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EXTRACTS FROM THE THOUSAND CHARACTER CLASSIC.

This is the second book put into the hands of pupils in the schools. It contains one thousand characters, or words, no two of which are the same.

We borrow from a translation found in the Chinese Repository, Vol. IV.

Now this our human body is endowed with four great powers and five cardinal virtues :

Preserve with reverence what your parents nourished,
How can you dare to destroy or injure it?
Let females guard their chastity and purity;
And let men imitate the talented and virtuous.
When you know your own errors, then reform ;
And when you have made acquaintances, do not lose
them;

Forbear to complain of the defects of the people;
And cease to rely (too much) on your own superiority.
Let
your
truth be such as 'may be verified;
And your capacities, as to be measured with difficulty.
Mih, seeing the white silk threads colored, wept :
And the ode praises the pure fleeces of the lambs.

Observe and imitate the conduct of the virtuous; And command your thoughts, that you may become wise.

Your virtue once fixed, your reputation will be established:

Your habits once rectified, your example will be correct.

Sounds are reverberated in the deep valleys;

And are reëchoed through the vacant halls : Even so misery is the recompense of accumulated vice; And happiness the reward of illustrious virtue. A foot of precious jade stone is not to be valued; But for an inch of time you ought earnestly to contend. In aiding a father, and in serving a prince, Are alike required both gravity and respect. The duty of filial piety demands every energy; And fidelity to one's prince extends even to a sacrifice of life:

Be watchful, as though near an abyss or walking on ice, Always rising early to attend to the comforts of your parents;

Then your virtue will rival the Epidendrum in fragrance;

And in rich exuberance, be like the luxuriant pine; In constancy, it will resemble the overflowing stream ; And in purity, the waters of the limpid, unruffled lake. Let your deportment be always grave and thoughtful, And your conversation calm and decided:

Close attention at the commencement is truly admirable;

Assiduity to the end is equally becoming and excel

lent:

Such conduct is the basis of every glorious profession; Its praises are great, and without limit.

Excel in learning, and you will ascend to official station,

Obtain rank, and be charged with the affairs of govern

ment:

Then your memory will be cherished like the sweet pear tree;

And when you are gone it will be treasured up in song. Music has distinctions for the noble and the ignoble ; Different rules of decorum mark superiors and inferiors.

Let superiors live in harmony, and inferiors in concord:
As when the husband sings, the wife joins in chorus.
Abroad, let the teacher's instructions be duly heeded;
At home, let maternal counsels be strictly regarded.
All the children of your uncles and aunts

Should be treated as your own sons and daughters.
Ardently love your elder and younger brothers,
Who are of the same blood and lineage with yourself.
Associates must enjoy each other's affections,
Cutting, grinding, and paring off each other's excres-

cences.

Benevolence, tenderness, commiseration, and sympa

thy,

Must not, under any circumstances, be relinquished. Consistency, justice, purity, and humility should not, Even in times of great revolution, be neglected.

If the disposition be gentle, the passions will be tranquil;

But if the mind is agitated, the spirit becomes exhausted.

If you seek for realities, your desires will be fulfilled : If you indulge undue expectations, your wishes will be frustrated.

Firmness of resolution, and steadiness of purpose, Will certainly secure to you official dignity. Among the royal cities of the elegant and great nation, Are the two capitals, the eastern and the western. Behind the one is the hill Măng; before it, the river Lo:

Around the other are the rapid Wei and the meandering King.

Numberless and intricate are the halls and palaces ; Lofty and commanding are the towers and galleries. Within them are paintings of beasts and birds ; And representations of deities and immortals. Splendid apartments are opened out on either side; And on parallel rows of pillars, pavilions are supported. There are placed the seats for the imperial banquets, And are heard the stringed and wind instruments of music.

Ascending the steps, and standing on the terraces, Is a waving sea of official caps, numerous as the stars. On the right, you pass to the "wide inner hall;" On the left is the entrance to the "splendid chamber." There are collected the most ancient books and records;

And crowds of illustrious men are always assembled.

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The foundation of family aggrandizement lies in husbandry :

Give good attention, therefore, to sowing and to reap

Commence your labors on the southern fields;
For it is there we must first sow our grain.

Taxes are paid in ripe grain; tribute, in the first fruits. Let the laborers be encouraged and rewarded, the indolent held back, (or degraded) and the industrious brought forward.

Măng Ko (Mencius) esteemed plainness and simplicity;

And Yu, the historian, held firmly to rectitude. These nearly approached the golden medium— Being laborious, humble, diligent, and moderate. Listen to what is said, and investigate the principles explained;

Examine men's conduct, that you may distinguish their characters;

Leave behind you none but purposes of good;

And strive to act in such a manner as to command respect.

When satirized and admonished, examine yourself, And do this the more thoroughly when favors increase.

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Delight in reading and in studying the books found in the market;

When you find new ones, diligently treasure up their

contents.

Be very cautious of speaking hastily or rashly,

For even to the walls of your apartment ears may be

attached.

Always provide plain food for your meals,

Thus pleasing the palate and satisfying the appetite. Those who feed luxuriously loathe rich viands, While the hungry disdain not dregs and husks.

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