that he was raised by Duke Ting of Lu to be Minister of Justice, and "became the idol of the people, and flew in songs through their mouths." The State prospered under his guidance, and its influence and well-being became conspicuous. This aroused the envy of the Duke of the Ch'i State, who attempted to corrupt his rival by a present of some lorely singing-girls and splendid horses. His scheme succeeded only too well. Duke Ting gave himself over to enjoyment, and neglected the serious business of government. Thereupon Confucius in 495 threw up his post, in the vain hope that the Duke would reform. From that time he wandered sadly from State to State, offering advice to such Princes as would listen to him, mostly neglected, and at one time even in danger of his life. In addition to teaching, he occupied himself with collecting and editing the old national lyrics, to the number of 3ll, now known as the Odes. He also edited the Canon of History, and wrote, under the title of the Spring and Autumn Annals, the history of his native State from B. C. 722 to 484. His Discourses, or Analects, were written up, probably by the disciples of his disciples, and constitute our only authentic source of information as to the personal life and sayings of the Sage. In 481 he heard that a supernatural creature, called the ch'i lin, and variously identified with the unicorn and giraffe, had appeared during a hunting expedition of the Duke of Lu. Taken in connection with the disorder of the times, he interpreted this phenomenon as an evil omen, and announced that his own end was at hand. Two years later he died, in his native State, to which he had at length returned. His life had not been a happy one. He had divorced his wife, who was a downright Xantippe; his only son had predeceased him; and the message, which he felt that he had been divinely appointed to deliver, had not been favourably received. He taught that the nature of man is pure at birth, and that it becomes
