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And still preserves and still protects。
For Dao begets but does not keep；
Works its way but does not bind：
Authority that does not rule。
Such is the meaning of 揾idden power？
52
The world below has its gestation；
We hold there抯 a mother of all below。
The mother gained
The children known；
The children known；
The mother regained；
Then your life will not miscarry。
Interdict all interactions；
Seal and bar all gates and doors；
Thus prevent debility。
Open paths of interaction；
Busy furthering your ends；
Then never make recovery。
True vision marks the smallest signs；
Real strength keeps to the gentler way。
Apply your view；
But regain true vision抯 inner home。
Fall not into life抯 misfortunes；
Strive for the common lasting norm。
53
Grant me this： to firmly know
That in walking the great high Way
I shall fear only to deviate
From the high way plain and fair；
For to byways men are lightly drawn。
The court is richly blessed；
But the farm fields are wasting；
And the bins bare of grain；
And courtiers dress in elegance；
Bear well…honed swords；
Gorge on food and drink ？br》 This superflux of wealth and goods
Is the piper抯 tune for thieves；
The negation of the Way。
54
Virtue well…founded nothing uproots；
Virtue fast…bound no one can steal；
And this ensures through generations
The sacred services be not cut off。
Cultivated in his character；
His virtue pure and simple。
Cultivated in his clan；
His virtue well suffices。
Cultivated in his district；
His virtue offers leadership。
Cultivated in his kingdom；
His virtue brings prosperity。
Cultivate in this realm below；
His virtue knows no limitation。
This is the reason to consider
Character in terms of character；
Clan in terms of clan；
District in terms of district；
Kingdom in terms of kingdom；
And the world below as the world below。
How do I know this is true of the realm？
By this very means。
55
Who holds within the fullest power
To a newborn may compare；
Which no insects stings；
No wild beast seizes；
No taloned bird snatches。
Though soft…boned and weak…limbed； its grip is firm。
Before it ever knows of intercourse；
Its standing phallus knows its full life force。
It cries all day without a loss of voice；
A sign of its perfect balance。
Knowing balance means constant norm；
Knowing the norm means inner vision；
Enhancing life means good fortune；
Mind controlling spirit means inner strength。
揃eware old age in pride of manly might；？br》 For that means working against the Way。
揥ork against the Way； die before your day。？br》
56
Those who know it do not say it；
Those who sat it do not know it。
Those who know bar interaction；
Shut and seal the gates and doors；
They dull their keen edge and
Resolve their differences；
Reconcile the points of view
And blend with the lowly dust。
This we call sublime at…oneness。
Favour affects them not；
Nor disfavour；
Neither advantage
No injury；
Neither honour
Nor dishonour。
Thus those who know are honoured in the world。
57
Rule kingdoms by right；
Wage war by deceit；
To win the world forsake ambition；
How do I know that this is so？
The more thou…shalt…nots for the world；
The more the people are deprived。
The more devices that bring gain；
The more the clan and kingdom抯 bane。
The more that clever crafts expand；
The more strange artifacts abound。
The more the laws and writs declared；
The more that crime and violence spread。
Hence the wise in rule have said；
揗ay we under…govern and
The ruled uplift themselves。
May we forsake ambition and
The ruled enrich themselves。
May we have no more desire
And the ruled keep their simple ways。？br》
58
Under rule restrained but caring
Simple and wholesome stay the ruled；
But under rule that probes and prods
They connive and they contrive。
Good fortune stands beside ill fate；
Beneath good fortune ill fate hides。
Who can find the turning point？
For it there is no standard rule：
Rule reverses to exception；
Boon reverses to affliction；
For which men have lost direction
For a time of long duration。
This is why the wise who rule
Keep to the square but form no edge；
Gather gains but will not thrust；
Stay straight and true but cross no line；
And shed light but not to blind。
59
For ruling men； for serving heaven；
Nothing surpasses having in store。
For it is having in store
That we call taking precaution。
And taking precaution we call
Bent on amassing one抯 powers
Means overcoming all obstacles。
Overcoming all obstacles
Means having no known turning point。
Having no known turning point
Gives dominion over the kingdom。
The mother…source of this dominion
Yields staying power ？br》 What is known as deep roots and strong base；
The Way of extended life and sustained reflection。
60
Rule a great state as you cook a small fish。
Through the Way take a ruler抯 place in the world；
And the ghosts of the dead shall have no force。
Is it that they have no force？
Or that their force can do no harm？
That their force can do no harm？
Or that the wise lord does no harm？
Nor ghosts nor wise lords doing harm
To their joint virtue thus rebounds。
61
A mighty kingdom stays downstream；
Female of this world below；
Where all the courses intersect。
Dam holding still has ever conquered sire。
But to hold herself still
She must remain below。
By lying below a small kingdom
A great one takes it over。
By lying below a great kingdom
A small state is taken over。
A great kingdom seeks no more
Than to absorb and protect。
A small state no more than to enter its service。
Thus for both to fulfill their desire
Lower must the greater lie。
62
A midden for the myriad；
The Way is sacred to men of merit
And a safeguard to all who do wrong。
Fine words may buy high station；
Fine deeds win men抯 acclaim；
But why turn from those who do wrong？
For when the son of heaven is enthroned；
And his three elder statesmen are installed；
Better to counsel them in the Way
Than ride an envoy抯 four…horse coach
Heralded by the jade disc of state。
Why did men of old honour the Way？
Has it not been said； 揟hrough the Way
Shall right be found； wrongdoers spared？
For this the world honours the Way。
63
Do what is undone；
Serve the unserved；
Savour what lacks savour；
Make bigger smaller； more less；
Repay a wrong with friendly favour。
Forestall trouble when it抯 easy to。
Act on the major when it抯 still minor。
Fo