Читать книгу Oriental tales, for the entertainment of youth - Anonymous - Страница 5

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As Mencius, the philosopher, was travelling in pursuit of wisdom, night overtook him at the foot of a gloomy mountain, remote from the habitations of men. Here, as he was straying, (while rain and thunder conspired to make solitude still more hideous) he perceived a hermit’s cell, and approaching, asked for shelter. “Enter,” cries the hermit in a severe tone; “men deserve not to be obliged; but it would be imitating their ingratitude to treat them as they deserve. Come in: examples of vice may sometimes strengthen us in the ways of virtue.”

After a frugal meal, which consisted of roots and tea, Mencius could not repress his curiosity to know why the hermit had retired from mankind, whose actions taught the truest lessons of wisdom. “Mention not the name of man,” cried the hermit with indignation; “here let me live retired from a base ungrateful world; here, in the forest I shall find no flatterers. The lion is an open enemy, and the dog a faithful friend; but man, base man, can poison the bowl, and smile when he presents it.” “You have then been used ill by mankind?” interrupted the philosopher drily. “Yes,” replied the hermit; “on mankind I have exhausted my whole fortune; and this staff, that cup, and those roots, are all that I have in return.”—“Did you bestow your fortune among them, or did you only lend it?” returned Mencius. “I bestowed it, undoubtedly,” replied the other; “for where were the merit of being a money lender?”—“Did they ever own that they received your benefits?” still adds the philosopher. “A thousand times,” cries the hermit; “they every day loaded me with professions of gratitude for favours received, and solicitations for future ones.”—“If, then, (says Mencius smiling) you did not lend your fortune in order to have it returned, it is injustice to accuse them of ingratitude; they owned themselves obliged; you expected no more; and they certainly earn a favour who stoop to acknowledge the obligation.”—The hermit was struck with the reply; and, surveying his guest with emotion, “I have heard of the great Mencius, and thou certainly art the man. I am now fourscore years old, but still a child in wisdom; take me back to the world, and educate me as one of the most ignorant, and youngest, of thy disciples.”