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44 THE ANAI_ECTS : INTRODUCI'ION.
was necessary to the firm establishment of the ducal
power. " He strengthened the ducal House and weakened
the private Families. He exalted the sovereign and
depressed the ministers. A transforming government
went abroad. Dishonesty and dissoluteness were ashamed
and hid their heads. Loyalty and good faith became the
characteristics of the men, and chastity and docility that
of the women. Strangers came ill crowds from other
States,"* whereupon " Confucius became the idol of the
people, and flew in songs through their mouths."
In his fifty-sixth year, B. C. 496 he is said to have been
P_ime Minister of his State, and everything gave promise
of a brilliant and successful future, but disillusionment
_as at hand. His wonderful achievements filled the rival
prince of Ch'i _ with envy, not unmixed with fear that
Lu would soon become a dangerous neighbour. Hence,
having failed to abduct Duke Ting, a strategem was
invented for debasing his mind and alluring him from
the further development of his State. As already stated
eighty attractive singing girls, and a hundred and twenty
tholoughbred horses, were sent as a present from the
Duke of Ch'i to Ting, and with their arrival the influence
of Confucius instantly waned. At first they were lodged
outside the city, while their acceptance or rejection was
considered, but the head of the Chi clan, having had a
private view, easily persuaded Duke Ting to accept them,
to his ruin. Tile great sacrifice soon afterwards failed to
impress the Duke, who curtailed its rites and neglected
Legge's lutro, p. 75, from _ _i_