s　limbs　threatened　to　cease　to　support　him。

He　fell　on　his　knees；　saying；　〃I　could　never　do　otherwise　than　wear　myself　to　the　bone　in　the　service　of　your　son；　whom　I　will　serve　till　death。〃

He　knocked　his　head　upon　the　ground　till　blood　ran　down。

The　dying　man　called　Zhuge　Liang　closer；　and　at　the　same　time　making　his　two　sons　e　near；　he　said　to　them；　〃My　sons；　remember　your　father's　words。　After　my　death　you　are　to　treat　the　Prime　Minister　as　you　would　your　father　and　be　not　remiss；　for　thereby　you　will　fulfill　your　father's　hopes。〃

He　made　the　two　Princes　pay　to　Zhuge　Liang　the　obeisance　due　to　a　father。

Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Were　I　destroyed　and　ground　into　the　earth；　I　should　be　unable　to　repay　the　kindness　I　have　experienced。〃

Turning　to　the　assembled　officers；　the　First　Ruler　said；　〃As　you　have　seen；　I　have　confided　my　orphan　son　to　the　care　of　the　Prime　Minister　and　bidden　my　sons　treat　him　as　a　father。　You　too；　Sirs；　are　to　treat　him　with　deference。　This　is　my　dying　request　and　charge　to　you。〃

Turning　to　Zhao　Yun；　he　said；　〃You　and　I　have　gone　together　through　many　dangers　and　difficulties。　Now　es　the　parting　of　our　ways。　You　will　not　forget　our　old　friendship；　and　you　must　see　to　it　that　my　sons　follow　my　precepts。〃

〃I　shall　never　dare　to　give　other　than　my　best；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。　〃The　fidelity　of　the　dog　and　horse　is　mine　to　give　and　shall　be　theirs。〃

Then　the　First　Ruler　turned　to　the　others；　〃Noble　Sirs；　I　am　unable　to　speak　to　you　one　by　one　and　lay　a　charge　upon　each　individual。　But　I　say　to　you：　Maintain　your　self…respect。〃

These　were　his　last　words。　He　was　sixty…three；　and　he　died　on　the　twenty…fourth　day　of　the　fourth　month　（AD　222）。　A　poem　was　written　by　Du　Fu　on　his　death：

The　Emp