0444_Bk

_2 THE ANALEC'IS_ INTRODUCTION.
nected with it. The death of the Sage's wife is placed
in the year 485, while he was still in Wei, but no reliable
information has been handed down.
At last, after his thirteen years of wandering, our exile
was to be recalled, too late alas! for him to serve his
State as he might have done earlier. He was now sixtyeight
years of age, an old man who had lived too long
in the shade to feel cheerful under the wintry sunshine
of a Court that loved him little. Duke Tiny had been
succeeded by Du.ke Ai _=, who was now in ttle eleventh
year of his rule. Chi K'ang, the chief noble had now
had the disciple Jan Ch'iu -]_ .:_ in his employ for eight
years, and Jan Ch'iu had recently achieved a notable
success in a military engagement between Lu and Ch'i
;_, Chi K'ang, struck with his skill, asked whether
it were a natural gift, or whether he had studied under
any one. So eloquent became Jan (Jh'iu in prMse of his
Master that Chi K'ang decided to recall him. " If you
do so," said the disciple, "see that you do not let mean
men come between you and him."
Messengers were sent with appropriate presents to the
old philosopher, and arriving opportunely they found
him preparing to leave Wei, through disgust at being
consulted by one of its ministers, K'ung Wen Tzu, V. t4,
as to "how he should conduct a feud with another
officer." Gladly was the invitation accepted, and B. C.
484 delightedly did he turn his footsteps homewards, but
as Chutzfi puts it, "to the end Lu failed to make use of
him_ nor did he any longer seek to enter office." That
Chi K'ang fi'equently consulted him is evident from IL