and　concentrateth　on　those。
  13
  THE　CONTEMPT　FOR　CIRCUMSTANCE
  Favor　and　disgrace　are　equally　to　be　shunned；　honour　and　calamity　tobe
  alike　regarded　as　adhering　to　the　personality。
  What　is　this　which　is　written　concerning　favour　and　disgrace？　Disgrace
  is　the　fall　from　favour。　He　then　that　hath　favour　hath　fear；　and　its
  loss　begetteth　fear　yet　greater　of　a　further　fall。　What　is　this　whichis
  written　concerning　honour　and　calamity？　It　is　this　attachment　to　the
  body　which　maketh　calamity　possible；　for　were　one　bodiless；　what　evil
  could　befall　him？
  Therefore　let　him　that　regardeth　himself　rightly　administer　also　a
  kingdom；　and　let　him　govern　it　who　loveth　it　as　another　man　loveth
  himself。
  14
  THE　SHEWING…FORTH　OF　THE　MYSTERY
  We　look　at　it；　and　see　it　not；　though　it　is　Omnipresent；　and　we　nameit
  the　Root…Balance。　We　listen　for　it；　and　hear　it　not；　though　it　is
  Omniscient；　and　we　name　it　the　Silence。　We　feel　for　it；　and　touch　itnot；
  though　it　is　Omnipotent；　and　we　name　it　the　Concealed。　These　threeVirtues
  hath　it；　yet　we　cannot　describe　it　as　consisting　of　them；　but；　minglingthem
  aright；　we　apprehend　the　One。
  Above；　it　shineth　not；　below；　it　is　not　dark。　It　moveth　all
  continuously；　without　Expression；　returning　into　Naught。　It　is　theForm
  of　That　which　is　beyond　Form；　it　is　the　Image　of　the　Invisible；　itis
  Change；　and　Without　Limit。
  We　confront　it；　and　see　not　its　Face；　we　pursue　it；　and　its　Back　is
  hidden　from　us。　Ah！　but　apply　the　Tao　as　in　old　Time　to　the　work　ofthe
  present；　know　it　as　it　was　known　in　the　Beginning；　follow　ferventlythe
  Thread　of　the　Tao。
  15
  THE　APPEARANCE　OF　THE　TRUE　NATURE
  The　adepts　of　past　ages　were　subtle　and　keen　to　apprehend　this　Mystery；
  and　their　profundity　was　obscurity　unto　men。　Since　then　they　were　not
  known；　let　me　declare　their　nature。
  To　all　seeming；　they　were　fearful　as　men　that　cross　a　torrent　in　winter
  flood；　they　were　hesitating　like　a　man　in　apprehension　of　them　thatare
  about　him；　they　were　full　of　awe　like　a　guest　in　a　great　house；　theywere
  ready　to　disappear　like　ice　in　thaw；　they　were　unassuming　like　unworked
  wood；　they　were　empty　as　a　valley；　and　dull　as　the　waters　of　a　marsh。
  Who　can　clear　muddy　water？　Stillness　will　accomplish　this。　Who　can
  obtain　rest？　Let　motion　continue　equably；　and　it　will　itself　be　peace。
  The　adepts　of　the　Tao；　conserving　its　way；　seek　not　to　be　actively　self…
  conscious。　By　their　emptiness　of　Self　they　have　no　need　to　show
  their　youth　and　perfection；　to　appear　old　and　imperfect　is　their
  privilege。
  16
  THE　WITHDRAWAL　TO　THE　ROOT
  Emptiness　must　be　perfect；　and　Silence　made　absolute　with　tireless
  strength。　All　things　pass　through　the　period　of　action；　then　they　return
  to　repose。　They　grow；　bud；　blossom　and　fruit；　then　they　return　to　the
  root。　This　return　to　the　root　is　this　state　which　we　name　Silence；and
  this　Silence　is　Witness　of　their　Fulfilment。
  This　cycle　is　the　universal　law。　To　know　it　is　the　part　of　intelligence；
  to　ignore　it　bringeth　folly　of　action；　whereof　the　end　is　madness。To　know　it
  bringeth　understanding　and　peace；　and　these　lead　to　the　identificationof
  the　Self　with　the　Not…Self。　This　identification　maketh　man　a　king；and
  this　kingliness　groweth　unto　godhood。　That　godhood　beareth　fruit　inthe
  mastery　of　the　Tao。　Then　the　man；　the　Tao　permeating　him；　endureth；and
  his　bodily　principles　are　in　harmony；　proof　against　decay；　until　the
  hour　of　his　Change。
  17
  THE　PURITY　OF　THE　CURRENT
  In　the　Age　of　Gold；　the　people　were　not　conscious　of　their　rulers；in　the
  Age　of　Silver；　they　loved　them；　with　songs；　in　the　Age　of　Brass；　they
  feared　them；　in　the　Age　of　Iron；　they　despised　them。　As　the　rulers
  lost　confidence；　so　also　did　the　people　lose　confidence　in　them。
  How　hesitating　did　they　seem；　the　Lords　of　the　Age　of　Gold；　speakingwith
  deliberation；　aware　of　the　weight　of　their　word！　Thus　they　accomplished
  all　things　with　success；　and　the　people　deemed　their　well…being　tobe　the
  natural　course　of　events。
  18
  THE　DECAY　OF　MANNERS
  When　men　abandoned　the　Way　of　the　Tao；　benevolence　and　justice　became
  necessary。　Then　also　was　need　of　wisdom　and　cunning；　and　all　fell　into
  illusion。　When　harmony　ceased　to　prevail　in　the　six　spheres　it　wasneedful
  to　govern　them　by　manifesting　Sons。　When　the　kingdoms　and　races　became
  confused；　loyal　ministers　had　to　appear。
  19
  RETURNING　TO　THE　PURITY　OF　THE　CURRENT
  If　we　forgot　our　statesmanship　and　our　wisdom；　it　would　be　an　hundred
  times　better　for　the　people。　If　we　forgot　our　benevolence　and　our
  justice；　they　would　become　again　like　sons；　folk　of　good　will。　If　we
  forget　our　machines　and　our　business；　there　would　be　no　knavery。
  These　new　methods　despised　the　olden　Way；　inventing　fine　names　to
  disguise　their　baneness。　But　simplicity　in　the　doing　of　the　will　of
  every　man　would　put　an　end　to　vain　ambitions　and　desires。
  20
  THE　WITHDRAWAL　FROM　THE　COMMON　WAY
  To　forget　learning　is　to　end　trouble。　The　smallest　difference　in　words；
  such　as　'yes'　and　'yea'；　can　make　endless　controversy　for　the
  scholar。　Fearful　indeed　is　death；　since　all　men　fear　it；　but　the　abyssof
  questionings；　shoreless　and　bottomless；　is　worse！
  Consider　the　profane　man；　how　he　preeneth；　as　if　at　feast；　or　gazingupon
  Spring　from　a　tower！　But　as　for　me；　I　am　as　one　who　yawneth；　withoutany
  trace　of　desire。　I　am　like　a　babe　before　its　first　smile。　I　appearsad
  and　forlorn；　like　a　man　homeless。　The　profane　man　hath　his　need　filled；
  ay；　and　more　also。　For　me；　I　seem　to　have　lost　all　I　had。　My　mind　isas
  it　were　stupefied；　it　hath　no　definite　shape。　The　profane　man　looketh
  lively　and　keen…witted；　I　alone　appear　blank　in　my　mind。　They　seem
  eagerly　critical；　I　appear　careless　and　without　perception。　I　seemto　be
  as　one　adrift　upon　the　sea；　with　｛24｝　no　thought　of　an　harbor。　The
  profane　have　each　one　his　definite　course　of　action；　I　alone　appear
  useless　and　uncomprehending；　like　a　man　from　the　border。　Yea；　thusI
  differ　from　all　other　men：　but　my　jewel　is　the　All…Mother！
  21
  THE　INFINITE　WOMB
  The　sole　source　of　energy　is　the　Tao。　Who　may　declare　its　nature？　Itis
  beyond　Sense；　yet　all　form　is　hidden　within　it。　It　is　beyond　Sense；yet
  all　Perceptibles　are　hidden　within　it。　It　is　beyond　Sense；　yet　all
  Perceptibles　are　hidden　within　it。　It　is　beyond　Sense；　yet　all　Beingis
  hidden　within　it。　This　Being　excites　Perception；　and　the　Word　thereof。
  As　it　was　in　the　beginning；　is　now；　and　ever　shall　be；　its　Name
  operateth　continuously；　causing　all　to　flow　in　the　cycle　of　Change；which
  is　Love　and　Beauty。　How　do　I　know　this？　By　my　comprehension　of　theTao。
  22
  THE　GUERDON　OF　MODESTY
  The　part　becometh　the　whole。　The　curve　becometh　straight；　the　void
  becometh　full；　the　old　becometh　new。　He　who　desireth　little
  accomplisheth　his　Will　with　ease；　who　desireth　many　things　becometh
  distracted。
  Therefore；　the　sage　concentrateth　upon　one　Will；　and　it　is　as　a　lightto
  the　whole　world。　Hiding　himself；　he　shineth；　withdrawing　himself；　he
  attracteth　notice；　humbling　himself；　he　is　exalted；　dissatisfied　with
  himself；　he　gaineth　force　to　achieve　his　Will。　Because　he　strivethnot；
  no　man　may　contend　against　him。
  That　is　no　idle　saw　of　the　men　of　old；　'The　part　becometh　the　whole'；it
  is　the　Canon　of　Perfection。
  23
  THE　VOID　OF　NAUGHT
  To　keep　silence　is　the　mark　of　one　who　is　acting　in　full　accordancewith
  his　Will。　A　fierce　wind　soon　falleth；　a　storm…shower　doth　not　lastall
  day。　Yet　Heaven　and　Earth　cause　these；　and　if　they　fail　to　make　violence
  continue；　how　much　less　can　man　abide　in　spasm　of　passion！
  With　him　that　devoteth　him　to　Tao；　the　devotees　of　Tao　are　in　accord；so
  also　are　the　devotees　of　Teh；　yea；　even　they　who　fail　in　seeking　thoseare　in
  accord。
  So　then　his　brothers　in　the　Tao　are　joyful；　attaining　it；　and　his
  brothers　in　the　Teh　are　joyful；　attaining　it；　and　they　who　fail　in
  seeking　these　are　joyful；　partaking　of　it。　But　if　he　himself　realizenot
  the　Tao　with　calm　of　confidence；　then　they　also　appear　lacking　in
  confidence。
  24
  EVIL　MANNERS
  He　who　standeth　a…tiptoe　standeth　not　firm；　he　who　maketh　rigid　hislegs
  walketh　ill。　He　who　preeneth　himself　shineth　not；　he　who　talketh
  positively　is　vulgar；　he　who　boastheth　is　refused　acceptance；　he　whois
  wise　in　his　own　conceit　is　thought　inferior。　Such　attitudes；　to　himthat
  hath　the　view　given　by　understanding　the　Tao；　seem　like　garbage　orlike
  cancer；　abhorrent　to　all。　They　then　who　follow　the　Way　do　not　admitthem。
  25
  IMAGES　OF　THE　MYSTERY
  Without　Limit　and　Perfect；　there　is　a　Becoming；　beyond　Heaven　and　Earth。
  It　hath　nor　motion　nor　Form；　it　is