Hao Qiu Zhuan/en-wilkinson/Chapter 27
Chapter 27
| Wiki Chapter | 27 |
|---|---|
| Translator's MS | Chapter XIV |
| Volume | III |
| Status | OCR cleaned — footnotes pending |
Part of the Hao Qiu Zhuan Wilkinson/Percy translation (1761).
0 Crap. XIV. In theT ranflator's manuſcript Vor. III. | K in130 inquired for his father. His mother told him he was gone upon an affair of great importance: that there was a great officer or valiant man to be brought to juſtice. He replied, As cherei s a war, and valiant men are neceſſary at this critical juncture, why do they ſeek to deſtroy them? I will go and hear the trial: perhaps my father maybe drawn over to the opinion ofh is colleagues, and not follow the dictates of his natural candour and juſtice.“ Then going to the audience *, he was {truck with the fight of Ff. hiau already condemned, and bound, waiting for w e + having beenſ entenced:t o — 4 t +1Th eſe "opt o beſ nonymous iin tnh e Chinds language. 2e Kong-r od "TranM .8 . — . toſe his head three quarters of an hour after noon; There was a great crowd af ſpectators; through the midſt of whom the youth forced his way to get | nearer to the condemned perſon. He perceived him to be very young; but of a bold and dauntleſs aſpect: his loo wild and fierce as that of a tyger: his eyes fiery: his throat large, yet long like a crane's: his body ſtrong and well ſet T. IN Tieb- I What attention the Chinęſe pay to the comlexion and features of their generals, we may jk from Dionys. Kao, a native of China. This honeſt writer deſcribing the image of Quan inchang [who may be conſidered as the Mars of the Chine/e] tells us, that its facei s painteodf a a very deep blood colour. Which ſort of - ** countenance, he adds, is highly eſteemed by « the military men: nay, the whole Chine/? nation imagine him [rather 5 very propitious . to them, and fancy that ſuch a hery flaming face wil inſpire them with valour, and ehable Ss SS „them nF—I©— .l er» y [had
nI .\a* R²e 4B la e*—n mC i —:. —— .— Dank. Tieh-chung-u wondered what default of duty that man could be guilty of who had ſo promiſing an appearance. He went up to him, Sir, ſaid he, of what can they have accuſed you, who ſeem to be ſo valiant a perſon? How is it, that you have been beaten in war?” At this the other flew into 2 rage, and ſternly ſaid, A man can
- die :
% them to acquit themſelves well.” Vid. pag. But it is not merely from the opinion of its being propitious to themſelves, but alſo with the politic view of frighting their enemies, that the Chine/e affect a fierce dreadful look in their enerals. Martinius ſpeaks of it as an eſtabliſhed cuſtom, handed down from very early times, for them to paint the general, (who gains the firſt place in their triennial examinations) armed and of a gigantic ſtature, and to ſend this picture round to the neighbouring nations, in order to ſtrike them with terror. Vid. Hiſt. pag. 405. _ That the Chire/e ſtill act upon the 1 views, Es we die but once: and it matters not in what manner he dies. But I that have ſtrength in my arms to carry the weight of ten peculs *, and am maſter of eighteen different weapons F, how ſhould we learn from the elegant writer of Lord An/or's voyage; for when the Engliſh were to paſs by one of the Chine/e caſtles, among other artifices to make them think more reverently of their military power, they had ſet a ſoldier of unuſual ſize, to ſtalk about on the parapet with a battleax in his hand, and dreſſed in very ſightly armour, which yet our people ſuſpected was only madeo f glittering paper. See pag. 540. | Theſe ridiculous and childiſh expedients are ſufficient to convince us of the unwarlike turn of the Chine/e, and at how low anebb is their military proweſs.
- The Pecul (called by the portugueſe Pts, |
and by the Chrne/e Tan,) conſiſts of one hundred Catti or Chineſe pounds, and of about one hundred and twenty-five pounds European weight. P. Semedo,p .7 2. P. Du Halde, vol. 1. p. 576. Kempfer, p. 367.----Sed vide Dampier Supe Plem. pag. 132. +: Fo give a ſhort deſcription of the wilitary | K 3 eſtaer
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—Frh*o—. m— d 5 g k 134 HAU*KIOU cHOAAN. ſhould I be beaten by any one? What have IT loſt? *Tis all falſely laid to my charge. This I ſolemnly declare. However muſt die: be it ſo. That is certain, replied the youth; and yet eſtabliſhment and diſcipline of the Chineſe, we may obſerve that as the Chine/e have different degrees for their literary Mandarines, ſo they have ſimilar degrees for their Mandarines of war: and have military Bachelors, Licentiates and Doctors in like manner as in France, they had formerly knights belonging to the law, as well as the army.” * 'Fhe manner of their military examinations is not unlike thoſe for the literary degrees. [See note, vol. 1. p. 8.] The candidates have a theme or ſubje& given them relating to the art of war, on which they are to compoſe diflertations and diſcourſes in writing. This done, they are required to 45 their ſkill in ſhooting, riding and managing their arms, and to give various proofs of their dexterity and ſtrength. It is ſeldom that any are admitted into command without having taken one or other of theſe degrees. The Mandarines are required often to exerciſe and review the ſoldiery. Which - if you had not been guilty of the charge laid againſt you, why ſhould juſtice be exerted in ſo extraordinary a manner? But if you have any thingto alledge in your vindication, you muſt fiſts only in ſome diſorderly marches, in making mock. fights, and in rallying to the ſound of horns and trumpets. Not but they are taught to draw the bow and handle the fabre with great addreſs: and eſpecially are required to — their arms and armour bright and clean. As the military life in China is ſeldom attended either with toil or danger, from the almoſt continual peace and tranquillity of the empire, it is beſtowed as a favour on ſuch as can make friends with the Mandarines, their ſervice being commonly confined to the places of their abode, and is only to ſuppreſs robbers, &c. fo that they may at proper times follow their own employmentsT. h e military Mandarines are computed at 18,000, and the ſoldierya t above 700,0c0, The pay of a foot ſoldier is about five pence and a pint of rice per day: and of the horſe in proportion. | 3 P. Du Halde,v . 1. p. 260. &. P. Semedo, p. 96. &, Mod. Univ. Hiſt. viii. 150. ere if, N. 5 P K 4 ſpeak, 1% HA au me ſpeak, now is your time,” „Madden fetched a deep ſigh and rde „The preſent times are vile and corrupted.“ „Well, ſaid Tieb-chung-u, if you are unwilling to break through your reſerve, I will only aſk you one thing; ſuppoſing you ſhould be releaſed, would you undertake to go now againſt the enemy.“ Why not? replied he; is it not my duty ? To do ii t a thouſand times, I ſhould look upon as nothing.“ The youth ſaid no more to him, but aſked the people what o'clock it was, and was anſwered paſt ten. Upon which he opened a way through the crowd, and got into the hall of audience, where were ſeated the three | preſidents of the tribunal.| H e cried out aloud, * Health to you all, my Lords! Lords! You are all great officers under his Majeſty : it therefore behoves you to do your beſt for the public weal. At preſent there is great want of men of valour; and none can be got notwithſtanding the proclamation for ſuch to appear. The manner of your preſent proceedings tends, not to the advantage, but the detriment of the empire. Pray is this man facrificed to public juſtice, or any private conſideration?” The three Mandarines, who had not very willingly paſſed ſentence upon Hi-hiau, but had done it merely to oratify their ſuperiors, were not diſpleaſed to ſee a perſon appear in his vindication: although they were difguſted at the little reſpect he ſhewed them. 4 The The Preſidento f Crimes after ſome time, perceived he was the ſon of their colleague, the Supreme Viceroy: who alſo himſelf diſcovered who he was. Upon which he ſtruck his hand on the table and ſaid, How dare you come here in this impertinenatnd bold manner, where it is death to do it? Take hold of him and bind him. I acknowledgeno relation to him in this place.” Tieb- chung- u cried out, No, no: that is not juſtice: hear me before you order me to be ſeized. I only aſk your Lordſhips, why doth the Emperor place thed ruma t the gate of his palace, but that the people may have redreſs there, when they can obtain it no where elſe ?? The Supreme Viceroy faid, Who are you? and what acquaintuy 5 ance ance have you with the condemned perſon ?” He anſwered, I know him not, but perceiving him to be a valiant man, and one that may do his country and the Emperor ſervice, [I came in his behalf.]“ His father replied, © What | buſineſs is it of your's what he is, or what he can do?” Then he ordered the officers attending the tribunal to take and bind him. The two other Mandarines deſired his impriſonment might be deferred for a moment, and calling him to the table before the tribunal, faid, © You ſhew a good intention and ſound principle in what you fay, but you muſt conſider that things muſt be carried on accordintgo fthe forms of] juſtice, and not with ſo much precipitation. Hii-biau hath been a e year year in priſon, and the Mandarine Shuey-keu-ye as long in baniſhment; and hitherto none have appeared in their behalf. The former of theſe hath today been broughtto his trial, and been condemned: to acquit him now would be ridiculous, and cauſe a deal of confuſion and anger from the Emperor. The Mandarine Ko-h o ſu hath already informed his Majeſty of the ſentenceof death paſt by us: how then is it poſſible to recall it?” Tieb-chung-u hearing theſe words, fetched a deep figh, and ſaid, be What you have done is all out of regardt o your own intereſts, and not to the good of your country. Your Lordſhips. cannot but know, that in former daysi tw as frequent for Mandarinest o oppoſe injuſtice; or at leaſt to refuſe 2 to to do any thing in prejudice of their country, or againſt their conſcience, notwithſtanding it mightbe ſtrongly preſſed upon them by the Emperor himſelf *. Wherefore do you ſtudy law and juſtice, if thus you act ſubſervient to higher powers?“ | 0 aol . The
- e a people ſo :nteraſied as the Chineſe, |
it will not be wondered at that reaſon and juſtice are frequently given up on the ſlighteſt intimation of the Emperor's pleaſure : and yet the hiftory of China can produce ſome inſtances | of firmneſs and integrity in oppoſing oppreſlive meaſures, that would do honour to the patriots of Greece and Rome. There have been miniſters, who have gone to make remonſtrances to the Emperor with ſuch firm. expectation of death for their boldneſs, that they have carried their coffins with them to the gate of the palace. ¶S ee P, Le Compte, tom. 2. p. 35. P. Da Halde, 1. p. '250.] And with what delicacy and addreſs they can ſometimes reſtrain the paſſions of their priaces may be ſeen in the following inſtance. The king of Ti, ſaith a Chine/e author, had 2 horſe which he loved, and this horſe died thro” the Ihe two other Mandarines to whom he addreſſed bimſelf had nothing to reply: but his father cried out, : What! are you mad? 1 tell you ſentence is the negle& of his greom. The prince in a rage ſnatched up a lance and was going to diſpatch him. The Mandarine 721-1 who was preſent turned aſide the blow, and inſtantly addreſſing | himſelf to his maſter, ſaid, ** Sire; that man was on the point of loſing his life before he knew the heinouſneſs of his crime.“ © I conſent, ſaid the king, that you make him ſenſible of it.” Then the miniſter taking up the lanee and aiming it at the criminal: Wretch, faid he, attend to your crimes, Which are as follows; in the firſt place, you have cauſed the death of a horſe, which your prince committedt o your eſpecial care; and thereby have deſerved death. Secondly; you have cauſemdy princteu fall into ſuch a that he would have killed you with his own hands: behold another crime more grievous than the firſt. Laſtiy; you would have caufed all the other princes and neighbouring ſtates to have ſeen that my prince will take away a man's life for the death of à horfe, and thus his reputation would have been ruined: and you, wretch, are the occafioonf all this. «« Eet him go, faid the prince; let him go: I pardon: his Paul,” P. Du Halde, vol; f. p. 600. paſſed paſſed, and he muſt die.” Theſe words very much grievect Tieb- chung u, who faid, < Will you then havnoe pi ty on ſo brave and valiant a man as this? « Hti-hiau, replied the Supreme Viceroy, is condemned according to law, and his death muſt be looked | upon with no more remorſe than that of a kid. Of what ſervice would pity be, whereit is out of our power to relieve him ?““„ “T his is no common perſon, ſaid his ſon, you do not know his qualifications, he is not to be matched among all the great men, that guard the wall of ten thouſand furlongs F. ful Thang Tehing, i, e. . The wall of ten thouſand Lee, or ro, ooo Lee in length,” It is thus the Chineſe ſpeako f that ſtupendous wall, whieh ſeparates their northern provinces from It hath been cuſtomary when fuch men have committed a fault: not to put them to death, but to let them take it This prodigious work was undertaken two hundred and fifteen years before Chriſt, to ſecure three great provinces from the irruprions of the Tartars, In order to execute it, every third man was draughted out of each of the provinces. To lay the foundation on the ſea coaſt, ſeveral ſhips were ſunk loaded with ſtones and iron. The workmen were not to leave the leaſt chink between the ſtones on forfeiture of their lives: hence the work is almoſt as intire at preſent, as when it was firſt built. It is about fifteen hundred miles in length, and broad enough for fix horſemen to ride a-breaſt upon it. This wall is admirable on two accounts. Firft that in its courſe from eaſt to weſt, it runs in ſeveral places with a gradual aſcent over very high mountains, and is fortified with very large towers no more than two bow - ſhots aſunder. The ſecond is, that this wall does not run in a flraigbt line, but turns and winds in ſeveral places, according to the diſpoſition of the mountains, ſo that the north part of China may be ſaid to be mg with three walls inſtead of one. This work was but fivyeyee rs in building. P. Du Halde, vol. p. 20. 260. &c. Martin. Atlas. A 8 off A. CIINESE HISTORY! 145; off ¶attone for; 19] by ſome ſervice or other of great! importance to their country. Why then ſhould: not this man bo ſuffered to take off his crime in the ſame manner? The two Mandarines agreed it was reaſonable: “ But who, ſaid they, will be ſecurity for his performing ſuch actions, as ſhall. merit a parduon ?“ Tieb-chung'u ſaid, Iwill. reſtore him but to his farmer. oiceg and if he does not anſwer your expectations, then take off my head.” © + Aa 0 Wo J 4 The two other Mandarines diſoourſed the matter over with his father: As your ſon, ſaid they, hath offered himſelf ſecufrori Htu-y hi au here before all the world, we are thereby impowered to drauwp a petition in his- behalt, withb Von. III. Is out out the imputation of partiality, or of taking illegal ſteps to ſave his life.“ The Supreme Viceroy perceiving this was no more than reaſonable, ordered the criminal to be ſent back to priſon, and commanded Tich-chung-4 to draw up a writing of ſecurity in his behalf. Which being done and properly ſigned, he ordered a chain to be fixed round his neck, and ſent him to priſon after the general. ! The three Mandurines after this drew up a petition, wherein they acquainted his Majeſty with their proceedings. As it was a time of war, buſineſs was not long before it was diſpatched, ſo that. if a Mandarine gave in a petition one day, his Majeſty 2 wWou' d - would anſwer it himſelf the next. The Emperor anſwered their petition in the following manner. « Whereas there is a great want « of men of valour to ſerve in the « wars without the wall; and whereas « Nieb- chung -u, fon of the Supreme 6 Viceroy, hath offered himſelf as ſee curity for the good behaviaur. of H. biau; 1 therefore ſuſpehins edxe - 6 cution, and inveſt him with the „ fame commandh e had heretofore. An 1 likewiſe give him a ſword to put to death any perſon that ſhall diſobey command, or negle& his due ty: and wherever the war may be, 4 he hath full power to command there,
- as I expecth e willb en o where [im-
Lig 3: properly] properly] abſent. Wherefore if he e behaves well, and comes off with « ſucceſs, my favour ſhall exalt him:
- otherwiſe he ſhall 2 his 1
- ment the header
„ SHuetye⸗u y firſt . e and wa ſſiſted him, and now Tieb- 4 chung-u hath offered himſelf for his te ſecurity: after this if he doth not <<, behave well, I ſhall ſeverely call to ce account thoſe two perſons, as much «| deſerving to bep uniſhed as himſelf. „ Wherefore: let him well conſider 56 this, 1 N 1 to his 875 . rr ele vor: e e 1 1 was carried by a Mandarine properly attended to Hl. biau, whom wügether with Tieb.-c hung u they Pyl 19940 4 K took 1 A CHINESE "HISTORY; 149 took out of priſon. - Theſe two perſons went to return thanks to the three Mandarines their Judges LE and aiterwards took up their abode in the houſe of the Supreme Viceroy; where, they | got every thing ready in order to repairt o the warTsWO. da ys after chey departed for their, charge properly equiwithp a pgalleant dreti,nue- of ſolarrived at the wall, the officers there A ſhewed them great, reſpect, ſeeing Hi biau
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AS: As che Ni dies Aer in Trent 20mp to their governments, carried in ſedans, &c. 0 the military Mandatines, who travel common 45 on horſeback, no leſs affect an air of graneur. Indeed their horſes are not very beau - tiful, but their Karneſs is extremely ſumptu6us, the bits and ſtirrups being either filver or gilt. The ſaddle is very rich: the reins of the bri. | dle are made of coarſe pirked ſattin two fingers | Rb 7 $ | broad. -— —* rE* * IE—1—C—— OL L E ———— _—— — ——8- Ol qI> 2Wk5 Te0 Sy
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1% HAU KIOU CHOAAN. Bau return with the Emperor's ſword, They had not been gone ſix months, | before this genehrada ſluc h ſignal ſucand every where re. eſtabliſned peace and tranquillity. Upon which the command, and reftored Shuey-kex-ye to bis former office. His Majeſty alſo Ticb-chung/u, and would have created broad. From the upper part of the cheſt hang two great locks of fine red hair (ſuch as their caps are covered with) ſuſpended by iron rings either gilt or ſilvered. Their retinue conſiſts of a great number of horſemen, part going before and part behind them: without reckoning their domeſtics, who are clad either in black ſattin or dyed calico, accordintgo their maſter's P. Du Halde, vol. 4. p. 285. refuſed refuſed to accept of any ſuch diſtinction, for he ſaid unleſs he could arrive at that honourby his learning, he was unworthy of it. id nb . IHE MandarinKeo /bo-ſu was 1 fo mortified by this diſappointment that he was aſhamed to appear in public, and beggedto lay down his office under pretence of indiſpoſition, On the other hand, Shuey-keu-ye had no ſooner returned to court but he was made Shang-ſbu, or Preſident [of the tribunalo f arms.] The Mandarines who had threatened him for refuſing to liſten to their propoſals in favour of Ko ſho-ſu and his ſon, were 1 Ss - afraid tg1e44E.9n—n—= D n ,t my acknowledgments to the young gentmaln efo r the benefit Ihave received from his wiſdom' and courage; and nothing would rejoice me ſo much 75a HAU KIOU:THOAAN./ afrhea woiuldd n ow remember them. But be told them vrhen they came to and aſł his pardon, that they could not be blamed for addingas they did, and that the harm which might have accruèd was owiag to himſelf. As ſoon as he had waited on the Empehre woentr , immediately vifit the Supreme Viceroy and his That Mandarine received him in perſon, but his ſon wasa bſent: thelother inquafiterr heimd b ut was told he wis gone into the country to ſtudy. « Fam come, ſaidd ubxen qc tu pay asT ovſ ee him.“ 4 * moro clad A CHINESE HiSsTORT. 133 his father, I will ſend! him to, viſit vou.“ Upon which the other depart» ed wth great latisfaction. ri odT boReift {[ow-of en. ornw ioflertt eil The Mandarine Tieb did not approve of his ſon 's:keeping Aa greut deat of company, buticoulki[not-avaigdtontd plying withte rheque ſt: of- the Lid Preſident ;he therefore ſent to command his ſon to viſit him; J iab chung: ſaidi to the ſervant who brought tie meſ⸗ ſage, As that Mandarine only came to ſee us out of compliment, it will be ſufficient for my father to return it! Tri would but interrupt my ſtudies; to go to the city: where the publie ceremonies would take up more time than J can ſpare; and ſo much company is but irkſome.“ He therefore humbly intreated | |; | | | | r;4 HAU KIOU CHOAAN. intreated his father not to engage for any returonf viſits to be made by him. The ſervant reported his meſſage to his maſter, who was ſo well ſatisfied wich it, that he went and returned the viſit alone. Shuey-keu-ye aſked for his ſon: and the other apologized for his abſence under pretence that he was indiſpoſed. 7:99 Very well, replied he, it is the cuſtom of people of ſenſe and ingenuity not to be forward in making themſelves public: as your ſon is a youth of great wiſdom, and chuſes to live ſequeſtered from public company, I will go to his houſe, and ſee him there.“ After a . farther diſcourſe "oP oa In the original, © After two words diſcourſe.” 93851 The The Mandarine Sbugkyeu--y tt hought it a great proof of the young gentleman's diſcretion and good ſenſe, that he choſe to be retired. It increaſed his deſire to ſee him. He had formedi n his mind ſo favourable an opinion of him, that he thought he would be a very proper match for his daughter, whom now he began to think of marrying. He accordingly ſent a ſervantto the village, where Tie- chung- u at preſent reſided, to ſeei f he were at home, and being informed that he was, he = to ſee him on the morrowF: © which he u_ him” the dae notice. +In * original, « Two days alter or rather on the ſecond day,” | The name of the village was'See-ſhan, or Weſt-mquntawhienre, Jeb. chung 1 lived! retired ; he had juſt dined when he received notice that theu la ndarine Shaey-ktu-ye intendehdi m a viſit: the name brought to his mihnis dbra utiful dau fed him tovfetch u deep ſigh, and led hitom re:fle ct on the wonderful manner in whicherthin gs had happened. &F/ little thought, ſaid he, of contributing to the reſtorationo f that young lady's father, when I became fſurety for Hubiau. I was not only the happy inſtrumentof ſaving a brave man from death, but of briaging back to honour a Mandarine of ſo much merit. I might Lo. aſk him for hisd aughter |i n mar riage if Thad tk not 4 LY not become acquainted with her at the Che bien's tribunal; and if ſhe had not received me afterwards into her houſe. But alas! after all this public intercourſe, our union is impoſſible, unleſs L would bring all the calumny in the world both upon her and myſelf; and confirm the ſuſpicioofn a private correſpondence. He conſidered with himſelf whether itw as not pofſible 5 to find out ſome means of getting over this difficulty : [but his delicacy raiſed ſo many ſcruples, and painted the cen· ſure of the world ii n lot errible 4 light, as extending not oply |t o himſelf, but | his poſterity, that] at length he ſaid, «I ſhall be forced to refuſe her, although her facher ſhould make me. the offer. HenW asb uried in rheſe diſ- 7 | trafting
| tracting reflections, when there was ſhewn into the room an old gentleman dreſſedi n the habit of a doctorof law: who cried out, Hiong, or brother, wharye yo u fo difficulto fa cceſs ®, that I could not ſee you before to-d ay? « Surely, Sir, ſaid the youthy,o u do not know me, or you would not ſay this. Thehen pa id him the compliments due to his appearance. When 10 appearsH om. what followst hat this if s intended as a compliment, | In a former note, Cw ol. 2. p. go.] it hath han hinted how reputable the charaQer of a retired ſtudent is among the Chineſe, and what intenſe application it commonly requires to obtain a competent knowledge of their literature. The apinion of the Chingſe themſelves on this head will be learnt from the following little moral tale, which contains a fine leſſon for perſeverance. Lip, who under the dynaſty of the Han, became one of the firſt doctors of the court, addiged himſelf to bis ſtudies from his _—_— | 6 * theſe were over the old gentleman took. hold of his hand, and looking earneſtly in his face, ſaid, When I only heard of you, I conceived a great efleem for you; which after all might poſlibly have been ill-grounded : but now 1 muſt confeſs the ſight of you increaſes that eſteem, and gives me great ſatisfaction, Yeſterday I went to pay you He came one year to the general examination of the province; but meeting with bad ſucceſs, he deſpaired of ever obtaina idengrgee : he therefore reſolved to give up learning, and to turn his views to ſome other purſuit. hile he was ruminating on this ſubject, he met with an old woman, who was rubbing an iron peſtle to and fro' upon. a whe-ſ tto ne. To what purpoſe do you do that?“ ſaid he te her. I want, replied ſhe, to grind it down 'till it becomes ſo ſharp as to be fit for embroidering.“ Li p took the hint, and returned to his ſtudies, to which he applied with ſuch renewed ardour, that he at length attained to the higheſt employments,” P. Du Halde, vol. 1. pag. 386. _ a vilit, e e311 a viſit,” but only ſaw your father: he told me you did not care to be ſeen in public: I therefore came hither privately to viſit you. Nieb-dhung-u at theſe words ſtarted, ſaying: * Ah! Sir, you ſtem to be the Mandarine Shueyskea y6'# 178 tlien getting ready a Dieb et, or billet of compliments, and preſenting it to him, i ſaid, © T hope, Sir, you will pardon me, that although you are a Perſpn ef ſo much honour, 1447 15 did not "know. vou. . Why did come here, replied the other, but to thank you forb eing the cauſoef my return to court: as likewiſe to be ae⸗ Wen with,a y outh.o ff uchw ncom-
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In the- original it 18, '.& Sula 'y;s L1ai5 5e n- «*x th R's PSY: laſt wards, Hgnify an elder in * * anf. mon endowments :as fame reports you. to be poſſeſſed of?” 4e Pray, Sir, excuſe me, ſaid Tieb- chung.1 5 itp roceeded from my not being f ufficiently acquainted | with you, that 1 did not pay that reſpect to you I ought in waiting upon you yeſterday. 70 am now very ſenſible of my error.“ he ordered an entertainment to be got ready. At the ſight of chat, Shugykeu- yt was very well pleaſed, as it would afford them an opportunity for diſcourſe. Accordin gly their converſation turned upon hiſtory, antiquity, poetry, law, and other ſubjects proper for learned and ingenious men. Aſter theſe topics were exhauſted, the old Mandarine ſaid, be had one word to ſpeak, which he hoped the other would not take amiſs, «ny Lord, faid Tieb-chung- u, as I am WMWm - M your After theſe nd, © | 162 HA KIOU CHOAAN. your fon and diſciple „ why do you new me fom uck,c ondeſcenſion B 2 1 B have no ſon, replied |t heo ther, but «o ne, only daughter, who,h athj uſt attained her eighteenth year... If 1 am not Partial to her, I never aw a young woman of| ſuch, beautiful features, or of ſof inea perſon: and as to knowledge in books, 1 believe there. are none able to converſe with her, except your- elf, This I mention, aass I h ave a great value fory ou; buti fJ oud on:t belieye me, examine firſti nto the truth of!i t . * » Hallh ave, herf or.y ourc , vie.” Tick: 11 42 chung. uw as ſoſ urprized, and| confound- 111 Fa | ed at theſe.w ords, that he could give no.a but remained as it FS: This is2a foal compliment amongt he0 . | » # neſe literati, — Vol.2 . pag. |1 0d un, thunderſtruck, and ſighed deeply with a great appearance of concern in his face. Shuey-keu-y#oÞſerving his looks, ſaid, „ Perhaps you are already enaged,” The other ſhook his head, abllfa nſwered; “ No!“ « Perhaps then, replied he, you do not think all is true that I tell you.“ „ Sir, faid the youth, it is impoſtible for a man or : woman to excell in underſtanding* 7 much as ſhe doth,' -b ut a whole king-' dom muſt be acquainted with it. You” have ſpoke nothing but truth, and your offer would bee xceedingly acceptable to any one, but myſelf: circumſtanced as Lam, I ſhould be very blameable 1t oaccept 'ofi t.” The Mandarine hear” ing him ſpeak ſo obſcurely, ſaid, You” are a perfon of an open generous heart; M2 1: ou you. muſt tell me what you mean.” 56 Sir, ſaid he, when you get home you will underſtand every thing.” The Lord Preſident imagined there might be ſomething or. other amiſs, which had not yet reached his ears: this he thought the more probable, as he had been ſo long from home, and had not heard any news from thence : he therefore dropt the ſubject, and after ſome little _ diſcourſe upon indifferent topics took his leave, and went home. "A he went 1 he could nn ot0 | refleting on the engaging aſpect of Treb-chung-1, and what a proper. huſband he would be for his daughter; he therefore could not eaſily reſolve to part with him. N he thought he = 4 he could diſcern in his words and manner, as througha miſt, that he had a ſecret inclination for her, although he ſeemed to have ſome great objection: what that was he could not poſſibly divine, unleſs ſhe had been guilty of any miſcondutt : But that, ſaid he, cannot be; I know her to be of the moſt ſteady temper, and immoveable virtue. Perhaps this KoE-b ẽ-t æu, out of revenge for my refuſing him my daughter, hath played her ſome trick, or reported illo f her, which hath oc caſioned this diſguſt in 'Tieb-chung-ut _ however all theſe objections will vaniſn, if the off. er prove but agreeable to the Mandarine his father.“ He therefote reſolved: to get an intimate acquaintance to go and talk over the affair My with x66 HAU-KIOU CHOAAN. Mich che latter; for from what he had Py card of his daughter's Carriage and ingenuity, he thought there was none — but Tioh-c b her)... - -# worthy to obtain c H ; A P. X. 8 HU E Y-ken-y# having learnt from the friend he employed, that his propoſals were exceedingly acceptable to the Supreme Viceroy, made a great entertainment for that Mandarine, who | when he returned told his wile all lady Sbeb, agreed that their ſon was of a proper age to be married; and that Shucy-ping-/in was a very deſirable perſon: for ſhe had heard how -ſhe n n A critner HiSTORE, 167 | had conducted herſelf while the was perfſecuted by Ke7 00- kbi-1:2 4, and that ſhe was a moſt ii ngenious and agreeable young lady. She thought therefore that ſuch another could riot be found for their ſon, and that itw ould be :a great happineſs to fix him ſo well. 6 And yet, ſaid ſhe, if you aſk his conſent, you | will not obraln it; for he will be ſo nice and curious that he muſt examine every thing to the bottom, and will be raiſing difficulties w1 ithout occaſion, and without end. As the reputation of Shuey-ping Jon 1i s0 eſtabliſhed, and her merits and accompliſhments ſo great, we may contract firſt, and acquaint him with it afterwards.” | The Mandarine Tich approved of her opinion, and told heri i t intirely agreed M 4 with 168 Hau klo cHOAAN. with his own. Then chooſing a fortunate day, he made the cuſtomary preſent to the parent of chey oung lady, At the ſame time, he and his wife ſent to their ſon, and wiſhed him joy, informing him of the engagement they had entered into in his behalf. He Was very much ſurprized, and imme: diately went to his father and mother, «6 Marriage, faid he, is an affair of conſequence, and ſhould not be too precipitately managed. Yau have been wholly guided by report: but who can anſwer for the truth of reports: ? You may have been deceived in the accounts of this lady: and there may be cauſe to repent it as long as one lives,” His father aſked him whether he ſuf: pected Much ping:f yt ob eu gly ?? 66 No! laid ſaid he: I believe that her complection is fair and clear as the moſt limpid ſtream *.”?.. , Perhaps, replied. the other, you are doubtful of her wit and 8 ſenſe 2” 0 Her underſtanding, he replied, ſurpaſſes even that of our ſex: in whatſehev doeesrt he re appears ſuch diſcretion; all her actions are conducted with ſuch beautiful order, that it exceeds imagination. Perhaps then, ſaid his father, ſne hath been guilty of ſomething wrong.” No, hea nſwered, ſhe hath never done any thing the leaſt amiſs.” With that the Supreme Viceroy and the lady Sheh burit into laughter, that he ſhould make a ſcruple of marrying a young2 with i. In the orig, 60 There i is v0 vater fairer than c ſhe.” of | ISS: 1 ſo*
a——O1r —aa"A si I , Kpo=2y-y 8T- a E E FeI2wea2ee ep yen e e, 2L 2 c—_—_ .TT a*=no—wm2 —r r—— ,y +„ . ——K — ſo many perfections, and who had not one quality but what deſerved the greateſt Praiſe.« Nay, proceeded the youth, I ſhould willingly marry this young lady, even ifi t expoſed me to ſo great am isfortune as your diſpleaſure; for ſhe is never abſent from my thoughts : but alas! there is a difficulty, which I can never get over, chat ſhuts me our from all thoughts of ſucha n undertaking. This ſaid, he immediately told them all that happened between him and the young lady: and concluded with obſerving, that his having ſo lately been the means of reſtoring her father, would add ſtrength to the ſuſpicion of their criminal correſpondence. As therefore the Joſs of their good fame was to be the conſequence A CHINESE ' HISTORY. 271 quence of their nuptials, he could not think of purchaſing even that happineſs at ſo deara rate. His father commended bis nice concern for bis reputation: gut what hath happened, ſaid he, may be juſtified and cleared up. Lou are but a young man, and not ſo well able 05 to judge as myſelf. However this union may be rendered more free from cenſure by your caution.” Then his father and mother both obſerved to him, that they were advanced in years : and that any delay was ſo much loſs of their happineſs, as they could enjoy none equal to that of ſeeing him married. « You muſt not, ſaid they, yield to | theſe ſcruples : retire to your ſtudies, and baniſh them from your thoughts. At a proper time we ſhall ſend for you. R It It is too late now for you to object to this marriage, for our contract cannot be ſet aſide. Tieb-chung-u, perceiving the anxious concern of his parents, thought it would not become him to contend with them farther: but imagined that if he himſelf ſhould conſent, the young lady could. not eaſily be prevailed on. He therefore ſaid no more, but taking his leave of them, returned to his n 4 ": fe eg | knaiag concerted the marriage between Tieb-chung-# and his daughter, remained very well ſatisfied; anda s he had been ſo long abſent, hada great deſire to ſre his family. He accordingly petitioned his Majeſty for leave to retire, as being old and | infirm. A CHINESE HISTORT. 173 infirm. The Emperor, who was deſi - rous to make up to him the time he had loſt in diſgrace and baniſhment, would not conſent that he ſhould ſo ſoon lay down his office. Hen evertheleſs petitioned three times. The Emperor at length ſeeing him ſo determined, gave him leave to retire for | one year, ordering him after the expiration of it to return to court: at the ſame time he iſſued out a mandate, requiring the Mandarines every where to entertain him as he paſſed along, and to ſupply him with whatever he might want. Highly pleaſed with this, he immediately prepared every thing for his journey, and ſet out from Peting with a very ſplendid retinue, attended by A long train of great Mandarines, . fl i 5 who & .
74 HAU) KIOU 'CHOAAN./ who accompanied him quite out of the city. But the Mandarine No. bo- ſuu | was not of their number, having been aſhamed to eee — 4 As ſoon as the news of what had happened arrived at 'T/ee-nan fee,” all the Mandarines who reſided in or near that city, put up chops or red papers with congratulatory inſcriptions “: and every great officer and perſon of faſhion went to the houſe of Shiey-keu-y6-to | compliment his daughter on the news. This ceremony they performed three times. The firſt time, they congratulated her on her father's return from banimment; the ſecond-t ime on hisp ro- 8 . Ta the Tranſlator! 8 M. 8. « Red papers 3 3 welcome writ upon them.. motion; motion; and laſtly, on the permiſſion} he had obtained to; retire from court. Shuey- ping-ſin.,at firſt gave ncor edit to the news: for having been ſo oft deceived by. Kwo-khi-tzu, ſhe was afraid. to appear: but afterwhaenr ſdhes ſaw: it was all true; yet could, not comprehend how her father ſpould-liage ſuch, good fortune, as at once tob ree ſtored. and advanced to honour. Shuey-gumwin |, was not long before he went to her: Do you know, ſaidh e, | by What means ith ath happethnate ydour, fatheri st husof a ſudden returned home witſo hmuc h honour and promotion? She replied, I do not: but wast hink ON ſome amazehmowe itn cotul d br 0 f ': Lon felt to; K,. ſaid ſaid he, that it is all through the means oTfi eb*ching-u.” At whiſhec lauhghe d, and ſaid, J cannot believe what. you ſay: it ſeems\ ve ry fabulous.”* Why not believe it, ſaid he?“ She replied, n Becauſe Tieb-chung-- u is not in any office or power; but on the contrary is but a ſimple fludent, and out of the way of contributing to ſuch an event.“ et proceeded originally, ſaid he, from br n e — no> other_ — „ ” ther to ſend a e to my broader | to ſolicit his conſent. Which he refuſing, that Mandarine renewed an accu- _ ſation againſt kim, and alſo againſt H. biau a general choſen by him, charging them with miſmanagement in the wars: upon which the Emperor appointed 2 — 3 7 tribunal A CHINESE HISTROY. 177 Tribunal of Threei no rder to bring that general to his trial. He was therecon demned, and ready to bee xecuted, when Tieh-chung-u - interpoſed and became his ſurety :. in conſequence of which, the general was reſtored to his command, and had ſuch remarkable ſucceſs thath e acquired great honour, not only to himſelf, but alſo to that young gentleman and your father.“ Shuey-pingn inquired of her uncle what authority he had for this report, and ſeemed: to doubt whetheri t were true. Nor true, ſaid he ? why ſhould you queſtion it? Wherefore elſe were the papers put up? Did not the Mandarines themſelves come hithert oc ompliment you on the occaſion ?” She ſmiled at his _ warmth, and ſaid, It this be true, Vol. III. N 1 then then doubtleſs Tieb-chung-a' is à traitor, that could be fo impudent and bold before the Tribunal of Three. Why don't youp etition againſt him, as one that is going to raiſe a rebellion ?“ Her uncle begged that nothing more might be ſaid on that ſubje&, aſſuring her that he was now reformed. | 1 go no more, ſaid he, among thoſe rakes: who abuſed me very much in forcing; me into what 1 did“ As ſoon 28 he = was withdrawn, Shuey-ping-/in ſet herſelf to reflect on the events that had happened. She could not but admire, that fortune ſhould give that youth ſo many occaſions to aſſiſt her; and all through their accidental meeting in the ſtreets. © The ſervice he hath done me is great, ſaid ſhe, but nothing to what he hath done my father. His virtue and generoſity demand of me the moſt grateful acknowledgments :: miſerable I am, that I cannot yield him my love.” Shuey-ping-fn continued in daily expectation of ſeeing her father: when at length a ſervant came to inform .H er of his approach. All the Mandarines went out. of the eity to meet him: and at noon he came home. Sbe advanced into the great. halt to receive him, where nothing could equal the * of them both. What paſt farther between them, the next book will inform us. The End of Book the Third. N a2 VN. B. THE FOURTH BOOK, containing the remainder of THE CHINESE HIS ORY, will bs in the next uolume: the Third and. Fourth Books. being ſhorter than the reſt, the Editor choſe to inſert here the following independent PIECE, rather than a fragment of BOOK THE FOURTH, which on —4 accounts he choſe to keep intire and un1 Sw. COLLECTION O F C H A PROVERBS AND APOTHEGMS.
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2 a ADVERTISEMENT. Nom3 — be formed oft he and genius f any nation, than from Fay aco mmon Proverbs. e could never have prevailed, and become univerſal, if they had not expreſſed the general ſenſe of the people, who t them, For this reaſon it was judged that the following COLLECTION would be no improper Supplement to a book, which profeſſes to give a pictureo f the CHINESE, as drawn by themſelves. The Sentences are extrafted from various Authors, but chiefly from thoſe tranſiations of Chineſe Pieces, which P. Du Halde and the Miſſionaries have given us. They are of twd tinds, which in a larger collection, had more properly been ſeparated : but our materials were tos Fall to admit of a diviſion. The firft, are Ve. as are either profeſſedly quoted for common Proverbs +, or appear to be proverbially uſed: *T he ſecond, are ſelect Apothegms or private Maxims of Chineſe Moralifts. Of thef ormer, almoſt all were 11 that — wy rocured : of the latter, ſuch only as were * to contain ſomething peculiar or — either iin theſ entiment or manner of eapre | ifJ os Proverls aere adnittc, which appear 4+ Thea re 22 "Oapkn g *, E es N 4 116d 184 ADVERTISEMENT. inſſpid or trifiing, we muſt plead the | ſcantineſs
- — which did not = to 2
Jeet any. If few of them are expreſſed with that” ſententious brevity, which conflitutes* the inci pal beauty of a proverb; we defire it hep s 1 22 they are only tranflati Rn tranſlations ; and therefore muſt appear to great diſadvantage. . A. ſpirited conciſeneſs is among thofe peculiar beauties of an ori ginal, which can be. ſeldom transfuſed into a tranſlation. This balds true more particularly in Adages and Proverbs, which being founded on national alluſions and peculiarities, require a circumbcution 10 render them intelligible. A farther allowance muſt
- be made for the following ſpectmens, that
they are tranſlated from the moſt conciſe language in the world, in 2 two words often cantain an intire ſentence, and when tranſlated, require a multiplicity to unfold their meaning *. the Reader-takes all theſe conſtderations into the account, and reflects that thisi s the Herſt attempt of the kind ever made in Europe, it is — he 1010 e its inpper ſections. | ll few parallel 8 from other 8 are bccaſtmally inſerted: chiefly where either they ſerve to illuſtrate the Chineſe, or where they ſhetw Fad other nations have hit on the Jams images. Fee an inflance, — 1. hay. 134. note. See &lfa P. Du Halde, v. 1. . 293. a Param. p. 19. Sc. wad 6 * CHINESE | L 11813 = N — CHINESE PROVERBS AND APOTHEGMS., Bark of plain be joined ET only with: glue, cannot hold ouutr Tong | againſt the large billows . [That is, where pains have not been taken to form the mind, it will be likely to 1 under adverſity.) A blemiſh may be aber out of a diamond by ſtrongly polifhing it: but a blemiſh in the words of a king can never be effaced b. A diamond with flaws is preferred before a common ſtone that hath none . [Meaning that great excellences with ſome _ imperfections, are better than a , inſipidity. ] 5
- A drum, if i it be n not beat go no noiſe: 2
2 P. Du Halle, w. 1. p. 511. | >B id.p . 410. id wol. 2. P. 113. . bell, 186 CHINESE *PROVERBS : bell, if i be nat ſtruck upon, returns no bound. | [See the application af this proverb is the 3 © foregoin Hiſt, vol. 2. pag, 111. and vol. 4. pag. 6o.] A fault acknowledipgs half amended 4. This iis the ſame with the F rench, Faute conce oftà demi pardonee.)| | N is pleaſing to the «e ye,w hile theK r tree hath thing beautiful in it: the ſplendor of the one is not an equivalent for Ahe durableneſs of the other. [We ſay, *Tis betterto kni! than bloſſees. And, , Prettyneſs makes no pottage. See Ray.)
- A good beginning is of importance in all
undertakings : and a Light e have fatal conſequences. [Remarks of this kind are common in all Lat. Dimidium facti, gui bent cepit, Hbabet. Fr. De bon commancement bon fin!
- A good foundcaen ruſ e every metal: an
able lapidary the coarſeſt ſtones s. [We ſay, A good avorkmas e of his tools.] A grave and majeſtic outſide is, as it were, the palace where virtue reſidesh . Lettres ed. xXVj. gy. | bid. 140. P. Ds ' AND APOTHEGMS.” 187 This is ne mawxith ithe mChixg ſe 11 affect an exterior beyond all other nations, ] | A great talker never wants enemies: the man ol ſenſe ſpeals little and hears much | 20 11 have heard perſons, who ſpeak. ladeg" faith a Chinese author, * compared to certain " trees, who have little beauty, but whoſe fruits are excellent. A talkative perſon may be likened to a fair tree without any fruit.43”s P. Du Falde, 8 '630.]
- A horſe. thati s ready to gallop, when he
leaves the ſtable, isn ot one of thoſe, which can make a thouſaZene do n aſ tretckh. 1 to the Eng. Fair and /oftly goes The Lat. Nimium properans ſerius abſolvit. 3 to the Ital. Preſto e bene non ſi canuiene; 3. e. Haſtily and well never meet.N . B. One thouſand Zee, is a hundred /eagnes.] A hundred years, when paſt, are no more than the twinkling of an eye: let us then _ employ uſefully what days we have to live . Am ag-pye builds her neſt, and the bird Kale u places herſelf there afterwards u. Equivalent to the Latin, . Sic-wos, non vobir, nidificatis aves,—The Ate w ise rer the © Guctowy, 1 len. ed. . 130. F. B. Halus, 1. 526. A man 188 CHINESE PROVERBS A man and woman that can be together alone, and yet preſetrve their 0 can break no lav. [See the foregoing Hiſt. vol. 2: pag; 145] A man born in the country of either 7; or Du, will infallibly have its accent. oc. CE ant T/u were formerly two little * doms now ſwallowed up in the Chiugſe empire.— This proverb expreſſes the contagion of example, and the difficulty of conquering national habits. The ancients had Adages ſomeching like it, as, Barbarus evaſit inter barbares. And, Mores 2 e meer 1 Vid. Eraſ. Adag.]
- A man never opens a book withoutr eaping
ſome advantage from it. A man who hath neither equity, application nor politeneſs, is a ſavage beaſt whoſe head is covered with a bonnet?®.
- A man, without conſtancy, will neither make |
2 good diviner nor a phyſician% , A modeſt woman never marries two * bands: a faithful miniſter ought not to ſerve two kings” . [The meaning of this proverb 3i s aſcertained by the following paſſage in a Chine/e author.
- « Is it not — that a great man, who is loyal
| F. bs Halle, I. 474. Bid. Saks P Lett. ed. xi. | «® to AND APOTHEGMS. 189 - « to his prince, quits all offices after his maſ- «+ ter's death? A virtuous widow never thinks of a ſecond huſband? P. Du Halde, vol. 2. p. 169. N. B. The Chinęſe erect trium phal arches to, and canonize for ſaints, ſuch widows as have reſiſted ſecond addreſſes with exemplary firmneſ—s A.n d upon a revolution of government the Mandarines have frequently refuſed to ſurvive their dethroned maſters. Vid. P. Du Halde paſſim.] A paſſion indulged, is a kind of drunkenneſs; its remedy conſiſts in two words, I-, vanquiſh thyſelf. 1 e e [The Spaniards have a proverb, . Colirice Janguino, Borracho fino; 1. e. A ſanguine choleric man, is a downright drunkard. A paſſion we do not get rid of, is like a moth that flies round a taper until it be burnt *.
- A pear is returned for a peach: you ſhall
not reap what you have ſowed . Applied when a juſt return is not made for a favour received. To the ſame effect is that ſaying of the ancients, Alij /ementem faciunt, alij metent. Eraſ. Adag.] | MOR A piſmire and a rat are very little inſecis, yet all beings formed of the five elements are liable to be deſtroyebdy as vile animals ». Equivalentt oc he Eng. There are no ſmall ene- 29 Du Halde, 2. 48. * Ihid, 53s A. 1. 411. CITES £% | 4 miei. = >A—”———a*a N G mepoir—tunns e s e——s — | | | | nies. N.B .T he five elements are; acrerding to the Chineſe, Mi wood, Ho'fire, Tu earth, Kr: metal, Shui water. P. Du Halde,2 . 183, 185.] A ſmall chink may cauſe ſhipwreck to the reateſt veſſel: an inſect never ſo ſmall Py 5 its bite occaſion. your death. A ſpark may kindle a [great] fre:a mole may undermine a rampart . [So the Fr. II ne faut qu une etincelle 4. Au pour < caufer un grand incendie. See alſo Etchus: . 32.— The" t lives preceding proverbs. ſeem to have all the ſame tendency, viz. to inſpire caution, from the reflection that the moſt contemptible cauſes often produce the moſt fatal effects* A ſovereign may be compared to a hall: his officers to the ſteps that lead to it, then e to the ground on which, theyit ; f A ſtab with the tongue is worſe than Gi the ; ſword : a ſtab with che pen, than both*3 .
- On the right fide of the chair of T7;o rben
fait a Chingſe author c was this ii nſer Ption,
- Anſwer not & letteri n ap aſſan. P. aHalde,
2. 109. N. B. The French ſay, Fol coup de langue eff pire 2 un coup de lance: 1. E. A ſtroke with the tongue is worſe tham a ſtroke with the lance.— And the Sp anards, Mas hiere' mala felabraq,ue ofpade- flats; i. 8. A bad —_— wounds mn ore: than. a = _ #
- Lett. veel. 120. y P. aDun . 2˙ 99.
- * 1. 475 "14.2 . * | A thumb.
AND APOTHEGMS: 197 A thumb below: is more to be regarded than an hundred arms on high: more attention is dutoe on e ſtep behind, gn to a Prey. ""_—_ beforeb . [This proverb is a. perfect enigma, yyeett (if one may venture to decypher it,) ſeems . Intended. to convey this uſeful moral; that man is formed to act in a narrow and contraQed ſphere, and ought not to entertain either very remote fears or hopes: in the firſt place, that he ought to conſine his attention to preſent rathan very diſtant dangers: ſecondly, that D|r e Yo) rather employ his thoughts i1 n the re- |W k nn of his own paſt actions, can in vain and anxious reſearches into futurity.—The firſt _ clauſe is not very remote from the Lat. Put e ante pedes nemo ſpettat, celt fcrutantur Plagas. F 2M A village mouth is good phyfic. [That is, the honeſt countryman's advice de from ſincerity, and may be depended on. See the foregoing Hiſt. vol. 2. p. 235. A wealthy houſe, whence juſtice and charity are baniſhed, what is it but a barren mountain, which contains in its bofom rich, but uſeleſs metals? 5 2 J N wiſe man avoids dhe very apybitries ofvi vice" . _ * A wiſe-prince is ſafe in ramparts of gold . - [Meaning in the affe ctions of his ſu bjects, and > Lett. ad. XX. 140. 3 * © P. Da Halde, 2. 79. | in the {kill and fidelity of his pk mi · A with prince makes advantage of e6v en the words of a fool. (It is a trite ſaying in all languages, that a wiſe man may ſometimes profit by a fool's advice, or as the Spaniards have it, De un hombre " necio @ wehes buen conſejo.] A word once let fall cannot be fetched back by a Chariot and four horſes 6s. [The Spaniards ſay, Palabra y W Kela, no tiene buelta : i. e. A word and a ſtone once diſcharged never return. Lat. Noſcit vox miſſa ' reverti. ] „Above is Wer below isF m and Hang- cbero ig be f Theſe are two deli heful Cities or diſtrias, 9 the paradiſe o Ching. 155 Martin. Atlas, Adverſity is an admirable ae. whereof one doſe cures many diſeaſes, and ſecures the health of him that takes it all his life!.
- All the grains of rice ſerved up in your diſh,
have been watered with the ſweat of the e a [This is deſigned to correct the ſuperciliouſ- ' neſs of the great, and their readineſs to deſpiſe rp. Du Halde, 1. 481. Id. 3. 55. Ill. 7. P. 74 L. 2. ad Flad. 55. a | = A AND APOTHEGMS. 193 and ſet light by the poor. — The Chineſe have another proverb to the ſame purpoſe, viz, A grain of rice, a ſingle thread, all comes from te ſweat of the poor,” Lett. ed. xxvj. 93. & All the conſtellations preſide over the empire of China, fo as to concern themſelves with no other countries. | [This p roverb ſhews how exceedingly partial the Chin are to their country. The Tartar Emperor Cang-hi was wont to laugh at this prejudice, and to beg of the Chine/e to leave at leaſt a few ſtars. to take care of the neighbouring kingdoms—W,e ſay in Jeſt, T wal are no flars for Iriſh men.]
- A n amiable prince is the father infm other
of his people . / ; [See the foregoing Hiſt. vol. 1. pag. 205.. An old man without virtue, and a poor man without induſtry, are two characters with whom we ought to have neither correppondence nor difference . [Sup poſing them ſo deſperate and abandoned, as it is not ſafe either to> converſe or quarrel with them. 15 a
- As the liqu or takes the dais of the veſſel
that SGI it, fo the fybjects imitate the princeo . iP. . ce 27„.. P. Du Halde, Vol. III. 3 | As 194 CHINESE PROVERES
- As the ſtone Ae can never became white;
ſo àh eart defiled with WOW Wil always „ati Rs! blackneſs ?0 51 "I bini .a k ind of black earth,w blch theyT ub on the engraved letters inſtead of inſe.— This - aying owes. its birth to the Emperor Lu- wang, who flouriſhed 1120 years before. the Chriſtian Era. It is equivalent to our homely * 1O ne a wohore and alwaysa whore:} | Att he bottom, a buſhel of pearls iisn otw orth 'eA nde of ice 4 That is, in intrinſſe value. LW is allo a common faying of the Chineſe, Pearls and pre- & cjous ſtones are of no uſe either for _—_ or , raiment. P. Du Halde, 1. 517.],
- Avoid a blaſt of wind, as es ast he
point of an arrow ß. [The e Os.50 De.w iento gue enira por . barrage, & Co guarde dios : i. e. From a wind np cames int hrough,A ble, good Lord rer vn Aa man be i in good health, when his Ne is ſwoln as large as hie body; 3 and His ow as big as his arm. _ [Thisi s chiefly applied to a TY SPY | py, have nine to too reer | and wealth. ] wits P. Du Halle, 30. Fei. e 99. t * 1 AND /APOTHEGMS.) 195 Do not entertain a man, who hath juſt received a e with an account of your own ſucceſs* F Does he proſper? he is mount To27 .*| | he not PAR 22 *. is an 88 nge1 8 goat weight. [Tay is a very" gent 5 loftyb oten in the province of Shu tong, faid to be forty Lee be 1 F | Dogsa nd ſwine, the fatter * are,t hene arer their days are to an end. d wn [Applied to ſuch n 1 too great haſte to be rich, and thereby exeite the avarice of their ſuperiors, the envy of their cquals, and the hatred of their oppreſſed in- | * to conſpire their deſtruction. N. B. Dogs are fatted and eaten in China as a delicious food, and always found at the tables of the great. A Chineſe autlior gives thef ollowing as an inſtance of unreaſonable prejadice. A man by night is helped to the « fleſh of an ape, and being told it is the fleſh of a dog thinks it good: next morning he 5 1 informed what he hath eaten, and falls a 8 vomitinge P. Da Halde, v. 2. p. 112.]
- Every one is governed by an e
ing, a memory, and a will. 129 9 See or twelve miles high. Vid Martin. Atlas. p. 196 CHINESE PROVERBS (see the foregoing Hiſt. vol. 2. pag. 234.
- reer one knows his own neceſlity, whether
it be hunger, cold or heat. Equivalent to the Fr. Chacun fent To mal. Which we and the Spaniards expreſs, by Cada ano ſabe adonde le aprieta el gapato Every one knows where his own ſhoe N See the foregoing Hiſt. vol. 2. pag. 2 34]. Familiarity begets contemptx . [This is too obvious a remark not to . occurred to all civilized nations. Lat. Nimia familiaritas contemptum parit. So the Fr. Eng. &c.] e the meaſles, but feed the ſmall· pox full . [Ngo tha paso teou. This ifs an bci current among the Chine/e phyſicians. N. B. There is reaſon to believe that the practice of inoculation had its riſe in . See Lett. edif. xx. 304, &c.]
- Four good magiſtrates iNrniaate a choufand
furlongs ¶L ee]* , [This ſaying takes its rifef rom the following 3 tory. * The king of Guey and the king of Th had a conference on their frontiers :w hen the former aſked the latter if he poſſeſſed any rare and curious pearls, He anſwered in the negative. But 1, ſaid the king of Guey, have P. Du Halde, 2.52. Leied.t æ.. 3 10. DT „ß nee e ten AND APOTHEGMS. 197 ten precious ſtones, ſo brillant, that each of : them caſts a luſtre over the ſpace of twelve fur- | longs. My jewels, ſaid the other, are different from yours, for they live and breathe. I have four Mandarines, who prefide over four pro- | vinces, and by the luſtre of their juſtice and 4 122 illuminate a thouſand e Vid. Mart. Hiſt. p. 1741 Friendſhips that are formed lowly, and without much formal introduction are moſt laſting* . Gon bells ſeldom frike ; fallv eſſelsr eturn no ſaund . This is uſed as a diſſuaſive from garrulity: to which no people have ſuch an averſion as |t he Chineſe; we invert the image, Empty veſſels make the greateſt found. Lat. Vacuum was altius pleno waſe reſonare.] Great inſtruments of muſic are of no value to ftrolers : great fiſhes are produced in great waters© . The firſt clauſe of this proverb, is equivalent to the Fr. 4 petit mercier, petit panier. Lat. Parwum parva decent. The latter clauſe to the 2 1n mari Ag piſces . Vid. 2 P. Du Halle 2+ 42. b Lett. ed. XXYj. 9 | i Halle, a 4s & &# we DOI arroraRonso=̃ — y n Etro «*. >— IL
- ry
——E—4—— au <—— 99-I> err 198 CHINESE PROVERBS He 1s happy, who underſtands his happineſs ©, d 6 is illuſtrated by a paſſage in a CB author. Seeing a gentleman beſore me on „„ a fine horſe, while I am mounted on a « wretched mule; 'A h! I ery, how different is my condition I Jools ehihd me, and 4 ſee hambers of peoploen foot ſtooping un- „ der heavy burdens: then my n & ceaſe, and Jam comfarted,” Compare,P . Du Halde, vol. 2. p. 115. with p. 230. ] :
- He maintains a ctw ed or
an argument for three ears *, yy [This is commonly applied to thoſe ho maintain paradaxes, and impoſſible poſitions: and took its riſe from an argument once beld by the philoſopher Sung- tung (Who lived 114 years before CChhr ift.) That every man hath three ears: one internal and two without.].
- He ſpends as if his father were receiver of
the Emperor's revenue 3a. the province of Mi nan 7. It is in this province that gold duſt is uber. ed out of the ſands of the rivers:— which to a Chineſe officer muſt afford fine opportunities of 3 the public.
- He, who aims at being virtuous, is kke! a
man, who climbs up a ſteep mountain: he . Dial, , b. 230. Aar. Hit. las 199. Mart, Mar f.,. . who AND APpOTHEGMS. 199 who abandons himſelf to vice, is Ike a man who deſcends a very ſteep precipice s. He,w ho is proud of his dignity and power, or. puffed up with his knowledge, is like a man, who' ſtands oh a glittering piece of ice, and boaſts of his elevation: but the ſun darts its rays, the ice ann and:* | {inks into the mire® ,
- H e, who is HA Bats) by ten eyes,* AWE
at by ten Angers, how cautious Mould he Jive: 4 07 He, who eats Air man'sb eat, fubratts _ - himſelf to ſuffer his blows“ .
- He who ſuſfers, en ſome comforti n nſ ing
1 ing his pains . [This ſeems equivalent to the Spaniſh proverb, Quien canta ſus males eſpanta, i. e. He "who kings, krights away his misfortunes, tha2t eaſes and diverts them.
- He who doth not love tea, covers wine w.
5H ennen and hell are ſeatedi n theh eartv . [This fiene lke common with the Chimt/e. Tot he!l ame elfe our celebratedP oet, 2 2 p. Du Halde,1 .4 49. Id. 2. 56. i Conf. $. e P. Semedo, þ. * | ——— 200 CHINESE PROVERBS The mind is ite een Anat. and in 1151 — Can male a beaven of hell, a hell of 1 Par. loſt.b . 1. v. 254. Baue,p enetrates into the bottom of. hearts, as light into a dark chamber. It may be worth while to ſee how the „n Chineſe expreſſed themſelves on the ſubjet of ſome of the divine attributes. © It is „ jn vain to hide one's ſelf in the dark: no. thing is hid from Shang-ti (or the Supreme
- Enperor) The night is with him as clear as
- © the— — He penetrates into the moſt hid-
- den corners where the malignity of man's
heart would withdraw. itſelf from his f. ight: he is preſent every where, and darts his light a into the moſt obſcure windings of the moſt «« impenetrable labyrinth, where any one would attempt to conceal himſelf.” P. Du Halde,
- Honour the dead, as you would honour
them if they were alive ar [Or, as it is ſometimes expreſſed by the Chi. neſe, * Behave with regard to the dead, as if they were ſtill alive.” This is the favourite maxim of the Chineſe. and ſeems more foundſo current withu s, De mortuis nil niſi bonum.” ] . p. Du Halde, 1.473, oo XXij. 268. ed on juſtice and good ſenſe, than that maxim P 1. 2.38; Lett. of. æix. 5 How
AND APOT HEGMS, 20+ How can any one be faultleſs, unleſs he | were a Yau or a Shun d. 1 2 [Theſe are two ancient | Chinef Emperors © revered as ſaints or heroes, whoſe reigns are regarded as the golden age of China. They were both raiſed by their merit to the throne: _ Yau being a petty regulo: and Shun a poor labourer. *© 35 Ch a Chine/e author, had 4 not ſo much ground as would ſerve for erect- " ITS ſtile or driving a ſtake, yet was after-
- r wards Emperor. Ta whoſe juriſdicton did
„ not extend over ten families, ſaw himſeif af maſter of the whole 1 as Dane However ſure a horſe may ha we muſt not all at once throw up the bridle to him: however familiar one may be one with ano- 1 one muſt not at once truſt all the ſecrets of one's heart to his mouth. 21 ſhall be as the bird, that carries a golden ting to the perſon who hath ſet it at liberty*. [This is a common expreſſion of gratitude far @ favour received, and will receive illuſtration from a paſſage in a Chine/e edict, viz. "Ip* You have doubtleſs heard the hiſtory of Tamao: he found in his way a bird, who drew "h r itw ich {ow —_— a cord2 to its ——=— N 43
- |
- 1
| 5 ' l | = + 4
- 'F
n 7
- P, Di Halde, 1. 620. Lai. 2d4. a x. 139.
- P, Du Halde, 2, 67. WY kg.
arne ——— — ——2— u- —ear. 262 CHINESE 'PROVERBS leg. Tapas moved with eompatiion freed
< it from its incumbranc, and ſet it at liberty. He was quickly rewarded for this ſeryice: the bird ſoon after returned de in its bAe ak a Tr ingo f gold,| which ſhe put Int o the
- hand of her deliverer. Hiftory relates that
e from that time the family of Lam: pas re- 12 markably flouriſhed, and afterwards gave
- many prime miniſters to the ſtate. It is thus
that eren flight ſervices, bring down Sent te rewards from heaven.“ Lettres edif. xv. a £3 1 "— *
- I ſhall render a ſervice equal to that of the
» piſmires ſaved from ſhipwreck by means of the branches thrown out fort hat purpoſ*e, [This is likewiſe a proverbial expreflion of gratitudeb,u t we have not been fortunate enough to recothev ſetorry on whichi t is founded.
Let it might be illuſtrated from a fable of Eſop, viz. A dove perchedon a tree, obſerved a <©piſmire drowning in an adjacent fiream,
- and moved with "compaſſion 'threw in a
, ſmall branch, by means of which it eſcaped
- ſhipwreck: ſoon after a fowler ſeeing ogr cha-
. £5 ritable dove ſeated on the ſame tree, was „ ſpreadinhgis nets.t o inſnare her: When the e grateful piſmire ſtung him by the heel, and dy cauſing him to turn, alarmed: the dove, F. Du Halde, . 67. | 5 tank r « who inſtantly flew away and eſcaped the 66 danger,” ] SN If a leopard or a — break out of the ial ahem ®wh o is to anſwer eli du 5 if any damage isd one bya k ing$ _n eg2le fh,7 v 5i st o call him to an account fori t?] Ifa man hadno inclination to kill the was the tyger would babe "mo deſire de hu mM; 7: There is. another ſay i contrary tf* o eoi n F. u Halde, 2. 176 * A man never thinks , of hurting a Yo and yeta tyger is eye . < meditating miſchief againſt'a man.“ If ſometimes the Xi-lin and Fomg-whang are found on the earth: there are a far greater number of tygets, ferpentsa nd ſcorpions* . [ Meaning. that 1 characters abound in he world more than good ones. The Ki- lin and . Fong-awhang are a —— beaſt and bird, ſaid never to be ſeen, hut in times preceding ſome remarkable happy reign :—aniwerable to. the _ unicorn and phænix among us. bog If the bundle of thorns, which isw rapto va the young tree to Keen it, bind ii t tao hard, it cruſhes it . (Meaning, that besch. ſhould: not 1 e web Catia A er ' P.D u Halde, 2o p Gag 8 Lal. ed. Xxxwj. 143 diſcourage n—. vA.96" ——eIyͤ——.o4* ——Sn o — sI
M— M” 2—— ——— A2*2 — 204 CHINESE | PROVERBS
- diſcourage them. Some perſons, ſaith a CBineſe
Author, © keep their children ſo conſtantly to their ſtudies, that they will neither let them ſee nor hear what paſſes in the world. „ Whence they become as filly as the young
- man, who happening to be in the public
e ſquare, and ſeeing a hog, cried out, I hat an enormous fize that rat is l, P. Du Halde, v. 1. p. 50.] If one doth not pluck off the 3 of a tree while they are yet tender; they can- . not afterwards. be cut off without the ax”. \- {This proverb inculcates the neceſlity of earl y 4 cult ure, ofr eſtraining the paſſions and of checking the vicious exceſſes of young minds betimes. a 9 uſes an image not unlike this, Due præbet latas arbor ſpatiantibus umbras, ue poſita eft primum tempore virga fuit. 0 A pl, 5 Jummd4 tellure — 2 8 Nunc flat in immenſum viribus acta. ſuis.] It the father of a family bathe every day, bis children will be ſkilful ſwimmers: if he ſteal melons and fruits, his children will be . aflaflins and incendiariesa . [This is deſigned to expreſs the 1 of example in fathers and governors of families over the minds of their dependents,” who are ſure not only to copy, but to go beyond him. To 1 ſame er. the Latin Poet, 5 - 2 Je . 101 *Lett. ed. xx. 134. p09: | tas | AND APOTHEGMS. 209g tas parentum pejor avis tale" * Nor nequiores, mox daturos 475 nne Progeniem — 7
- — Lib.3 .d ad 1
- If you would know how the ſon will turn
8 outs look upon the father or the tutor. we fayi n England « 75 young cock cc rows after the oldo ne.1 39 4 If you have no experience in an air your- (elf: follow thoſe that have ſucceeded ii n it, © If the water be even ten yin deep, one may ; - diſtinguiſh from the ſurface, W urn the eines; be iron or gold, [That is, however the mind and its ſentiments may be covered by diſſimulation, it will be ſeen through, if it be remarkably good, or bad.—A yin is 80 feet. P. Du Halde, 1. 464.1 | If to a beautiful countenance you apply a cauſtic of mugwort, the ſcar will for ever be | ſeen; a black ſpot upon a won habit will laſt as longas the habit. u the ſame effect with thoſel ines of Gy3 In beauty faults conſpicuous grow : 4 1h e a4 5 — is 200 on ſnow. Fab, x).] 1 ; 3 1 } i 1 7 1 tt j i} ) q * |
- -
1511 "24 Ll I
.+Fco —2 mY Pond >wn— ——n—— —mh — oenIA—vnerr—$0 g s 206 CHINESE PROVERBS
- If there are in the court of a prince ſeven
officers truly zealous, and who dare remonſtrate: though he be irregular, he will not loſe his crown fo An the Chireſt annals may be met with many 8 inſtances: of exemplary courage, fidelity, and public ſpirit: there have been minere WhO 12 ve freely reproved the Emperor | when he was aQting wrong, though certain death was the e an al, pas. > 144, note.! If che ty of aue ie great * vocko f the body: the erg he way makes ſti]! greatesr. | In company. ſeta guard upon pex u tongue: | In-(alitude on your heart |,b . d NN th all things conf orm to the taſte7 wiſe « antiquity . 7 {No people have ſuch. a; blind veneration for
- 2t7 ws , antigoity as. the Chineſe. They even pay a
© Line of religious worfhip to ider decka nceſtors. See vol. 1. p. 164. note. | In. former times they ielded the way without diſpute”: * Wen the.e ld \ TI (IP: i. 46. Fort. ed. Ax j.h e Mk
- *
AND APOTHEGMS. - 207 in vain wauld a king govern like a Yay or a . Shun, with a book of laws three feet thick, "hank en his haue acres ang as Reg aer 10 the maintains aft he uch chere ifs 2 leopard, who, notwithſtanding his yoraciouſneſs, will live ſeven days without foodi,n the rainy ſeaſons, rather than 8⁰ We and 3 the luſtre of his fkin . Fx nis is applied to a perfon, who is-fo daz- FR Hed with thef aſt of his preſent greatnels and krank, as to be regardleſs of the future: but it ſeems more applicable to a finical foppiſh perfon. Chineſe foppery we have desc ibed by one of their own authors. There are ſome 4 perſons, ſaith he, who at the very time when an important affair is upon their hands, very e deliberately look upon themſelves in mir- % rour, waſh themſeives in 2' veſſel of per- «« fumes, gently ſhake the duſt from their TON cloaths, and are employed in a thouſand 6 little frivolous affairs.b efore they enter on the main bufinefs. P. Du Halde, 2. 53. ] In matterosf ſtate the prince alone ought to decide: but in domeſtic affairs the — ought to rule 75 [The latter 2 ought only.40 . ſtood 6© within the women's : Tra oof or i 4 5 F. Du Halde, x. þ 62. id. 1. 544. | | i 208 c ESE PROVERBS 1 leaſt wich greater reſtriction than in Europe 2 for it is a received maxim in all the eaſtern countries, that that ſex is excluded by nature from all government, either civil or domeſtic ; for which reaſon they. call Europe the king- K dom of ladies; where they have been told that _ the crown hath deſcended to a. female head, Mod. Univ. Hiſt. vij. 161. n.. ln China there is nothing thrown a8wa y" , | [Chung-gue-wu-y-ve.—— China is ſo prodi. bo" giouſly crowded with inhabitants, that there are no ſhifts, to which the poor have not re- .. courſe for a livelihood. As there is hardly a a ſpot of ground that lies until ed in all the empire, ſo there is hardly a man, woman or child, though never ſo diſabled, but what gets a2 maintenance. The Chine/e will make a profit of things which appear to us quite uſeleſs. Many families ſubſiſt by picking up in the . ſtreet little rags, the feathers of fowls, bones of dogs, bits of paper, &c. which they waſh and _ ſell again.—In ſhort a Chineſe will dig a whole day together up to his knees in water, and in the evening will think himſelf well paid with a little boiled rice, pot een a oe tea. P. Du Halde, v. 1. p. 277. ] 5 wy:
- In China are more tutors tha {eholars:a nd
more phyſicians than patients. | We proverbial exaggeration of the prodigious , l 1. 5. Dr alis 10 3. vumbers that hddict themſelves to literature and medicine: - The great honors chat attend the former, invite vaſt multitudes to purſae it, a great part of hom being rejected at the examinations, have no other means of . : but ii n teaching others 4 of
- In China adus boatso fp aper.a nd
| ene ironv. e toverb ariſes om the Aicfeult faviſeveral of the Chineſe tivers ; Which, "= abcount of their ſwift current among the rocks, &. obliges mow to have boats 6f very thin boards like our ſlit deal, which are not nailed, but ſome how T6ſt ened together with wicks: Theſe boats ſplit not againſt the rocks, but bend and give way.] in the province of Can-tong are thites unuſttal things: the ſky without ſhow; the trees always green; and my: inhabitants + continually ſpitting bloods. 4b. Tre laſt clauſe afſudes to tel $edhetag to chew arzck and here], a8 is common in” other "parts of the Eat. —— ft is thus that tlie other Chineſe ſpeak of or e of this ptovice.)
- Inclofe theg ane ent;hr eſei dese ,2
7. Atlas. 124. 4 q Mart.A tlas. f.1 32. F.: Halde, 1.7 ; nal op A* + 4 . 1 * k i
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| | 210 CHINESE .PROVERBS | {Meaning that we ſhould not deſtroy the 1 of it at once, but make a reſerve for ſuture occaſions. Parallel to that ſaying with us,
- Good * en Dy 2 = Lage
«6 eſcape. PI] Indigence and ferry are 65 parents of vigiand oeconomy. Vigilance and weenomy of riches and e, Riches and honour of pride and luxury. Pride and luxury of impurity and idleneſs. And impurity and _idleneſs of indigence and e . . ſuch are the revolutions of liſee.. | It is better for a prince to hoard up th i ſubſects houſes, FO! in his own Lala and coffers*. It is.b etter to take. ns He FAIR he 6, than to ſee and admire them ee in Equivalent to that provinh of ours, * A4
- B ird in the handi s auonth two: in the buſh : or
48. the Spaniards have it, Mas. wale ; axare.,in mano, Que, buytre wolands :i . e, A parrow, in hand i Worth more than 2 a vulture, fying.} | ; It is not for the valley alone where it grows, that the flower is ſob eautiful and fra- 4 4 grant: neither — it to be for yourſelf alone that you ſhould acquire wiſdom . P. Du n he: t 14. 8. es ' _ Hit. p. 347. Lett. ed, er 133. Nias st, ' AND/ APOTHEGMS;” 218 | [Of like application with thoſe words of „ Neither do men-light a candle and put it under a buſhel, but in a inn and it giveth light to all that are in the houſe. —Let your "ow fo . 1 before men, &c. Mat. v. 15. 16. It is not one diamond that gives luſtre to another, a common coarſe Wn is employed for that purpoſe x. 31 10 2t12m [Equivalent to the Bug. A dlanwnd is Way He aun 2 ts foil. * SW iT is very ae: cs govern women n and ſer- 1 Y, 35nOο V4t "Th his is a maxim of . 3 afligns Hg reaſon, For if you treat them with gene tleneſs and familiarity, they loſe all reſpect: « if with rigour, you I have continual Kar- „„ 1 on foot, go through it cloathed in the ancient manner: if it is s ſhallow tuck.u p your _ garments *, Mn [The A believet hat at.f iſt* * | naked, or at moſt looſely clad in the ſkin o ſome animal. Vid. Mart. E, 7/2. p. 18.— This Pe is applied to inculcate the neceſſity P. Du Halde, 2. 4 45. n 4. . bb, z. p. 108. 4% e en P 2 | of
- If the river is 050A nd pe der N
+ 0 TS. it} | if | 1H i i + 7 i | ' Wii
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FT + 7 74
| 1:9 nt—————4s ETIEI*GBIIrTIIYIE ISNN TR ;NE t T ErN.T. . Pn—— PrP Halde, 1. $24 © Gon. p. 35. 212 CHINESE PROVERBS of accommodating one's ſelf. to the <Uifferent circumſtances of lie. Kao when to ſtop feafonably *I S 5
- * might furniſh a breakfaſt to all
China; but Hu- guang might feed it fat®. [A local proverb, the 1755 nave merit of thetst wa provinces. 2 | Learn to be content with what ſallices®. [“ What need have we of riches? (faith a 4 Chineſe moraliſt) producem e the man, Who, | content with a ſtraw cottage and a little in- «© cloſure of canes, emplays himſelf in reading | 2 the writings of our wife men, or in diſcourſing on virtue: who defires no other recrea-
- = 10, than to refreſh himſelf with the cool air
| * by moonſhine, and whoſe whole ſolicitude, « is to preſerve in his heart the love of inno- 2% nd of Wis derghbour.” P. Re re; Similar to the Ching proverb are the Lat. Oaod fatis eff out contingit, nibil amplius opter. The Fr. Qui a aſſex, 1 a plus rien à Hrrer. And me Eng. Enough #s ur good as 4 feaſt.) Let us love others, as we love ourſelves 4. . TA nee maxim of C ! P. Du Halde, Wy Mart. AAtrliass. p.7 1. EP.D u Lek | AND APOTHEGMS. 223 Lock forh ornsi n the head of a lamb new- 11y brought forth. Parallel to that coarſe but ex ve ſayin | of Gier Cromwell, Nits «e xprſir1 *
- Look on whias gtood in another, as what
ou have not yet attained : ſhun what is bad more than bojling water.. Lying is the vice of baſeſ oulsa, nd of the vileſt populace®.
- May'ft thoy be dragged through theb oleo f
a priſon *. [A proverbial imprecation, |T he Ching _ . have a 9 pen concerning the dead, that they mult not be carried out at the ſame ate, they entered when alive: on this account there is a hole in the outward court of the priſons, whence the bodies are thrown out.]
- Men by affection are rendered blind to the
faults of their children: by avarice to the ferillity of their lands. [The firſt clauſe is anſwerable toc hant rite ſaying of ours, Every crow wy v2 own Bird faire ] |
- Misfortunes ride oy and never come
ſingle. 2 eP, Du Halde, 2.r . 2 ea Lett. ed. r.g ee 255c f 7? ; [The 214 CHINESE 'PROVERBS | [The Latins ſay, Fortuna nulli obeſe contenta ft Jemel. The French, Un malheur ne wient jamais tout ſeul. And we, Misfortunes ſeldom come - alone. he Halian is, Le 4 HMtatie non Seer mai ſole.”
- Money is blood: but gold iis merchandizel .
[A proverb. common, among the Chineſe at Ma-cao. It both expreſſes the greedy temper of the Chineſe, who ſtick at nothing for gain: and explains the uſe of gold among them, which is not current as a medium of traffic, but is bought and ſold as a commodity. UE vol.4 pag. 109. n.] Mountains and plains however fertile do not produce the flower Lyen: on the contrary b grows eaſilyi n low neglected places® . [This is intended to ſignify, that virtue flouriſks beſt in adverſity, or in a low and humble tation. It may be noted that the mountains An China are generally cultivated, and moſt of them naturally fertile: whereas the low grounds are ſwampy; a great part of China having 5. formerly been under water. - The Lyen-wha | s a fine aquatic flower, not unlike a tulip, but of a e ſmell. See P. Du Halde, v. 1. Nets are 3 fort he bird Tf u8 of the beauty of1 i tsw ings :: were it not * 8t . . lin. . bi e. | ö ; | perAND APOTHEGMS.' 276 perfume the creature os wud bel eft iin Wrong . Equivalent to the Lat. Rece non tenditur accifitri, neque milwio. Fr. Avec les michants il nya rien à gagner. The Italians ſay, La donna e la ceraſa per ſuo mal & imbelletta, i. e. A woman and a cherry are beautiful to their own hurt.— N. B. She is the muſk- animal: which is a kind of a roe-buck, remarkable for having four long | tuſks in its mouth. The muſk is rated in a - 1 b: npder its belly... Vid. * Halde,
- Noſ kin,n o bar. 1
- [i e. Where therei s no foundation there
can be no ſuperſtructure. Not very" remote from the Lat. Ex nihilo nibil it.] Not one in ten thouſand dies by We? the bare mention ſtrikes with horror: * multitudes by intemperance, yet how little s it feared”? _ [The Spaniards have a ee . a nadie vi morir, de mucho comer à cien mil. I never ſaw any die of hunger, of over. Ns a hundred thouſand. So the Lat. Gula Plures quam gladius peremit. Eraſ. Adag.] Nothing is more to be feared than a rat within a ſtatue. 216 CHINESE PROVERBS [This was the anſwer, which a Chine/e Man darine made to the Emperor, when he aſked | What was moſt to be feared in a ſtate. His maſter demanding an explanation, he replied.
- « Your Majeſty knows, thati n many eities, the
ſtatues e to the guardian Gex/j of the place are of painted 1 and hollow within. If a rat get into one of theſe, it js difficult to expel it: they dare not uſe fire, for fear of con- _ faming the image: nor water, leſt they waſh off the colours. Thus the ref they have for the ſtatue protects the rat. Soi t is when a man without virtue or merit thehters binn! in his prince's favour.” Of the five duties of civil life, FO fiſt 5] ay which a ſon owes t@ his parent 4. - 6 [The five: duties are thoſe derbe father ſon ;—byſband and wiſe: —emperor and dae elder 1 aud younger and friends ape one another, P. Semedo, p. 50.N . B. The Chingfe |h ave alſo another ſaying, © Filial piety is the chief of all perſonal virtnes: FaD eo gH ali s the ſoulof 'goyern-
- O ve may LO à great man by ſeeing his
- attendants, though,o ne doth not iy Fa
if". {50 the ftal. Dat /erve # comafer i baden. F.r. T7e lm aitreF e —_ Eng. Like maſter, like IPs Du Hal, 2. be d. 1. 629, AND APOTHEGMS. 217 | man. But the Spaniards ſay, ©yal cl duo, tal el perro: i, e. Such as the maſter is, ſuch is One raſh word hath ruined great affairs: one perſon hath eſtabliſhed a Kingdom. [IMeaning, a wiſe Emperor, or prime mi- Af # 3 Pillars of iron wear away by little and little with the {imple touch: one perceives the traces of the hand upon the marble baluſ- | trades which are often handled *. _ [By way of comment take the following extract from a Chine/e memorial, + 7 : Misfortunes have their ſeeds : the wiſe . man prevents their birth. To this end, the
- moſt minute beginnings muſt be watched:
for what at firſt appears but ſlight, becomes „ by little and little ſenſible and confiderable,
- This water which diſtils from mount Tay,
wears in time over the ſtones, a paſſage, which you would think wrought with a „ chizzel. A cord drawn to-and-fro over a ce board many times in the ſame place, at length « divides jt into two pieces, as i done with a „ ſaw, In fine, yonder tree, which is now ten « feet in circumference, was raiſed from a very
- ſmall ſecdling : when it was young and ten-
« der, it was in all reſpects flexible, and might L Conf. ib, 1. J. 20. 5 Lett, ed. xx vj. 130. | ” . hare 218 CHIN ESE PROVERBS
- have been eaſily plucked up. At preſent
what a difference! It is the ſame with regard « toevil.” P. Du Halde, Fr. tom. 2. p. 437. ſame images are uſed proverbially in the Lat. Gutta cawat lapidem, non vi Jed Jepe cadendo and in the French, Lean qui tombe oute a goute cave le pierre. —See alſo the Latin verſes quoted above in pag. 204. ] Put a ſeal upon your mouth, and guard your; | heart as you would the walls of a city. [The image uſ.d in tbe firſt clauſe is familiar with the Cbineſc. The wiſe man, ſaith a Cbineſe moraliſt, will put a triple ſeal upon 4 his lips.” Lett. ed. xxvj. 115.— The advice js the ſame with that of the Latin poet, 1 de' quoque wir, et cui dicas, ſæpe cva erb. + ng gives thoſe who apply to it, a certain - air of politeneſs, which diffuſes itſelf uy all their words and actions -
- [This reflection, ſo contrary to our notions in
Europe, is expreſſed to the following purpoſe in another ſaying : ** Study gives to young men an air of politeneſs and agreeableneſs, which . ** makes their company courted.” P. Du _ Halde, 2. 50.—Politeneſs in China conſiſts in _ the * and regdy en of = their ce- Leit, ed. xxvj. 135. P. Du Halde, 2. 47. remonies: AND APO THEO NIS. arg remonies: theſe are ſo interwoven _Y their laws, politics and morality, that the chief end of their ſtudies is to acquire a thorough know- _ + ledge of them: hence it is that a man of letters ma be known in China by the ſuperior addreſs with which he makes his bow. See on this head LU Eſprit des Loix, liv. 19. ch. 12, 1 3 Kc. ]
- Riches [only] adorn the houſe :[b ut] virtue
adorns the perſon* . .
- Roofs that are thick, and well ONO iar e
_ leaſt liable to be blown off by a ſtorm 7. [This is juſt the reverſe of proverb the fl. A bark of plain boards, &c. The meaning is, that a ſolid and firm wind cainn l ongeſt hear up againſt adverſity.]J Rotten wood is not fit1 5 ſculpture: mad walls are not worthy. of white-waſh= . [Applied when cultureand inſtruction iis ws away upon ſtupid or perverſe minds. Not unlike the Lat. E guowis ligno non fit Merrurius-J Ruin follows gain very near: and W is at r tail of good fortune 5 TOI 2185 1 xrne 8 paniards ſay, Del Bien al mal, no ay canto de real. i. e. From good to evil, is not the breadth of a ſix-pence. Among the inſtruRtions which kau had x cn. J. 1. 1. 14; 7 P. Ds Hates. . P. 21. *L ett. ed. XXV}. 118, 2 | ——- | | E—g— =e*—*—ũ—* s̃
- ———;—
t.<s——o< P V. 24R+ _»B EE | #26 CHINESE PROVERBS had enpraved on the wall, where be enterrained his friends, was the . « Hapineſs and misfortune, loſs gain, are | .2 things, of which we ſee no end int his world, _ «©b ecauſe the future with to usi,s a
- darkn ight” SeeP . Du Hald2e,v .p .1 00.]
See that moth, which flies inceſſantly round the candle: it is conſumed ! Man of pleaſure, behold thy own image. Shoes never fo well made will not make a _pillow : the cap however neat war not ons. ſhoes ©. Equivalent to the Eng. You cannot Saks a en purſe of a Jo's ear. The Lat. is exactly 1 —ç— with — N Ocream capiti, tibiæ
- S oonerh all 11N river run clear.
[See this explained, vol. 2. pag. 214] | ® Sweet repoſei s the frouf iinttenſ e application © . „ET . - Wh. for. he will take them al for fru * [This mayb ea le bya wortC hing tale: AND ApOTHEOMS. a2 tale: A young man, who had bought a new = belt, met with one of his friends, who, looking at it, knew it to be of his own fiſter"s _ « working, and thereupon aſked him how by he came by it: the other, who loved to in- "029 2 a jeſting humour, told him it was a ric t from miſs his fiſter. There needed „ no more to confirm his jealouſy; he went
- home and fo abandoned himſelf to paſſion,
te that ſhe broke her heart and died. Some time after it was diſcovered that the belt had been I ſtolen from the houſeb y an old woman in the neighbourhood, —— had ſold it atF n next ſhop.” P. Du Halde, 2. 56 I What Temperance is the belt phyſic '. _ That doctrine, which goes no 2 ath an the eyes and cars, is po Le 9 one makes in a dreams. [The meaning is, that the:ſ oul receives no more advantage from inſtructions that reach not to the heart, ee —— in a dream.] |
- That houſe will ſoon fall, in which the
hen "acts the office e e of the cock v. © fs theS pan. Tit ve. andl og
- F. reite, . ken ener 119. > Mt.
222 CHINESE PROVERBS na canta y el galls calla. i. e. Sad is that bose, where the ben crows and the cock 1 is ſilent. =.” That which is ſmall in appearance gives n brighteſt.luſtre to the brareſt actions . The luſtre of a great action y depend on a trivial: cireumſtance.T—he Italians ſay, Turte . te gran facende ſi fanna di poca coſa. Nor is the Latin very different from the Chineſe, Non rar par va, magnarum rerum ſunt indicia. Eraſ. Adag.] The beſt chance a man hath to eſcape a © danger which he cannot ane. is to face „ ven The bow will break that i| st oo much 1 4 9 Tris is the ſame with ad 1 . * Arcus nimis intenſus rumpitur.— The Italian is not very remote. Chi troppo aſſaglia preſto la
- ſeawvezza. i. e. Who wire-draws a thing too
much, ſocn breaks it. —See the nen Haſt. vol. 1. pag. 62.] The branch of a tree that is eaſy and plian, takes whatever bent is given it! [This ii s applied by the Chine/e to the obfequious condeſcending humble man. To inculcate the ſafety and utility of a diſpoſition of this kind, the ge? tell the rat little Wi 2
- 4
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þ * 1 tale. AND APOTHEOMS. 223 tale. The Emperor Tai-!/ong one day diſ- „ courſing with his miniſters, aſked, © Which « is moſt durable, a hard thing or a ſoft ?”? Sir, anſwered Shu-hiang, I am fourſcore years of age, and I have loſt many of my teeth, but none of tongue.“ P. Du Halde, vol. 2.
- The Chineſe, Sowh at 2 diſtance, 6M
honour the Emperor, when with the uſual - ceremonies they receive their gueſts w. [Martinizs, who quotes this proverb, (Hiſt. 1. 4.) ſuppoſes it alludes to the Chineſe cuſtom, of having the entrance of their halls, &c, to look towards the imperial palace: fo that all their proſtrations are made towardsth e Emperor's throne, who is by this means, conſidered as a kind of divinity every where preſent.— Perhaps it has a farther meaning, and implies that every act of decency and good order, is a tacit reſpect paid to the 8 and does honcur to his government. ]
- The contention between = Ext — the
oyſter is the fiſherman's gain“ . [There ii s a kind of ſhell. fiſh oe n| the coaſts - China, which often lies aſleep in the fun wich the ſhell open; in which flate if it is eſpied by the ſea-fowls, it is greedily ſeized as a defirable prey: but the fiſh claſping its —4ySA s y NA.C—. gron .CIE——D T TD .—**e ns —„—* 1418 iti + ' q " | it | +4 ity tis 14 6
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s 21 I——E 224 CHINESE PROVERBS hell together, often entraps and detains its enemy, till both become the pins, of the ' fiſherman. Mart. Hiſt. p. 224. | »The demons hear the words of the bargain | made with the inchanter : the work over- © hears what the workman protioutices in |. bs indignation . _ [The Chineſe have a fapetſlidions 500i on,| that ds curſes of a workman pronounced over a building, will prevent the family that lives in it from thriving. Vide locum citat.] 8 The dyke once broken, we can no longer : top the torrent v. [Solomon hath uſed the ſame — wich a | particular application. The beginning of ftrife Ii, as when one letterb out waters therefore leave off contention before it be medaled With. Hor. Avij. 14.] Tue Emperor lets ih manyd. ats, dogs and wolves, when he creates Mandarines to govern them a. | [See this explained, vol. 2. p. 165. note.] The fair tree was not deſtroyed becauſe its branches were broken, or its leaves beaten down: but becauſe its roots were ed and corrupted . o P. Du Halde, 2. 51. o Lett. ed; XXVUj. 111. q P. Mogalh. J. £3997. FP . Du Halde, I. 41+» va AND APOTHEGMS.” 223 The ſame image occurs in a Chine/e mo- " or: and is applied to the ſtate of the emr under. the reign of Mai-t i, who while wh, extending its boundaries by conqueſt, neglected the internal adminiſtration, ** Though nothing could be more glorious in appear- „ ance, 1 compare it (ſays the writer) to a « oreat tree which ſhoots forth large branches « and thick leaves, but whoſe. trunk and roots ss the worms devour. The tree, notwithſtand- = « ing!i ts beautiful appearance, is in great dan- & ger.“ P. Da Halde, v. 1. p. 499. 4 The family which applies itſelf to amaſs 2 treaſure of virtues, ſhall want for nothing: it mall enjoy a WT uh |It s* The family which: ives itſelfu p to the practice of evil, mall! rr with affliction s. 0T he fortune of childrena n to be oft heir own making. Equivalent to the Lla t. Duiruea ber— fu. And to the Span. Cada uno es hijo de ſus _ bras, i.e . Every one is the ſon of his works. — | The above maxim holds ſo true in China, that it is common to ſee the grandſon of a Prime Miniſter, reduced to fo mean an eſtate, as to
- Lett. od. xx © Ibid. 312. P. Du
Halde, 2. wm EE $2 « 203 8 Av Vor. III. | Q £515 : become - — ———— —othe r Ü—ä—-y — — ———— r** r ——— —D o e0ͤ—ee˙ 2 e —=— ——— I 1
- In q
pl i! EeeEg m 226 CHINESE PROVERBS become a dealer in ſome little retail wa &c. P. Magal. p. 146.] The preateſt rivers, and the very fn itſelf, are lower than the ſmalleſt brooks, without loſing their ſuperiority v. Fru is used as a leflon of condeſcenio and humility to great men.]
- greateſt things very frequent have 1
but ſmall beginnings* . . — [Tis Apothegm will Sardbips receive mal tration from the following Chinęſe images. 18 The glow-worm berrows its luſtre from a C p of rotten herbs in which it is ingenderw ed: the molt odoriferous flowers owe their <« beauty and fragrance to a dunghill: light - «© ;flues:from the womb' of darkneſs: the moſt
- limpid water burſts out of a [ſmall] opening
< of the earth. ” 2s Hs Halde, v. 2. P. 45+] The heart ii sa cquntry of prodigious extent: life were it never ſo long would not afford ſufficient time to ſow it all over . [ This year,“ ſaid Li-wen-the one 55 to himſelf, I am fifty-ſix years of age: few <*© people live beyond ſeventy, I have t 3 « but ten or twelve years to hope for; of this ſmall remnant of life, the inconveniences of old age will conſume a great Pe z there | remains ** a AND APOTHEGMS., 227 « remains then but a ſmall pittance of time, „% in which I can do good: how then ſhall 4% dare to ſteal any from it to do evil?“ P. Du \ Halde, vol, E. pot83d / 1: fo Mt oft * The huſpand and wife are He the Finds of the field: in the evening they meet in the ſame n but:e ner inG er ing *. 4 D#rt ; The 2 of Th had a e < baxiots of horſes, yet after he was flain, the people found no virtue in him deſerying applauſe.
- Pe-y and Sboctſe died of want at the foot
of the mauntain ben eng, Lang WS: they Ceclebrated to this day % . [This is a, faying of Cong f was f formerly a little kingdom, now ſwallowed up in the Ching/e empire.—Pe-y and Sha-t/e were
- 7; brothers remarkably virtuous, —Ching is
. e ede that in a year of dearth,„ multitu s are ſure to periſh by. want: a misfortune to which. oh moſt virtuous poor muſt be moſt liable, as diſdaining to ſupport life b Dk fare means ſo e en 5T he lamp zoel out when the thi s; ſpent .. [This is a common expreſſion to ſignify the - expiration. of life. See the ſpecimens of Chi- P. Du , « Conf.l ib. f.1 21. p. Du Halde, 2. 23 5 |
———
am—nw s —————P —R E< Y e •O—ri2DWN• A— é.ä Q D
- 2—" _—— EE=—*——TD I A
4;R + SS Iz. ST. : - y 4 a Et . = N [ L « 228 CHINESE PROVERBS | - nee poetry in the nextv ol. from P.D u Halde, The life of man is a Wert in which very cold fits are followed by others equally hot ©, [The Reader will pardon me if I take occaſion to introduce here ſome refletions on the fame ſubje& from Chine/e moraliſts. I ſee, nothing grand and real in this life,
- but a vaſt ſea and a large 'river: the ſea of
« ſorrows and troubles; a ſea infinitely wide;
- whoſe ſhores are not ſeen: The river of our
2 deſires; whoſe depth is unfathomable. Man „is like à wretched bark, battered with the « waves, and _ at N ſeam.” F. Du Halde, 2. þ. ,97- - * © The life of man is 2 journey: we muſt cc make 3it out however bad the road is: ſeldom « js it found to be even: but ifa t firſt it be dangerous, narrow and difficult, there is room to hope that towards the end it will 285 4 broad, ſmooth and firm.” 78:4. p. 98. _ It is with the life of man as with the flowers
- of a garden: the moſt beautiſul are common-
<< ly the moſt delicate: and if they blow before
- the other; they are ſure to iner ang dis
<< before them too.” bid}. The man, who hath never 33 ſick, doth ; not know the value of health 4. [The Italians ſay, Chi ha la ſanita ò riccoe i P. Du Halde, 2. 11 5. Id. 2. 68. AND APOTHEGMS, 229 non la. ſe. i. e. He, who hath health, is rich; and | doth not know it.]
- The man, who hath never ent upon a
Mandarine in the court with an evil eye, is a precious gem. [i. e. Who hath never bens 3 a5 à criminal. This proverb may ſerve to ſhew the general profligacy of the Chine/e, as alſo the minute attention which their ManJarines pay to their manners, 3
- The man, who is pointed at with the finger
never dies of a diſeaſe fo
- The man, who wants to dry bug thing,]
ſtays not for night, but makes the beſt uſe he can of the noon ·d ay ſun t. Eng. Make hay while the fon ſpines. ] The man, who walks too faſt, is prone either to ſtumble or fall b. e French fay, Nui * 2 hikes. on * minant ſe four voye ſou vent. And we, The more . haſte, the worſe ſpetd.] | The manners of the people 4 857 on thoſe, who are over them, as the clay in the wheel wo gc rapms e potter, who forms it l.
- Ogiliye, 2.565, P. W 4 8 Bid.
ay i a 230 CHINESE PROVERRSG Phe medicine, that a6th not cauſe thep atient to wink, never cures him *. "Ie fay, Deſperate difeaſes maſt have defperate cares.) Lat. N ae amara4 lis proluitur.] |
- The more a man advances ii n virtue,t he
1's he is of his words “. _ {The Chingſe, a1 s hath been So, wya re eat enemies to loquacity: .t he ſame may be | remarked of the Spaniards, who expreſs their ſenſe of this matter in the followin proverbs. Habla poco y bien, tenerte han por alguien, i. e. - Speak little, and to the purpoſe, you ſhall be held in conſideration. Hombre de pocas fo ” brat y eas ſabias, i. e. A man ſhould few words and wiſe, The Italians ſay, 2 piu ja meno parla, i. e. He who knows moſt, talks leaſt.— But the Chine/e we ſee make even aà virtue of taciturnity. 1 The more haſte a man makes to rel A fkain of thread, the more he entangles it x. [To the ſame effect as the laſt en but one of the preceding page.] The moſt ignorant have knowledge ALT to diſcern the faults of others: the mott _ clear-ſighted are blind to their own n. p. Du Tall, FP way 3 = „ 151d. 96. 3 8 The AND APOTHEGMS. 231
- The net in which heaven holds all mankind
is vaſtly ſpacious: it ſeems not to regard them, enen there is no my to eſcape it.. [Like the ancient Engl proverb, You dance In u att, and thinks nobody ſees you. See Ray.] The peach and the plumb ſpeak not: they naturally leave traces of their worth ?, [Something ſimilar to our proverb, Good ' evine needs no buſh + the meaning is, that things which have an intrinſic value, need no ſtudied and fallacious ornaments to ſet them off, } - The pitcher goes often up and down the well, but is broken at laſt. [See the foregoing Hiſt. vol. 2. p. 203. The French expreſs this by two proverbs. Tant ' ſouvent va le pot a l'eau, quel a nſey d emeure. And, Tant wa la cruche a l'eau, 99 a5 l a fin elle f.
- The principal cca:r e ofa huſband jis to make
his wife virtuous 2.
- The provinces. ſend Mandarines toB rting:
Pe. king in exchange ſends them nonee but lacquies and meſſengers {This alludes to the conſtant diſpatcho f maC.. p. Du Halde,a .1 53 Let. ed. xxwj. 116. Q 4 ſengers 232 CHINESE PROVERBS ſengers and expreſſes continually going to all parts of the empire. It is alſo a rare thing to hearo f a Mandarine, who is a native of the metropolis. P. Magal. p. 266.]
- The rat hath ſeen the cat.
[* In the orig. Lao-ſou-kien-mas., This is applied to the Mandarines of the provinces upon the arrival of a Viſitor: to expreſs the great awe they ſtand in of him.] The ſea hathn o bounds, and the Xiang no bottom. is 1 75 [The Niang is the greateſt river in China, and is called by various names as, The /or of the ea: The great river, &c. It runs in a direction from weſt to eaſt over a tract of 400 French leagues. It is ſo deep as to give riſe to the above proverb. See P. Le Compte, tom.
- The Shin cannot be made uſe of when we
weigh large ſtones: neither will a midling capacity do for great undertakings. [The Shin is a weight anſwerable to a pound in Europe. —Eng. Every man's noſe will not make a ſhoeing-horn.] 8 The ſmalleſt brocks become great rivers v. Du Halde,1 . 512. Lett. ed. xjv. 100, © ls. AND APOTHEGMS. 233 So the French ſay, Les n eee ane les grand. rivieres.| The ſmalleſt worms have their holes *. [Not very unlike in its application to the ancient adage, Etiam capillus anus habet umbram Juam. Ital. Ogni pelo ha la ſua embra.]
- The ſpirit Ngao preſides over the hall:
greater worſhip is due to the ſpirit Sao, who. preſides over the kitchen J. [Theſe are a kind of Lares or Houſhold gods, of which the ſpirit Mao is deemed of ſuperior rank to the ſpirit Sas, who yet is more regarded, as being more neceſſary to life.]
- The ſureſt way to keep ſecret, what we
would not have known, is not to do it. When one is afraid of being over-heard, the beſt way is to be filent® _ [This is exactly the Italian maxim. de u che ſtia ſecreto, nollo dire E Je non wvuoi che ff Jappia, nollo fare, i. e. If you would have a thing kept ſecret, tell it to no one: and if you would not have a thing known of you, never do it. The French ſay, Ine faut jamais rien fare en particulier dont on doive gy en | The Tan lives on air and dew: can any Crea-
- P. Du Halde, 1. 413. n 3- . 2. p. 7.
- F. Halde, 3. 483. 323. ; ?
ture £34 CHINESE PROVERBS ture be more independent? Yet is it betrayed by its cry, and becomes the prey of the. Tang-lang*%. _ '. [Theſe are two inſets, —This ii s intended to 2 55 that men often draw ſore evils upen themſelves by their garrulity: according to that of Horace.— i corvus tacuifſet, haberet plus dapis & rixe multo minus invidiægue.] The Teng· l o lives entwined round the tree that _ ſupports it: if the tree fall, it expires®, - {Equivalent to the Eng. Fall oak, fall ivy.— The Teng - lo is a flowering ſhrub, which the Chineſe teach to climb up their arbours : it bears cluſters of violet flowers, which are el to eat. Lett. ed. xxwvj. 142.] The thickeſt ice is longeſt thawing ©,
- [Of the ſame import with prov. ad pag. 219. ] Z
- The tree is without —_— but the root is
yet alive© [Applicable to a perſon, who hath not been called forth to exhibit much virtue, yet may have the ſeeds of goodneſs in him.]
- The vileſt herbs ſhould be gathered with
care: and the wood which ſeems only fit for - burning ſhould be piled up ©, 4 75 P. Du Halde, 2. 111 Lett. ed. xx. 142. Not almoſt run,” The Chineſe uſe AND APOTHEGMS. 235 [Not unlike the old Engliſh ſaw. If you 1 not preſent uſe of a thing lay it by for ſeven years and then turn it : and lay it by for another ſeven years, and ify ou want it not then, burn it.] The virtue, which is confined to faſting and long prayers, is the virtue of a Bonzee, who is only uſeful to the Pa whom he dares not killf ,
- The water, which is almoſt allrru n _ will
ſoon ſtrike the bell 5, [This proverbial eise is aſed to 83 the approach of death, as we 1 2 glaſs is a kind of water- clocks, See note to vol. 2. pag. 96. 289. I
- The water, which bears up the bark, isl ikewiſe
the water, which ſwallows it up b. [This proverb owes its birth to the Emperor Tai-i/ong + who one day as he was taking the air on the water along with his ſons, ſaid, « You ſee, my childreu, that this bark is ſup- « ported by the water, which at the ſame time can overwhelm it: confider that the people reſemble the water, and the Emperor the « bark.” P. Du Halde, 1. 197. The Chinęſe monarch (though he hath ſomewhat differently applied it) bath hit, we ſee, upon the ſame metaphor, as the celebrated Roman poet, O navi referent in mare te noi Fludtus.— . Dy Hide, 3. 6. EE. „ vs | 18 236 CHINESE PROVERBS | The water, which in its ſource is no more than a little ſlream, augments inſenſibly in its courſe, and becomes capable of overturning the higheſt mountains. [Of the ſame tendency with the laſt prov. of page 232. It is applied as the old Latin adage, Principiis obſta.
- The water, whoſe ring is muddy can
never have a clear ſtream* , [Lat. Mali corvi, malum ovum.]
- The way to ſtop the mouths of landerers *i
never to reſent their uſage!. [* Whether I am praiſed or blamed,” ſaysa Chineſe ſage, I make it of uſe to my ad- « yancement in virtue. Thoſe who commend «© me, I conceive to point out the way I ought
- to go; thoſe who blame me, as telling me
«* the dangers I have to run.” P. Du Hale, 10 n was a good maxim of our anceſtors,” (ſays the Emperor Tag-ſong in a memorial) I
- look upon the man who contradiQts me, as
my maſter, he inſtructs me and 1s uſeful to «© me: I dread him, who applauds and flatters % me, as my enemy, for he thinks of his own ñ | © jntereſt and not mine.” P. Du Halde, 1. 40. "R The Italians have a ſaying, % Delle ingiurie i Lett. ot xxj. 138. „ Halde, 1. 632. Il. * e ; 3 :
| 4 =» ” E „ AND APOTHEGMS. 237 I remedia e lui feordarſ; , i. e. To forget a wrong is the beſt revenge. ]
- The wicked fear the ſpirits n.
[Guilty minds are very apt to creat8e and phantoms, and to be terrified at their own ſhadows- : according to that fine obſervation of Solomon, The quicked flee when no man pur- Jueth, but the 1 are * as a lion. Fror, Xxviij. 1. The zeal of a * wbject,”h ad ith e piety of a dutiful fon, ought never to relax with the number of years. 5 [Hereafter follow foe 1ma xims; of C 0 NFUC TEES. - There are. three things, concerning which 5 every follower of virtue ought to be upon his guard: in the time of youth, the uſe of women: in time of maturity and manhood, _ quarrels > in time of old age, the deſire of _ . [LSc. Luft, ambition, and avarice.5 5 There are three fears admitted by che wiſe and good: they fear the commands of hearen: they fear their F they fear the words of the ſaints v. | | m Lett. ed. xxij. 309. n P, Du Halle, 1. 634. 2 bib. 2. p Hy. Eid. " | [They
|
- .
| | 238 CHINESE PROVERBS
- [They fear. i. e. They revere, or ſtand in
awe of. ] There are three joys uſeſul and — pernicious
- the joy that ſprings from the diſ-
Charge of duty: the joy of proclaiming the good words and actions of others: and the ſoy, which arifes from the Fenk of good! men : theſe are uſeful, There are three joys pernicious :c he joy oo f empty pride :+ the joy of idleneſs and , ca tiouſne and that which flows ent pe jeſts and pleaſures of the banquet . brig CES 4 There are three friends uſeful, and iD pernicious
- the virtuous: the frank and ſincere:
5 and the friend that heareth manyN N 5 U e. ob 15 learned.] Theſe are. uſeful”, Th ere are three friends pernicious; .t he hy- - pocritical and deceitful: the ſoſt and flattering: and the ſriend that ise n to prate© . There are three Faults, which. a Sy man is liable to commit in the preſence of his ſuperiors: if he ſpeak without being ſpoke to, he will paſs for forward; if, when he is ' ſpoke to, he return no anſwer, he will be thought tricking and deceitſul; and, if he
- Conf. lib. 3. p. 119. P. Du Halde, 1. 42.3. Conf.
ſpeak AND APOTHEGMS. 239 - ſpeak without conſidering well what he fays, he will be looked on as a fool * There are three ſorts of diſcourſes to owtiich | we ought not to lend an ear: thoſe concerning intrigues or unlawful engagements; | thoſe which propoſe any unjuſt advantage; and the diſcourſe which n * a double heart. T here are three ſorts of Peptese which I cannot endure : the ignorant, who would fain appear judicious and knowing; the haughty and preſumptuous, who affect courage and valour; and thoſe fatirical carping _ perſons, who would fag. be ue * and ſincere ”, | There are four others, which oil to be S- - ous to a wiſe man: thoſe malignant ſpirits, who love to publiſh the faults of others; thoſe vile perſons, who ſpeak ill of their princes ; thoſe men in power, who have no ſentiments of humanity; and thoſe bold and raſh men, who act without reflection *. There are five mortal diſeaſes of families: re- | velling; great buildings; law-ſuits; vain curioſities ; and idleneſs 7. There are five ſorts of women you ſhould not
- lid, 1 Ibid. 2. 63. * .
marry: .e—e OwNA2˖——.-r———t——VGy—ů— s 2—— —— u——eÜ—oe tũ —G — ào—ṽ— — 5 CHINESE PROVERBS marry : ſhe who is of a houſe, which hath been negligent of the filial duties: or which is of »i rregular and ſuſpected morals :o r
- which is branded with ſome mark of infamy:
or which bath ſome hereditary and infectious diſeaſe :-or, when ſhe is an elder daughter having loſt her father *, [Moft of the foregoing are extracted from - the writings of Confucixs, the prince of the Ry - zee philoſophers. It will be :u nneceſſary - remark to the Reader the ſtriking — * this manner of moralizing bears to that of the ancient Hebrew ſages. Compare Proverbs chap. 30. paſſim Ac, &c, with the paſſages at large - from which the foregoing ſentences are extrated and abridged. See© allo Oo lib. 3. . 132. Se.. err
- Though nothing grows 8 Pele, it
never knows the want of any thing* . [A local proverb: the country about Pe-king is barren.
- Though you purchaſe all China, Nil - |
will be lands bordering upon yours v.
- Thoſe ii n the provinces generally follow tahe
track of the court© , '* Thoſe who pocket. drugs and medicines, P. Da Halde, 1. 444. * Mart. Atlas, f. 30. P. ought AND APOTHEGMS.” 24 -- ought to have two eyes: only one is required iin thoſe that adminiſter them :n one at all in thoſe that take themd . lAluading to the frequent and artful adulpractiſed by the Chine/e,—The Italians have a proverb, Chi compra ba Gefogno di cent? occhi, chi vende n' ha aſſai d uno. i. e. He who buys hath need of a hundred Wr: one is enough for him that ſells ]. To act the part of a king is difficult : to perform the part of a miniſter is not eaſy© . To attempt to catch birds with one hand, and to cover the eyes with the other.. [This is applied. to any vain and abſurd - attempt.—The French and We have a proverb like this in form, tho' different in 1 99a, Qui deut prendre unciſeau, qu il ne ] affarouche. T0 e a birdi sn ot the Wy, to catch her. "See Ray}: To be like nevple; re ſet — tot" upon two barks: the barks CT. hore "they fall 1 into the water b. es [Equivalent to that.c ommon — which which prevails in moſt of the languages in N 6 e * &c. 0 10. en tao voi: e ys 2p. Du Halde, 2. 211. e Caf. lib. 3. 4 93. P. Du Halde, 1 523. * Lett. ed. Dr. 227. vor. III. ” WP the 248 CHINESE PROVERBS | the breech fall to the ground,” Lat Duos in/eguns lepores neutrium capit. Ital. Chi due * caccia, una perdre d Þ altra laſcia.] m To be one day as hot as.char-coal, and ten days as cold as icei,s een proinv ſtuedy b. [The Spaniards ſay, Libro cerradi, ſata Wa i.e . T ©ſ hut botm akes p ſcholar.] 2
- To begin well is common: bo end welli
rare i. | . To begin well ignifies te, unleſs you alſo 8 end well *. [Lat. Exitus afa prebat. Eng. The evening crowns'the day.] |
- To eal int ygers to drive out dogs ig
[Equivalent to the old Lat. adages, Ne cinerem vitans in 3 incidas. And, * Fugien: em incidi. Eng. Outo f pan inaS a Cbingſe chief5ly hi verb to the Tartars, who in the laſt century being called in to quell a rebellion, made themſe ves maſters of the empire.] To- day repent of the faults of yeſterday : and towards the end of every moon, of thoſe committegl ſince its n n. F. Dat, >. 53. r 25. Dionys Kao. 157. - * 580. — o is pro- AND APOTHEGMS. 243 To deeſfereve ry the aſſiſtance of heaven, a prince muſt honour and practiſe the five virtues. [The five cardinal virtues, ſo revered among the Chineſe, are, Jin, charity: V, juſtice: Li, courteſy (or obſervance of the rites) : Chi, pru- _ dence: 7 Sing fidelity, P. Semedo, p. om | To dig towards the eaſt, in ordetor f ill up Pale towards the weſt, is giving, one's i |
- uſeleſs trouble. 5
[The Spaniatds ſay (though I believe with 8 difference in the application) Harrr un aße para tapar otro. i. e.T o make one hole to ell up another: equivalent to 1 2 o hob Peter ro pay Pal] |
- To embroil a man in his cealings, isA sF, i
vou put his father to death -. [The Chine/e. illuſtrate this pron\.b yt he following tale, —** A poor man, er to
- © have Face btos celebrate theF ear of
„the new year, offered an earthen x t to fell, „ which was his whole ſtock. met two << perſons, one of whom offered him à reaſonable price; but the other Mndefed che
- bargain, The man was ſo ſtrack with the
„ diſappointment, that his foot ſlipped, and he © broke the veſſel: which drove bim to dee ſpair. He had ſcarce recovered his ſenſes, a 1 F «© when. 244 CHINESE PROVERBS % when,he,run after. him, who was the occaſion "© of breaking the bargain, and made « great | << noiſe at the door of his houſe. When be was | „ coming away, he perceived ſome cloaths hanging out to dry: he ſtole them to purchaſe N „ wherewithal to make himſelf and his wife | merry. From that day he tookt o theft, and | became a noted robber; which brought him - « at length into the hands of juſtice. Upon | * his examination he accuſed the other for his confederate and ſeducer: who upon his evi- N * dence was condemntoe ddi e. Coming both ö e of them to the place of execution, the robber 4 caſt a hideous look at his companion:D o you know me, ſaid he? I am the man whom « you hindered at ſuch a time from ſelling his
- earthen pot: that was the cauſe of my ruin,
<< and it is but juſt you ſhould ſuffer with me.. „ 2 ET OH 29 WL | * To find atr eaſure in a ſecret place, when we | know the owner : to meet with a fine woman alone in a remote apartment : to hear |: the voice of an enemy fallen into a pit ö where he muſt periſh without our aſſiſ- | | - tance; admirable touchſtones of the heart a. [1 Idee before, vol. 2. pag. 146. note. To forget your forefathers, is to be as water without a ſource: as a tree without roots *. R* r eeUe, sr . Du Halde,2 . 47. 110. Leit. ed. xvij. 186 „ > [This * AND APOTHECMS. 245 [This proverb is deſigned to correct the vanity of thoſe, who having attained by ſome lucky chance to an higher eminence than they were born to, are aſhamed of their parentage. ] . * To furniſh arms to a robber*. [Equivalent to our ſaying, To 10 a hor in a nadman s hand. 8
- To hear the ſages, |a cottagef rves2
for a palace. [Yen-heu was king of a part of China, and ſo addicted to philoſophy, that once after hunting, when there was a great proſpect of an approaching tempeſt, and his chariot was brought to carry him home, he rather choſe to ſtay and hear the lectures of ſome philoſophers, who were aſſembled in a cottage. Hence the above became a proverb to expreſs an uncommon thirſt of knowledge. Yide loc. citat.] N „ juſtify yourſelf to an angry man is _ throwing oil upon the fire. [Like that of the ſon of Sirach, “ Strive not with a man that is of an evil tongue, and * not wood upon his fire.” Ecclus. viij. 3. ] To live always frugally ;q uietly, and in great abſtraction of mind and heart: this is the : ep. Du Halde, 1. 455. * Mart, Hiſt, 163. . De Hills, © 109; 55. N ift 5. 4 R 3 grand 246 CHINESE PROVERBS yas medicine, and the precious fone, Whoſe virtues are fo rare v. 1 Chineſe are greatly addicted to alchymy ften ruin themſelves in ſearch of the Philoſophers ſtone and univerſal medicine: this was the anſwer of one of their ſages, when after many years ſpent in ſtudious retirement in a certain mountain, he was aſked to unfold the grand ſecret, he was ſuppoſed to have been in 2 - purſuit of.—See above, vol. 2. pag. 7. note. ] To meditate too much on a defign when formed, occaſions irreſolution: to trifle too much on a ſubject, pens: our hoping to _ what is eſftentia*l.
- TS 0 eglect little things, ſometimes "RN |
of great things). — thye g he Chi non tien conto 4 non . P afſai. i. e. He, that does not mind things, will never gain a great deal.] T o read an excellent book the firſt time is to N a new friend: to read oyer one we ave peruſed before, iis like meren with an old friend2 . e he n * No ay mas aum 9 als
- gue 0 Litre. i. e. There is not a
” P, Du Halde 2. 97. « Ihid, 46. v Conf,I . 3, 5. 141. ebe. bog and we more 5-* ” ͤe2NR©o ͤb85 ln d Da2 3SI3EooI2IaST t I”t .FiFSPc.Io to 2p e tot CC nI8;W { 58 24 Eocd na SeIOLEs: ReS2 L , AND APOTHEGMS: . 247 more faithful or . friend than a good 11 book. And the Italians have a proverb, Non
- > peggior ladro. d un catlivi o libro. i. e. There
is not a worſe thief than a bad book.]
- To ridean aſtso ſ,ec k ana ſs .
In the orig. K:-linmi-lin. This is exadtly | correſponCent with the F rench, 1] cherche. ſon ane et il oft deſſus.) T o run with faggots to quench a . . [To the ſame effect with the.F r ench, Fetter del huile ſur lef eu.! To ſtop the bubling of boiling water, by pouring other boiling water upon 4t ©, To think not to be wet, and 40 leap into the Water . To them, who 1 not ſtudied, thelr pencil ſeems as heavy as a milſtone ©. [See note, vol. 2. pag. 227. To ſay you only know, what you know thoroughly, and to confeſs you are ignorant of what you do not know; is to be truly. learned. [A maxim of Confucias.] P. Du Halde,1 .6 16. Þ Ibid. 483. id. R 4 — | | | | | | ²AoeEũ*U—ü—˙OIetIIy Mrgr̃R˙ r E w ö mrB²H ! 246 CHINESE PROVERBS |
- Too many ſhepherds to one flock ſerve only
to diſturb it: but if one ſhepherd W it, it marches along without ſtrayinge . [The Chineſe have no idea of any form of government but the monarchical, and cannot be brought to comprehend what is meant by a republic. This was experienced by the Dutch embaſſadors in 1658, who when they came to explain the nature of their government, could excite no other idea, but that they were a neft of pirates, living in a ſtate of anarchy : to remove this ſuſpicion they were at laſt obliged.to - repreſent the Prince of Orange as their ſovereign.— See Nieubeff fallin. | Mod. Un. Hi4 7j.E 1E | 2 Azoy is not a more common a with the father of greek poetry, than <* paſtor or ſhepherd of the people” is with the Chineſe to expreſs their rulers and governors.—** I am paſtor and governor of this city,” ſaith a Chine/e Mandarine; * this quality of << paſtor obliges me to procure whatever CON» « duces to this city's advantage, &c.“ Lett. ed. xv. 169.—The firſt duty of a br, © (faith one of their n in an edict, ) is
- to guide the people, like a good ſhepherd,
- and prevent their going . P. Du
- Twice eight ii s not more FOR eightee8n
P. Du Halli, 1. 59z .6 04. bB ajerp ref„ 2 5. |
AND APOTHEGMS” 240 [This is ſaid, when after a pompous detail of | particular, the ſum total falls ſhort of _— tation. Lat. Non reſpondet opinioni calculus.]
- Victory inſpires even cowards with courage,
and a e _— canW ſublit itſelkf!?
- Virtue can crown the meaneſt with
_ gloryk .
- Virtue, wh pure and ſolid, touches Shin :.
what _— them muſt it have on the peo-
(obi. ſignißes the Spirits or Geni, ] U and Noé, when in a bark 3 and expoſed to ſhipwreck, will help one another to ride out the tempeſt n. [U and Nut means two bitter and implacable enemies.— Eng. Common danger males Friends]
- Undertake nothing without bringing it to
a concluſion “-. |
- Unleſs foreſight extend to a thouſand Lee,
calamity will ſoon be under the table [He who hath not prudence to foreſee his 1P. Du Halde. 1. 479. * 1h, PUR 10, 515. misfortunes 13 CHINESE PROVERBS - anisfortunes before they come, will not be able to prevent them. Equivalent to the Engliſh. % Fore-warned fore- armed. Water once ſpilt cannot be gatheredu p 1 into the veſſel 7. Equivalent to that of ours, « There is no cry- %ig for ſbed milk.” — The above is applied by the Chine/e author, who quotes it, to the loſs of reputation, but ſeems applicable to any irre- . trievable misfortune. In the ſcripture occurs ſuch an image applied to human life. Me mut _ needs die :a nd are as water ſpilt on the ground, ewhich caunot be gathered up again.” 2 Sam. xJv. 14. | Water too cleari s without fiſh: a man too prying lives without ſociety 4, = We are as people, who have continually before their eyes, the dead bodies of their parents* . (It is thus the Chingſe expreſs the higheſt | poſlible grief.
- We caſt a golden net with both hands, and
catch a hundred misfortunes *. The meaning is, © He thax t increaſe richer, | "ncreaſeth forroew. os bs b Lett. ed.K i. 101. P. Du Halte, 32. 53, r Lett. ed. vij. 213. F. Du Halde, 2. 159. What AND APOTHEGMS. 261 What every one is within: ſuch he appears [To the ſame purpoſe as the Lat. Heu quam difficile eff crimen non prodere uultu ©
- What is talked of in the women's apartment,
ought not to be mentioned out of it. What you hate in thoſe that go before you, do not to them who come after you: and what you condemn in thoſe at your right hand, do not to thoſe at your left . llt is thus the Chineſe expreſs that maxim, De as you would be done by. —— They alſo ſay, „What you hate in your ſuperiors, do not to 4 your inferiors: and what you diſlike in your v0 inferiors, do not to your ſuperiors Vid. loc. citat.] STE
- J/hang-tien protects virtue wherever it is,
without acceptance of perſons *. LD I bang: tien ſignifies the Emperor of heaven, and is one of the names by which the Chine/z _ Expreſs the divine providencTeh,e ancient Chineſe ſeem to have had pretty juſt notions of the divine attributes, witneſs the following paſſage in one of their claſſical books. ** All the _ *© oxcn killed by Chew, were not worth the
- meaneſt offerings of Ven- ang; becauſe the
<« former offered his ſacrifice with a heart polc. I. 1. p. 24. 5 P. Du Halde, 2 50. Conf. 1. P. 26. * P, Du Halde 1, 629. has SO 9 5 luted 255 CHINESE PROVERBS «© lated with crimes, whereas the beſt part of | « the offering of the latter conſiſted in the pu- _ *« rity of his heart,” P. Du Halde, 1. p. 644.] ® Jhay-nghen had a wiſe mother: ene a wiſe ſon?! [This is intended to gent) chin lden virtue nor vice, wiſdom nor folly, are hereditary, To the ſame effect is the Lat. Etiam a vite rubus naſcitur. | Whhay-nghen was an enterprizing ſlave, who put himſelf at the head of a party formed a againſt the Emperor. His mother one day reproached him for his crime; Wretch, ſaid „ ſhe, notwithſtanding all my remonſtrances, « do you then rebel againſt your prince fram whom you have received only favours?” This ſaid, ſhe plunged a knife in his boſom, crying out, © To my prince and my country 1 facrifice this villain.” | Whay-quang (in another reign) raiſing a rebellion, his ſon immediately quitted him and joined the Emperor. Sir, ſaid he, my father has formed a faction againſt you. I want by
- my loyalty to wipe out as much, as I can, the
% infamy of his rebellion.” He accordingly _ marched with a body of troops againſt the rebels, whom he intirely defeated. Theſe two examples have given riſe to the above proverb. Vid. loc. citat.] 2an x. oa2nFn . H3\1.4 NDr"o;. ehx s " ͤ“A!SOĨäPT>— e rÄEey SsÄT. T SE 7 P. Du Halde, 2.91. 4 : When 4J* n.*n4 aeEeE o—*| D4eg B e . Du Halli, 2.49. I rxg, bid. AND APOTHEGMS. 233 When a family riſes early in the morning, cConclude the houſe to be well governed 8* , ¶Moſt languages afford ſome ſage maxim in favour of early ring. Ihe Spaniards ſay, De quien ſe duerme, fu haxienda lo fiente. i. e. He that lies long in bed, his eſtate feels it. The Italians, 2 non /f lewa a bubit Bora, non fo buena | giornata. * e. He who does not get up early, never does a good day's work. We Bays He © that wil] thrive, mu} riſe at five. > gh .
- When a man is of age he muſt — a
mariage: and a woman 9 1 15 a [See the foregoing Hil. vol. 2. p. When. a man ſays, I muſt wait, "ill I haye a little more leiſure, then I will apply myſelf to the ſtudy of wiſdom.” Think not this man will ever ſet about it ?, When a man ſays, Let me wait a little, when I have ſomething to ſpare, I will relieve the Poor.“ This man will never re- | lieve mobe. 1 (It will not be n toa h ſubjeeto ft his Apothegm, to give the following curious Chineſe epitaph. Nhat KOU-FA poſſeſſed, WAS the ' Poſſefſren of, the whole huma n race bis man | the ale Brat "and 4 charity itſelf + and bi, Voi auat the: rere e N Nienhoff. p- 116.J. When a ſon is borni nto aides a bow and Wr en r aunts II? As no ſuch cuſto2m 8 to be literally a. _ feryed, this ſhould ſeem to be a metaphorical | . expreſſion, ſignifying that a new protector is Added to the family: equivalent to that of the plalms, Lite as the arrows in the hand of a giant, © Som foa rs thi young children .h appy is the man tat bab his quiver fullo f them, Sc. After all, the Editor doth not obtrude this interpretation on the Reader, who _ conſult the om referred to.]
- When a perſon hath heed of preſenth elp, bis
thinks on his relations: when he is r ger he depends on his old friends . Not unlike that diſtich of Cato, - Auxilinm à notir petirs, ſ forte laboras + © "oe 1 f —_— re Ae Jails airs.
- When 3 live together th 1 to
ſupport themſelves . 7 oug When one is got to the brink of a precipice, it \ Is 100 I80 10.D RY up the reins: when one r—n n;N
- —859882
þ >
AND/APOTHEGMS. * 253 | is got into the middolf tehe river Tangi t is too late to think of repairing the bark. [This is deſigned to convey the moral of i our two proverbs, * Is too late to ſpare, auben tbe bittom is + bare.” And, 5 Look N Leap. When the arrow isa ch, itis i n n vain to to recall its, rf ae _ [Lat Jada of alia. 45 55 Wbethe ncauſ e is badi mu notb ef erto. [See before, vol. 2. Pag-1 37.4 ; When the flame appears in all its1 it may ſtill increaſe: but the fire once extinguiſhed will revive no more *. That is,t he ſol, when it gens to be!in its higheſt vigour, is capable of ſtill farther improvements
- but when quite neglected and be-
Some heavy and We ir never can recover itſelf.] » When the firſt cart overturns, he who _ inives the ſecond is upon his guard. FThe Chineſe have another proverb to the fame purpoſe, * coachmanf ears being overturn-
- Lett. ed. a. 144. © P. Du Halde 1.
Lett. ed. my 129. . 9 45
H—— -e r -E- S— R; <0 | „ben the 256 CHINESE PROVERRSG 21, en he bath ſeen tinother evertarh.! P. Du — Hake 1. 525 Equivalent to t quem faciunt aliena* cautym. | Lat. Felix bird"s 47— a" and Ho te = withs,: no þ- weather |is to be- expected łR.x Re [ The latter are two water PAC which by flying about in the air prognoicate, 290 wea - ther, and vice wer/a.] - lips are chopped, the teethi nfallibly ſuffer cold? When the ſkyi s clear the wiſe man trembles:: 7 en it thunders he is undaunted Ma c. Il fine Apothegm. The Spayjards fay, Date A vida, 'temeras mas la cayda. i. e. Live nhappily, and you'll be the more afraid to fall.— But thoſe celebrated lines of ue ſeem "ng e 9 Sderat insT J metuitF Alieram fortem, bene En Peaus. Lib. 2. ode 109 | When we would give any thing a pleaſant 2 colour, we don't rub it with ink, but the" OM beautiful vermilion”>. 69h
- P. Du Halde,1 T OY Ib. 595: Mart. Hiſt.p .
[This AND APO YTHEGMS. 257 [This proverb iis applied to expreſs thee ffects | of a good education, which 1i s neceſſary to form | a ſhining character.] |
- When you cut- the throat of a hen, why
do Jo uſe ,a knife youu: for ficking an ox? [Not very different eren chat line of Pope, % I ho plants artillery againſt a fly ©] Were you to paſs the ſea on a bladder, how carefully would you preſerve |i tf rom the | prick of a needle ?? [That is, when your all is at fake you can - not be too careful. To the ſame effect is the Scotch proverb. —— T hey that hae but ae egg to their dinner, hae need of a camp (i. e. a | Cook. ]
- Whether the traveller quicken his onide.” or
march at his ordinary * he hath but ſo far to go d. [Applied to "ODS life: 1 to tho Lat. Serius aut citius ſedem properamus ad unam. 1 Wicked men are feared; heaven not at all; honeſt people aree deceived ;h eaven never is .
- Cone . 1 125. rb. us, u 114,
ven. . 38 \ With 258 CHINESE PROVERBS
- With a large heart, the whole body is enlarged
- | 2D Ed 55
- Without ſalted Mey-tſe, how can we give
to a ſauce the five rehſhes*. Ear
- * that it were abſurd to expect the
without the means. As the Eng. 7 cant have brick without flraw.—The Mey-t/+ are tart fruits like wild apricots: the Chine/e candy them; they pickle and alſo ſalt them, on purpoſe to uſe them in ſauces. —By the five reliſhes, is perhaps only meant the intire and complete taſte. Vid. Bayer, tom. 1. p. 111. The Chine/e ſeem to conſider the number five as the moſt complete and perfect number: they reduce to this number not only The cardinal virtnes, The relative duties, The commandments of FO, &c. but even The elements, The noble parts of che human body. P. Du Halde, 2. 56. &c.] 2 Who regards the little demonso f the wood. | [See the Chin. Hiſt. vol. 4. pag. 86.) „ Whoever hath ſore eyes will fee clearlyi n ten days, if he let tliem alone to cure them ſelves”. e ee e N [This is fo true an obſervation, that ſomething like it occurs in moſt languages. The _ Spaniards ſay, Quien quiere ojo Jano ateſe la hy Conf. L. 2. 15. ; e P., Du Halde, 1. 524 We Chin, Fl Pol.2 , 111. i | EI:. E urpb2*2ro ta nn n n a14n p2 C*82 4- A RS Si<*e: * 2s , nx a R 8a= 5 AND APOTHEGMS. 25 mano: i.e, He that would have his eyes\ wells fiould have his hand tied up. The French, Quand on a mal aux yeux, il ny faut toucher que Adu coude : i. e. When one hath ſore eyes, one ſhould only touch them with one's elbow.) - You cannot commend a woman's virtue more than to ſay, ſhe is not learned v. [If prejudices of this kind have bed in Europe, we are not to wonder that they ſhould prevail in China. The Spaniards ſay, Mula gue haze hin, y muger que parla Latin, nunca hizieron . buen fin. i. e. A mule that is reſty, and a woman that talks Latin,n ever come to aa good, e 2 |
- You ſhall learn . it be the bucket at
the end of the rope that falls into the well: or whether it be the water of the * that falls into the bucket . [A proverbial menace. ]
- Your works alone ſhall follow you: you
ſhall carry off nothing elſe?. | [A fine ſaying in the bobles of FO. rue Spaniards ſay, Buen hazer florece, todo lo al perece< A good work flouriſhes, "7 thing elſe Pe. liſhes. It 2 Du Haide, 2. 0. | 7 Ibid, 161. = r Ibid. [260 PROVERBS OC MITTED: Man may be well mounted, though he- , "on not ride the horſe 5 one may Eu- 7 22 is a celebrated horſe. Yen-t/e was the moſt beloved diſciple of Confucizs.] A loyal ſubject does not fear death, he who fears death is not a loyal ſubject»b . As a ſhip without a rudder, 1 is a man void of reſolution. | He, who. begins firſt is the ſtrong« ſt,b e ks. delays ſto firike] Our comes by the worſt© , [Eng. The fut blawd15 half the battle]
- He who builds a houſe by the fide of a great
road will not finiſh. it in three years. {The Italians have a proverb, Chi fabrica | la caſa in piaxxa, ò che ꝭ tropga alta,ò troppo baſſa. 255 We 2 He that builds his houſe by the high- 4 Du Halle, 1n. s Þ 14, 2. 177. e Id. 1. Gn.* Let. ed. xjX. 439% P. Du Halde,2 . 181. 14.1 LELAS ay | diſciple, though not equal to RTWOCSIPO ET N" ., s „e6 n PROVERBS OMITTED. 26. way 1 i etheri n bigho r u bu. See Ray.
- ] ſhould ſoon have killed the rat, ifI h ad
not reſpected the veſſel 5. [he application of chis bereeb . to be | learnt fromt hel ittle Chinęſe tale related in pag. 215, 216. "542 * more to be fear- 62 ed than, &c |
- Is a prince intirel upri ht, eve thin
|$ 5.0 well with "ip doch he vey.k e ſelf, though but in onee inflance, iit may lead to his ruin d.
- It is a happy talent to "rm lawhaits
arightz a much happier to n cheir ever being undertaken* , [A ſaying of a . which iis thusg rant. lated by others. To hear and determine 5 * diſputes [ or any man may be able: the © great thing neceſſary is ſo to work upon = « the people that they may have no diſputes s at all.“ Conf. lib. 1. p. 12.] Keep ſilence, you wilt fee how ridiculous a great talker is: Keep your door ſhut, and will be ſenſible of the buſtle, and . tinence attending viſits“ . One error ſlight in appearance leads to ſtrange irregularities 'g, | | 83 One 262 [PROVERBS OMITTED. One of the principal duties of a ſon is to per- — his _ an leave deſcendants after him *. 6
- To = cheap N quick hae, go
to the market. Would you undertake a great building or other W work, bold a conſultation before-hande.
- To preſerve others, is the way to preſerye
one's ſelf: to ſhut up the road to others ii s the means to exclude one's ſelf .
- To receive great honours. and 8
without deſerying them; is to preclude from employment thoſe that are more ca pable, and to intercept the reware of the worthy p-
- Undertake — without pegs it a.
N. B. — the dsa irs in the foregoing ſheets are made to the lio _ verſioofn P . Du Halde: yet many5 oft e roverbs are newly tranſlated From the French original; that tranſlation being very faulty. The ollowing inaccuracies did not occuri ll thee ſ heets wer*e off. PROnn PROVERBS CORRECTED, Page: 188. read. A*M an bornn or educated in, x Page 193. . 5
- As the liquor - - - - - -- ſo thie eſ ubjes
conform themſelves to the nee 1 Page 194. r. Rt:
- As the ſtone Me „ | heart defiled
with laſcivious impurity will, &c. Page 200. r. 5
- Honour the dead. - - - - = = were yet alive.
Page 20g. 1 4608
- If the water be even ten Gu deep, one 2
diſtinguiſh by the ſurface, &c—. 5 Page 206.
- If the exceſſes — — the vexation
of the mind makes, &. Page 220.
- See that moth, --» ahnt conſumed, e
Page 224» 21
- The Emperor lets Joole > -——-- createsn ew
Mandarines, &c. $4 PARAL262 PROVERBS -OMIT TED. One of the principal duties of a ſon is to per- — his _—_ and es deſcendants after him v.
- To make a cheap an4 d quick purchaſe, go
to the market. Would you undertake a great building or other conſiderable work, | bold a conſultation before- hand.
- To preſerve others, is the way to; preſerye
one's ſelf: to ſhut up the road to others i1 s the means to exclude one's ſelf*.
- To receive great honours and je Ml
without deſerying them; is to preclude from employment thoſe that are more ca pable, and to intercept the reward of the | worthy p-
- Undertake MO without completingi t,
k e ee e 1 4 n *
- > "& VF d
2 B. Although the.m argi* references in the foregoing ſheets are made to the Engliſh folio verſion of P. Du Halde: yet many 7 the Proverbs are newly tranſlated from the French original; that tranſlation being very faulty. The following inaccuracies did not occur till the2 wer*e 2 PR o-
- %S
$E1n4n580s 7 en—— 1 263 PROVERBS CORRECTED, Page 188. read. \ Man born or educated in, &c. Page 193. v. |
- As the liquor -- - - - - ſo the fabjetts
conform themſelves tto thee e | |
- As the ſtone Me ----—-- Os| heart defiled
with laſcivious impurity will, &c. Page 200. r. „ 3 Honour the dead, --- - - = - were yet alive. Page 20g.
- If the water be even ten Gin deep, one mop
diſtinguiſh by the ſurface, &c—. | If the exceſſes - - - - <= -- = - the vexation of the mind makes, &c. 15 Page 220. A gee that moth, an E conſumed, | Page 224.
- The Emperor lets looſe - >=>-- creates new
Mandarines, &c. Ts | ARAL.
- *
PARALLELS OMITTED, &c. p46 GE 05 *A A paſſion indulged Ke, I- 3 The French ſay, Porgueit deux ꝙ enyvre de ſa propre boutelle.] Bid. A piſmire and a rat, &c. [To the ſame effect with that precept of Cato, Corporis exi gui wires contemnere noli. Fr. et nul petit ennemi. Eng. There are, &C. Page 190. A ſtab with, 1 4335 N. B. The Italians have a ſaying, Fer —p e ipo co, e ſerivvi mend. i. e. Think little, write leſs, The F reve Page 193. An amiable prince, &c. [It-is a ſaying in one of their ancient claſſical books, A good king loveth and cheriſheth his people, as a mother moſt tenderly claſpeth her naked and neu- born hte 46 ſon. 99 Conf. lib. p. 19. | Pages 194. © Avoida blaft, &c. [The Spaniards ſay, ** De wiento - - - - Se. Fuardute . i.e. Take heed of a wind that comes ir n a hole.] Q Page o1oOIIn AeeA PARALLELS OMITTED. 265 Page 198, 199. He who aims, &c. chen [The Spaniards ſay, Menos camino ay de ver- ' tzud a vicios, qued e wicios a wertud. i. e. It is a ſhorter road- from virtue to vice, than from vice to virtue.] | bid. © He who eats, &c. _ 5 [The Italians have a proverb, II pan d altri coſta caro : another's bread is dear bought. bid * He who ſuffers, &c. I- - diverts them. Not very different is that ſaying of P. Syrus, Heu, dolor guam miſer eft, gui in tormento vocem non Haber.] Bid. “ Heaven and hell, &c. [After the quotation - - - - - By way of illuſtration of the above Apothegm we ſhall throw = "pa a few hints of a famous Chine/e mora iſt. A ST | Certain perſons complain, (ſays the philoſopher ME) of not finding a place of repoſe : „they are wrong, they always have it: but _ * what they ought to be diſſatisfied at, is their “having a heart, which is an enemy to the very repole they ſeek. ; ns What is the uſe of, coaths but for decency “ and warmth ? This man wears a fur'd habit „Worth more than a thouſand crowns, and thinks it not gooe enough: he doth not rebi _ that a Quail is as well cloathed as him- « ſelf. 0 | Pe | „What doth a man want, as to food, but ED 26 « nouriſhing 266 PARALLELS OMITTED. 4 nouriſhing victuals? yet he, who is every day ſerved with a large quantity of the moſt delicate viands in the grandeſt diſhes, is not . *. conter:ted : another, who ſleeps on a mat, and after a temperate meal drinks out of the half of a ſcooped cucumber, is more con-
- cented than himſelf. |
What is required in lodgings, but to be 1 (ſheltered from the inclemencies of the wea-
- ther? yet ſuch a man in a lofty and ſpacious
„ palace, whoſe walls are finely varniſhed, finds himſelf ill-lodged. Another is con- . ** tented with a cottage ſo poor and mean, „ thæt the door is hung upon two pieces of cord which ſerve for hinges. . In what climate or place may not 2 man live agreeably if he hath a mind! To
- me a little garden of flowers is the famous
e valley of gold: to me a litile brook is the fountain of young peach trees : [alluding Here to ſome obſcure fables] ** to me the me- _ ** Jody of birds is more raviſhing than the har-
- mony of a full concert of inſtruments: and
I prefer the tinQure of certain clouds to the + - ** fineſt paintings in the world.“ | Sce P. Du Halde, 2. p. g8.] Page 206. In former times, &c. It was a ſaying of Chu-jin-quey, © What
- doth a man loſe, who gives way in the
_** ſtreet to thoſe that are in haſte? two or
- three hundred fteps and nothing more.
5+ Vi kat doth another loſe, who will not diſPARALLELS OMITTED. 267 „pute with his neighbour the boundaries of 4 his field?“ P. Du Halde, 2. 104.] Page 231. The net in which, &c. I- -N. B. When the Chineſe would expreſs any impracticable attempt it is a common phraſe with them, You may as well « hope to get out of the nets of heaven and
- 5: earth.”
oo STING, e. 2. p. 177. c. 1. THE END OF THE PROVERBS, &c. > ADDE. e eee 4.