The Natural Course of Events (5)
天道（五）
1 Shi Chengqi endured the hardship of a long journey to visit Laotse. He expected to learn Tao. It is said that seeing is believing. He felt regretful somewhat when he saw Laotse. “Is it worthy of making a long journey to visit him?” he asked to himself.
士成綺風塵僕僕地跑到老子這兒來，期盼能在此向他學經求道。常言道百聞不如一見，當他親眼看見活生生的老子後，他又有一點兒後悔。覺得是否真的值得自己大老遠地跑這一趟？
2 “But, isn’t it worthwhile if going back with nothing?”After handing in those somewhat expensive tuition and accommodation fare, and settling down, he immediately asked to see Laotse.
但是如果空手而歸，豈不是很冤枉嗎？當士成綺安頓好，繳完有些貴的學費、住宿費後，就立刻求見老子。
士成綺見老子而問曰：「吾聞夫子聖人也。吾固不辭遠道而來願見，百舍重趼而不敢息。
3 As soon as seeing him, Shi Chengqi said, “I’ve heard that you are a sage of perfect practice, so I am painstaking to come here. I have walked a hundred days and my feet have grown callus. But when I see you and hear people talking about you, I feel you don’t seem so great.
他一見面就說：「我聽人說你是修行有成的聖人，所以我不辭辛勞，走了近一百天旱路，腳都走出繭了才走到這裡。可是見了你的面，聽這裡的人談起你，我又覺得你似乎不是真的那麼了不起。
4 I discover that there is residual dish in front of a mouse hole in the corner of your house wall. It means you have abundant food. No lack. Now that you have surplus food, why not share some to your sister and let her not suffer from hunger and cold outside and alone. Do your merciless indicate that you are heartlessness?
我發現你家牆邊的老鼠洞，洞口有許多剩餘的菜餚，這表示你家的糧食充裕，沒有匱乏。你既然積有餘糧，為什麼不分一些給自己的妹妹，讓自己的妹妹一個人在外面挨餓受凍? 這是不是說明你的不仁呢？
5 Your family is rich and nothing is in shortage. Why do you go on accumulating more wealth by charging your students of such expensive tuition?”
你家裡物質充裕，吃的用的一樣不缺。你為什麼還要不停地儲存累積更多的財富，收取那麼貴的學費呢？」
今吾觀子，非聖人也，鼠壤有餘蔬而棄妹，不仁也！生熟不盡於前，而積斂無崖。」
6 Taking a look at the newcomer, Laotse said nothing. Lowering his head, Laotse went on with his business, as if he didn’t hear Shi Chengqi’s complaint and censure.
老子看了看這位新來的學生一眼，沒理會他，低下頭又忙起自己的事情來，好像沒聽見士成綺的抱怨及指責似的。
7 Feeling embarrassed, Shi Chengqi had to go back to his dorm. In the early next morning, he went to see Laotse again. This time, he was calm. He apologized, “Yesterday I was tired due to long journey, so I wandered in my mind. I am very sorry for my impoliteness and impulsion. Today I recover and my heart is calm. I feel shameful. Sir, do you know why I change?”
士成綺討了個沒趣，只得回到自己的住處。第二天一大早，他又去見老子。這回他沒有那麼衝動。他說：「昨天我因旅途勞頓，精神不佳，言談間頗有得罪之處，真是對不起。今天我回過神了，心也平靜了，覺得有些不好意思。先生，你看我這樣的轉變是怎麼回事？」
老子漠然不應。士成綺明日復見，曰：「昔者吾有剌於子，今吾心正郤矣，何故也？」
8 Knowing he had calmed down; Laotse took the opportunity to explain. He said, “Yesterday you heard that I am a sage of achievement in practice, but I don’t flatter myself that I am a sage and dare not admit it. As for your censure, if it were true, I wouldn’t refute it because fallacious argument is guiltier. If it were not true, why should I refute it?
老子見他平靜下來了，知道是說理的恰當時機，這才開口說：「昨天你聽別人說我是修道有成的聖人，我自認為還不夠格，不敢承認。至於你指責我的，如果是事實，那我也沒有什麼可說的，巧言粉飾是罪加一等；然而假如事實擺明一切根本就是子虛烏有，那麼，我還須要予以辯駁嗎？
9 Other calls me a bull. Am I a bull? Other calls me a horse. Am I a horse? It needs facts to prove what I am. Refutation and explanation are useless, so I have ignored you.
別人說我是牛，我就是牛嗎？別人說我是馬，我就是馬嗎？是與不是都需要事實去證明。所有的辯駁與解釋都是多餘的，因此我才不理會你。
老子曰：「夫巧知神聖之人，吾自以為脫焉。昔者子呼我牛也而謂之牛，呼我馬也而謂之馬。苟有其實，人與之名而弗受，再受其殃。
10 I wear the clothes as I like, which is my principle. I don’t wear other useless and surplus clothes for the requirement of other or other factors.”
當我想穿什麼樣的衣服，我就穿什麼樣的衣服; 我不會因為別人的要求，或其他任何因素，去穿那些多餘我無用的東西。這就是我的原則。」
吾服也恆服，吾非以服有服。」
11 Shi Chengqi felt Laotse’s explanation was reasonable. He felt shameful for his rudeness yesterday. Forgetting to take off his shoes, he sidled up to Laotse and asked sincerely, “How to practice, Sir?”
士成綺聽了老子這樣的解釋，深覺有理，對自己昨天的魯莽更感難為情。他側著身，鞋子都忘了脫，就挨近老子懇切地問道：「先生，請問要怎樣才能修行呢？」
士成綺雁行避影，履行遂進而問：「修身若何？」
12 Laotse didn’t change his impression on the newcomer though he regretted and apologized to Laotse. He said unreservedly, “Your look solemn but your eyes twinkle with unrest.
老子對這位新生的印象，並沒有因為他的悔意而改變，他不客氣地對士成綺說：「你的容貌看起來很嚴肅莊重，可是你的眼神卻透露出閃爍不定的樣子。
13 Your broad forehead shows that you are an honest guy but your mouth and words are throat-cut. They seem to rant at any time.
你的額頭寬廣，是一副老實人的樣子。可是你的嘴，你的言詞卻是凶狠的，好像隨時都會發出怒吼；
14 Your attitude and deed looks gentle, like a good-tamed horse whose conducts are controlled perfectly. You ponder everything to bide your time to do it.
你的行為態度，處處表現出正人君子的模樣，好像接受過嚴格訓練的座騎，行動都受到完美的控制。你凡事都經過仔細考慮，掌握正確的時機而為之。
老子曰：「而容崖然，而目衝然，而顙頯然，而口闞然，而狀義然。似繫馬而止也。
15 You incline to play tricks in living and intend to find the way that favors you.
你待人處世喜歡玩弄權謀耍手段，專找對自己有利的方向去做。
16 You have serious suspicions on others, never believing others easily.
你的猜疑心極重，絕不輕易相信別人。
動而持，發也機，察而審，知巧而睹於泰，凡以為不信。
17 The men like you prevail in the countryside. We call them robbers. You had better go home, I think, practicing and learning Tao doesn’t fit you.”
像你這樣的人，在邊境蠻荒之地可多的是，我們皆稱之為盜賊。我看你還是回家吧！修身學道這檔事，你不適合。」
邊竟有人焉，其名為竊。」