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II, TH]_ Mire Al_D TIMES OF CONFUCIUS. 2 7
appreciation. Though he lived to a ripe old age, travelled
in many States, maintained his course in all honour, and
won the reverence and love of his disciples, the princes
of hls day saw in him little but a pedantic philosopher
with Arcadian notions impossible of realisation. Only
after his decease did any of them recognise that the
mountain had indeed fallen, a mountain that the princes of
the land/'tom that day to this have been, with more or less
failure, endeavouring with much acclamation to rebuild.
The habits of the Sage may be learned from the tenth
chapter of this book, where he is described by his
disciples in all formality, his and theirs. From it we
learn much about him. He was careful about his dress
both for day and night wear, and particular about its
quality', style, and congruity of colour and season. He
was most scrupulous about his food, both as to quality,
mode of preparation and service: he would eat nothing
in the least tainted or badly cut. In wine he allowed
himself liberty but not licence. His public bearing was
punctilious to a degree, and in private he permitted
himself no undue freedom,--not even in bed. He was
gracious and kindly, but never fully relaxed himself even
to his son, to whom it is incredible to imagine him as
ever amusing. He was a true sportsman, giving his bird
its chance and only shooting it on the wing. He was
also we may judge, able to ride and drive, and not
merely to sit in a carriage, and it seems evident that he
was well acquainted with archery. His habits and
perhap_ his character may be summed up in one sentence
from Cap X. 9 : " If his mat were not straight he would