Autumn Floods (5)
秋水(五)
1 Chuang Tzu traveled to Pu River for holiday in that year. Prince of the State of Chu sent two senior officials to invite him as minister of Chu.
莊子有一年到濮水渡假。楚王派了二位高官，專程到濮水去邀請莊子出任楚國的宰相。
莊子釣於濮水。楚王使大夫二人往先焉，曰：「願以竟內累矣！」
2 Two officials saw Chuang tzu fishing when they arrived. Having known their purpose, he replied without head turning, “I heard that in Chu, a shell of turtle of three thousands years was founded and Prince of Chu contributed it to the temple.
兩位訪客到達時，莊子正在河邊釣魚。莊子聽了兩位官員邀約的話，頭也不回地說: 「我聽說，楚國最近尋得一個據說有三千年的龜殼。楚王將此龜殼供奉在廟裡。
3 Now, I asked you two. Does the turtle like to be a tribute in temple, or live freely in mud?”
現在我請問兩位。這只龜它是願意死後被人供奉在廟裡，還是自由自在地生活在爛泥之中呢？」
莊子持竿不顧，曰：「吾聞楚有神龜，死已三千歲矣。王巾笥而藏之廟堂之上。此龜者，寧其死為留骨而貴乎？寧其生而曳尾於塗中乎？」
4 In reverence, the two officials replied, “Of course, it would rather live in mud.”
兩位官員神態恭敬，老老實實地回答說：「當然是願意自由自在地生活在爛泥之中。」
二大夫曰：「寧生而曳尾塗中。」
5 Chuang Tzu said, “Why do you stand here yet? You go back to tell the prince that Chuang Tzu would rather live freely in mud.”
莊子說：「那你們還站在這兒做什麼。 回去告訴楚王，就說莊子希望自由自在地生活在爛泥之中。」
莊子曰：「往矣！吾將曳尾於塗中。」
Su Dongpo’s poem goes following:
蘇東坡有詩曰：
Luxury hall sitting in,I keep the style as a common person.
我坐華堂上，不改麋鹿姿。
Often touring Shugan Ridge,I like the frosted twigs of pine.
時來蜀岡頭，喜見霜松枝。
It stands still and its root under the earth must be very deep,I think it is thousands years old now.
心知百尺底，已結千歲奇。
Vine of brilliant trumpet creeper, why you twisting and twined around the pine.
煌煌凌霄花，纏繞復何為。
Hold a cup of wine to toast the vine’s root,Please don’t detain other for nothing.
舉觴酹其根，無事莫相羈。