with your gift of a robe)." The men of Lû (who were with him) said, "The thing is contrary to propriety." They of Khû, however, obliged him to do what they asked; and he first employed a sorcerer with his reed-brush to brush (and purify) the bier. The people of King then regretted what they had done[1].
26. At the mourning rites for duke Khăng of Thǎng[2], Зze-shû King-shû was sent (from Lû) on a mission of condolence, and to present a letter (from duke Âi), 𝖅ze-fû Hui-po being assistant-commissioner. When they arrived at the suburbs (of the capital of Thǎng), because it was the anniversary of the death of Î-po, (Hui-po's uncle), King-shû hesitated to enter the city. Hui-po, however, said, "We are on government business, and should not for the private affair of my uncle's (death) neglect the duke's affairs." They forthwith entered.
Part III.
1. Duke Âi sent a message of condolence to Khwâi Shang, and the messenger met him (on the way to the grave). They withdrew to the way-side, where Khwâi drew the figure of his house, (with the coffin in it), and there received the condolences[3].
𝖅ǎng-𝖟ze said, "Khwâi Shang's knowledge of the
- ↑ King was another name for Khû. Duke Hsiang went from Lû in B.C. 545; and it was in the spring of the next year, probably, that the incident occurred. The sorcerer and his reed-brush were used when a ruler went to the mourning for a minister (see Part i. 42), so that Khû intending to humiliate Lû was itself humiliated.
- ↑ Duke Khǎng of Thǎng died in B.C. 539.
- ↑ This must have been a case for which the rule is given in Part i. 12.
