chose[1] men of talents, virtue, and ability; their words were sincere, and what they cultivated was harmony. Thus men did not love their parents only, nor treat as children only their own sons. A competent provision was secured for the aged till their death, employment for the able-bodied, and the means of growing up to the young. They showed kindness and compassion to widows, orphans, childless men, and those who were disabled by disease, so that they were all sufficiently maintained. Males had their proper work, and females had their homes. (They accumulated) articles (of value), dis- liking that they should be thrown away upon the ground, but not wishing to keep them for their own gratification[2]. (They laboured) with their strength, disliking that it should not be exerted, but not exerting it (only) with a view to their own advantage[2].
In this way (selfish) schemings were repressed and found no development. Robbers, filchers, and
- ↑ "They chose;" who are intended by the "they?" Shall we find them in the "all under the sky" of the preceding clause? Callery has:—"Sous le grand règne de la vertu, l'empire était la chose publique. On choisissait pour le gouverneur les hommes éminents," &c. Khung Ying-tâ explains the clause by "They made no hereditary princes." Perhaps it would be well to translate passively,—"Men of virtue and ability were chosen (to govern)." The writer has before him the Tâoistic period of the primitive simplicity, when there was no necessity for organised government as in after ages.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 It is rather difficult to construe and translate these two sentences. Callery gives for them, not very successfully:—"Quant aux objets matériels, ceux qu'on n'aimait pas, on les abandonnait (aux personnes qui en avaient besoin), sans les mettre en réserve pour soi. Les choses dont on était capable, on regardait comme fort mauvais de ne pas les faire, lors m6me que ce n'était pas pour soi."
