"I should govern the empire," said the boy, "just the same as I look after my horses. What else should I do?
"When I was a little boy and used to live within the points of the compass,
- In Vanity Fair.
my eyes got dim of sight. An old man advised me to mount the chariot of the sun
- I.e. of Intelligence.
and visit the wilds of Hsiang-ch'êng. My sight is now much better, and I continue to dwell without the points of the compass. I should govern the empire in just the same way. What else should I do?"
"Of course," said the Yellow Emperor, "government is not your trade. Still I should be glad to hear what you would do."
The boy declined to answer, but on being again urged, cried out, "What difference is there between governing the empire and looking after horses? See that no harm comes to the horses, that is all!"
Thereupon the Emperor prostrated himself before the boy; and addressing him as Divine Teacher, took his leave.
- Divine Teacher means "inspired by God." The term used is that employed in modern times for the head or Pope of debased Taoism, often wrongly rendered as the "Master of Heaven."
If schemers have nothing to give them anxiety,
