celestial are that governed the territory of Sung. 

 Further the Prince would have to bear the calamity : never- 

 theless it would be possible to shift this on to the shoulders 

 of the ministers. But the Duke objected to this since these 

 were the agents of government and it would be unfortuitous 

 for them to die. "In that case," Tzu Wei said, "it could 

 be shifted on to the people." Again the Duke objected on 

 the plea that if the people were to die he would have no one 

 over whom to rule, and it would be preferable for him 

 alone to die. "Let it then be transferred on to the Seasons, ' ' - 

 said Tzri W T ei. Once more the Duke expressed his unwilling- 

 ness to this proposal, since the livelihood of the people de- 

 pended on the Seasons, for should the people experience a 

 famine they would die. "And were I," he continued, "to 

 risk the life of the people to save my ow T n, who> would desire 

 to have me as their King! My days are finished so there's 

 an end of it." To these objections Tzu W T ei made no further 

 response. He turned to the north and making his obeisance 

 said, "May I venture to congratulate your Majesty. Though 

 Heaven is placed high it yet hears those below. The Prince 

 has given expression to the thought of a good man in his 

 three objections. So Heaven will surely reward the Prince 

 threefold. To-night this planet will move 21 li and the Duke 

 will have 21 years lease of life." In response to the 

 question of what assurance there was of this, Tzu Wei replied, 

 "the Prince spoke three times the words of a wise man and 

 the star must remove the distance I indicated. May I ask 

 you to come outside and see. If it doesn't deviate the 

 distance mentioned you may take my life." The Duke 

 assented. That evening the star did move away 21 li. 

 Lao Tzu says : 



HE WHO CAN TAKE ON HIMSELF THE ILL OMENS 



OF A NATION SHALL BE THE KING. 

 (29) Room for all. — In olden times during the days of 

 Chao, Kung Sung Lung said to Ti Tzu, "I have no use 

 for men without talent. ' ' A guest came along, wearing rough 

 serge and a girdle of common hemp. He said, at an inter- 

 view, "Your servant has the talent of being able to shout." 

 Kung Sung looked him up and down and said to Ti Tzu, 

 "Have we any criers?" Ti Tzu replied that they had none. 

 So the King ordered this stranger to be entered on the 

 register. A few days later Ti Tzu went to call on Yen Wang 

 for consultation : on coming to a river the ferry boat was 

 found to be far away at the opposite bank. So the newly 



