imports likewise the necessary or certain accomplishment of an action; in which sense it has some affinity with must in the potential mood; but as it constantly refers to a future action, it seems better to esteem it a sign of the future indicative; particularly as there are many instances in which it cannot be understood in a potential sense. The following is one : Kee-see, the usurper of Loo, having appointed Ming-tse-khyen, one of the sage's disciples, to the government of a certain district, he, unwilling to serve the usurper, begged the messenger to acquaint his master with his refusal of the office; adding,

“ Should he again call me, I will then certainly be on the river Wun."

Lun-yu, vol.i.

In this instance pih, while it expresses determination, evidently marks the

future. The following saying of Confucius contains two other examples

"If all hate a man, they will surely observe him; if all esteem him, they will al

so observe him."

Lun-yu, b. viii. f. 7.

In this sentence the certainty of the event is expressed in both instances by the character pih.

The Character khung, 'to will,' &c. is often used in conversation to express will as implying Consent, as in the following sentence; 5

Neé khúng khù? 'will you go?' It is ancient; it occurs in the following

3. There are certain characters which express an action as instantly about

to be done, and which therefore imply the future, though they do not ex-
pressit. Of these tsyèu, 'instantly;' and tsih, immediately, quickly,'
are the chief. These characters however, are not properly signs of the
future; but as they imply that an action is instantly to be done, they have
acquired the force of the future in conversation, and in some of their lighter
pieces, though unknown in this sense in their best works.
In Lun-yu,

tsyèu occurs, it is true; but in quite a different sense: Confucius describing a real lover of learning, characterizes him as one who in eating seeks not fulness, in repose seeks not enjoyment;' and continues the description thus ;

"(Who is) attentive to business, and faithful to his word, betakes himself

to those having the way, and rectifies his own conduct."—

Lun-yu, b. i. f. 6.

In this example, the character tsyèu denotes merely a repairing to another,' without any allusion to the future. By Chyu-hee it is used in nearly the same sense in his comment on a sentence describing Confucius's

talent for winning the hearts of men, he adds,

"Therefore the rulers of that period, revering the sage and confiding in him, for the sake of rectifying their own government, came and heard his counsels." Comment on Lun-yu, vol. i. f. 5.

In this sentence isyèu also means simply to come or repair to another.

But in conversation it is now often used so as to express a future sense.

The adverb tsyèu, although of itself it only means 'instantly,' or 'imme

diately,' yet from its position it necessarily implies the future. This mode

of applying it however, is confined almost wholly to conversation, no instance of it occurring in the standard writings of the Chinese.

In grave compositions the character tsih, 'immediately,' &c. is applied in nearly the same way; but it in few instances expresses the future; and in these, the sign of the future is rather supplied than derived from the character.

The character ts'hai, then,' &c. often imparts a future meaning to

the sentence. The following is an instance:

Every thing having thus a root and a germ, will quickly have numerous branches and leaves." Comment on Lun-yu, vol. i.

Here is hai, in the fourth line from the right, from its adverbial force, imparts to the sentence a future meaning.

Lastly; in certain instances, the mention of a future time, in the sen tence itself, forms the future. Mung ridicules those who talk of turning hereafter to virtue, by introducing a man accustomed to steal a fowl daily, as saying to his reprover,

Eee

“Permit me to lessen the practice, to take one fowl monthly till the coming year, when I will stop.”

Mung, vol i.

In this example the verb cé, 'to stop,' in the last line to the left, has a future sense give it by the narrator's connecting therewith a future time.

Of Person and Number.

It must be obvious that in Chinese, as in other languages, there is occasi on to connect the second and third persons with a verb, as well as the first. This, however, is done merely by affixing the pronouns; the verb itself undergoes no kind of change. The following are examples of all Three

Persons as connected with the verb ngài, 'to love.'