196 CHINESE LITERATURE
little. Or if not this, then they become too fond of and too anxious about their trees, and are for ever running backwards and forwards to see how they are growing ; sometimes scratching them to make sure they are still alive, or shaking them about to see if they are sufficiently firm in the ground ; thus constantly interfering with the natural bias of the tree, and turning their affection and care into an absolute bane and a curse. I only don't do these things. That's all.'
" ' Can these principles you have just now set forth be applied to government ? ' asked his listener. ' Ah ! ' replied Camel-back, ' I only understand nursery-garden- ing : government is not my trade. Still, in the village where I live, the officials are for ever issuing all kinds of orders, as if greatly compassionating the people, though really to their utter injury. Morning and night the underlings come round and say, ' His Honour bids us urge on your ploughing, hasten your planting, and superintend your harvest. Do not delay with your spinning and weaving. Take care of your children. Rear poultry and pigs. Come together when the drum beats. Be ready at the sound of the rattle.' Thus are we poor people badgered from morn till eve. We have not a moment to ourselves. How could any one flourish and develop naturally under such conditions ? ' "
In his prose writings Han Yii showed even more variety of subject than in his verse. His farewell words to his dead friend Liu Tsung-yiian, read, according to Chinese custom, by the side of the bier or at the grave, and then burnt as a means of communicating them to the deceased, are widely known to his countrymen :
u Alas ! Tzu-hou, and hast thou come to this pass ?
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