Tzŭ-lu had been governing P’u for three years

After Tzŭ-lu had been governing P’u for three years, Confucius went to see him. On entering the borders of P’u he approved, saying, "Yu trusts those who are respectful." On entering the city he said, "Excellent! Yu is generous to the loyal and trustworthy." On arriving at the audience hall he said, "Excellent! Yu is enlightened in his judgments."

Grasping the reins, Tzŭ-kung asked, "Master, you have not yet seen Yu, and still have thrice praised his excellence. Might I hear your reasons?"

Confucius said, "On entering the borders, I saw that the grain fields and the hemp fields were very well attended to, and that the fallow lands were well opened up. This is the result of trusting those who are respectful, so that the people put forth all their strength. On entering the city I saw that walls and dwellings were very high, and that the trees were very flourishing. This is the result of being generous to the loyal and trustworthy, so that the people are not lazy. On entering the audience hall I found that it was very quiet. This is the result of enlightened judgments, so that the people do not make disturbances."

The Ode says,

Rise early and go to bed late,
Sprinkle and sweep your courtyard.

子路治蒲三年，孔子过之。入境而善之，曰：“由恭敬以信矣。”入邑，曰：“善哉！由忠信以宽矣。”至庭，曰：“善哉！由明察以断矣。”子贡执辔而问曰：“夫子未见由，而三称善，可得闻乎？”孔子曰：“入其境，田畴草莱甚辟，此恭敬以信，故民尽力。入其邑，墉屋甚尊，树木甚茂，此忠信以宽，其民不偷。其庭甚闲，此明察以断，故民不扰也。”《诗》曰：“夙兴夜寐，洒扫庭内。”

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