北冥有魚，其名曰鯤。鯤之大，不知其幾千裡也。化而為鳥，其名而鵬，鵬之背，不知其幾千裡也；怒而飛，其翼若垂天之雲。
In the northern ocean there is a fish, called the k’un, I do not know how many thousand li in size. This k’un changes into a bird, called the p’eng. Its back is I do not know how many thousand li in breadth. When it is moved, it flies, its wings obscuring the sky like clouds.
是鳥也，海運則將徙於南冥；南冥者，天池也。《齊諧》者，志怪者也。《諧》之言曰：“鵬之徙於南冥也，水擊三千里，摶扶搖而上者九萬里，去以六月息者也。”
When on a voyage, this bird prepares to start for the Southern Ocean, the Celestial Lake. And in the Records of Marvels we read that when the peng flies southwards, the water is smitten for a space of three thousand li around, while the bird itself mounts upon a great wind to a height of ninety thousand li, for a flight of six months' duration.
野馬也，塵埃也，生物之以息相吹也。天之蒼蒼，其正色邪？其遠而無所至極邪？其視下也，亦若是則已矣。
There mounting aloft, the bird saw the moving white mists of spring, the dust-clouds, and the living things blowing their breaths among them. It wondered whether the blue of the sky was its real color, or only the result of distance without end, and saw that the things on earth appeared the same to it.
且夫水之積也不厚，則其負大舟也無力；覆杯水於坳堂之上，則芥為之舟，置杯焉則膠，水淺而舟大也。
If there is not sufficient depth, water will not float large ships. Upset a cupful into a hole in the yard, and a mustard-seed will be your boat. Try to float the cup, and it will be grounded, due to the disproportion between water and vessel.
風之積也不厚，則其負大翼也無力；故九萬里，則風斯在下矣，而後乃今培風；揹負青天，而莫之夭閼者，而後乃今將圖南。
So with air. If there is not sufficient a depth, it cannot support large wings. And for this bird, a depth of ninety thousand li is necessary to bear it up. Then, gliding upon the wind, with nothing save the clear sky above, and no obstacles in the way, it starts upon its journey to the south.
蜩與學鳩笑之曰：我決起而飛，槍榆枋而止，時則不至，而控於地而已矣。奚以之九萬里而南為？”適莽蒼者，三餐而反，腹猶果然；適百里者，宿舂糧；適千里者，三月聚糧；之二蟲，又何知？
A cicada and a young dove laughed, saying, "Now, when I fly with all my might, 'tis as much as I can do to get from tree to tree. And sometimes I do not reach, but fall to the ground midway. What then can be the use of going up ninety thousand li to start for the south?" He who goes to the countryside taking three meals with him comes back with his stomach as full as when he started. But he who travels a hundred li must take ground rice enough for an overnight stay. And he who travels a thousand li must supply himself with provisions for three months. Those two little creatures, what should they know?
小知不及大知，小年不及大年。奚以知其然也？朝菌不知晦朔，蟪蛄不知春秋，此小年也。楚之南有冥靈者，以五百歲為春，五百歲為秋；上古有大椿者，以八千歲為春，八千歲為秋。此大年也。而彭祖乃今以久特聞，眾人匹之，不亦悲？
Small knowledge has not the compass of great knowledge any more than a short year has the length of a long year. How can we tell that this is so? The fungus plant of a morning knows not the alternation of day and night. The cicada knows not the alternation of spring and autumn. Theirs are short years. But in the south of Chu there is a mingling (tree) whose spring and autumn are each of five hundred years' duration. And in former days there was a large tree which had a spring and autumn each of eight thousand years. Yet, Peng Tsu is known for reaching a great age and is still, alas! An object of envy to all!
湯之問棘也是已。“窮髮之北，有冥海者，天池也。有魚焉，其廣數千裡，未有知其修者，其名為鯤。有鳥焉，其名為鵬，背若泰山，翼若垂天之雲，摶扶搖羊角而上者九萬里，絕雲氣，負青天，然後圖南，且適南冥也。”
It was on this very subject that the Emperor Tang spoke to Chi, as follows: "At the north of Chiungta, there is a Dark Sea, the Celestial Lake. In it there is a fish several thousand li in breadth, and I know not how many in length. It is called the k’un. There is also a bird, called the p’eng, with a back like Mount Tai, and wings like clouds across the sky. It soars up upon a whirlwind to a height of ninety thousand li, far above the region of the clouds, with only the clear sky above it. And then it directs its flight towards the Southern Ocean. "
斥鷃笑之曰：“彼且奚適也？我騰躍而上，不過數仞而下，翱翔蓬蒿之間，此亦飛之至也。而彼且奚適也？”此小大之辯也。
And a lake sparrow laughed, and said: Pray, what may that creature be going to do? I rise but a few yards in the air and settle down again, after flying around among the reeds. That is as much as any one would want to fly. Now, wherever can this creature be going to?" Such, indeed, is the difference between small and great.
故夫知效一官，行比一鄉，德合一君，而徵一國者，其自視也，亦若此矣。而宋榮子猶然笑之。且舉世譽之而不加勸，舉世非之而不加沮，定乎內外之分，辯乎榮辱之境，斯已矣。彼其於世，未數數然也；雖然，猶有未樹也。
Take, for instance, a man who creditably fills some small office, or whose influence spreads over a village, or whose character pleases a certain prince. His opinion of himself will be much the same as that lake sparrow's. The philosopher Yung of Sung would laugh at such a one. If the whole world flattered him, he would not be affected thereby, nor if the whole world blamed him would he be dissuaded from what he was doing. For Yung can distinguish between essence and superficialities, and understand what is true honor and shame. Such men are rare in their generation. But even he has not established himself.
夫列子御風而行，泠然善也，旬有五日而後反，彼於致福者，未數數然也；此雖免乎行，猶有所待者也。
Now Liehtse could ride upon the wind. Sailing happily in the cool breeze, he would go on for fifteen days before his return. Among mortals who attain happiness, such a man is rare. Yet although Liehtse could dispense with walking, he would still have to depend upon something.
若夫乘天地之正，而御六氣之辯，以遊無窮者，彼且惡乎待哉？
As for one who is charioted upon the eternal fitness of Heaven and Earth, driving before him the changing elements as his team to roam through the realms of the Infinite, upon what, then, would such a one have need to depend?
故曰：“至人無己，神人無功，聖人無名。”
Thus it is said, "The perfect man ignores self; the divine man ignores achievement; the true Sage ignores reputation."
堯讓天下於許由，曰：“日月出矣，而爝火不息，其於光也，不亦難乎？時雨降矣，而猶浸灌，其於澤也，不亦勞乎？夫子立而天下治，而我猶屍之，吾自視缺然，請致天下。”
The Emperor Yao wished to abdicate in favor of Hsu Yu, saying, "If, when the sun and moon are shining, the torch is still lighted, would it be not difficult for the latter to shine? If, when the rain has fallen, one should still continue to water the fields, would this not be a waste of labor? Now if you would assume the reins of government, the empire would be well governed, and yet I am filling this office. I am conscious of my own deficiencies, and I beg to offer you the Empire."
許由曰：“子治天下，天下既已治也，而我猶代子，吾將為名乎？名者，實之賓也，吾將為賓乎？鷦鷯巢於深林，不過一枝，偃鼠飲河，不過滿腹。歸休乎君！予無所用天下為，庖人雖不治庖，尸祝不越樽俎而代之矣。”
"You are ruling the Empire, and the Empire is already well ruled," replied Hsu Yu. "Why should I take your place? Should I do this for the sake of a name? A name is but the shadow of reality, and should I trouble myself about the shadow? The tit, building its nest in the mighty forest, occupies but a single twig. The beaver slakes its thirst from the river, but drinks enough only to fill its belly. I would rather go back: I have no use for the empire! If the cook is unable to prepare the funeral sacrifices, the representative of the worshipped spirit and the officer of prayer may not step over the wines and meats and do it for him."
肩吾問於連叔曰：“吾聞言於接輿，大而無當，往而不返，吾驚怖其言，猶河漢而無極也！大有逕庭，不近人情焉。”
Chien Wu said to Lien Shu, "I heard Chieh Yu: talk on high and fine subjects endlessly. I was greatly startled at what he said, for his words seemed interminable as the Milky Way, but they are quite detached from our common human experience."
連叔曰：“其言謂何哉？”
"What was it?" asked Lien Shu.
曰：“藐姑射之山，有神人居焉。肌膚若冰雪，淖約若處子。不食五穀， 吸風飲露，乘雲氣，御飛龍，而遊乎四海之外；其神凝，使物不疵癘，而年穀熟，吾以是狂而不信也。”
"He declared," replied Chien Wu, "that on the Miao-ku-yi mountain there lives a divine one, whose skin is white like ice or snow, whose grace and elegance are like those of a virgin, who eats no grain, but lives on air and dew, and who, riding on clouds with flying dragons for his team, roams beyond the limit's of the mortal regions. When his spirit gravitates, he can ward off corruption from all things, and bring good crops. That is why I call it nonsense, and do not believe it."
連叔曰：“然，瞽者無以與乎文章之觀，聾者無以與乎鍾鼓之聲，豈唯形骸有聾盲哉？夫知亦有之；是其言也，猶時女也。
之人也，之德也，將旁礴萬物以為一，世蘄乎亂，孰弊弊焉以天下為事！之人也，物莫之傷；大浸稽天而不溺，大旱金石流，土山焦而不熱。是其塵垢秕糠，將猶陶鑄堯舜者也，孰肯以物為事？”
"Well," answered Lien Shu, "you don't ask a blind man's opinion of beautiful designs, nor do you invite a deaf man to a concert. And blindness and deafness are not physical only. There is blindness and deafness of the mind. His words are like the unspoiled virgin. The good influence of such a man with such a character fills all creation. Yet because a paltry generation cries for reform, you would have him busy himself about the details of an empire! "Objective existences cannot harm. In a flood which reached the sky, he would not be drowned. In a drought, though metals ran liquid and mountains were scorched up, he would not be hot. Out of his very dust and siftings you might fashion two such men as Yao and Shun. And you would have him occupy himself with objectives!"
宋人資章甫而適諸越，越人斷髮文身，無所用之。
A man of the Sung State carried some ceremonial caps to the Yueh tribes for sale. But the men of Yueh used to cut off their hair and paint their bodies, so that they had no use for such things.
堯治天下之民，平海內之政，往見四子藐姑射之山，汾水之陽，然喪其天下焉。
The Emperor Yao ruled all under heaven and governed the affairs of the entire country. After he paid a visit to the four sages of the Miao-ku-yi Mountain, he felt on his return to his capital at Fenyang that the empire existed for him no more.
惠子謂莊子曰：“魏王貽我大瓠之種，我樹之成，而實五石。以盛水漿，其堅不能自也。剖之以為瓢，則瓠落無所容。非不呺然大也，吾為其無用而掊之。”
Hueitse said to Chuangtse, "The Prince of Wei gave me a seed of a large-sized kind of gourd. I planted it, and it bore a fruit as big as a five bushel measure. Now had I used this for holding liquids, it would have been too heavy to lift; and had I cut it in half for ladles, the ladles would have been too flat for such purpose. Certainly it was a huge thing, but I had no use for it and so broke it up."
莊子曰：“夫子固拙於用大矣！宋人有善為不龜手之藥者，世世以洴澼絖為事；客聞之，請買其方百金。聚族而謀曰：‘我世世為洴澼絖，不過數金，今一朝而鬻技百金，請與之。'"
"It was rather you did not know how to use large things," replied Chuangtse. "There was a man of Sung who had a recipe for salve for chapped hands, his family having been silk-washers for generations. A stranger who had heard of it came and offered him a hundred ounces of silver for this recipe; whereupon he called together his clansmen and said, 'We have never made much money by silk-washing. Now, we can sell the recipe for a hundred ounces in a single day. Let the stranger have it.'
“客得之，以說吳王。越有難，吳王使之將，冬，與越人水戰，大敗越人。裂地而封之。能不龜手一也，或以封，或不免於洴澼絖，則所用之異也。今子有五石之瓠，何不慮以為大樽，而浮於江湖，而憂其瓠落無所容？則夫子猶有蓬之心也夫！”
"The stranger got the recipe, and went and had an interview with the Prince of Wu. The Yueh State was in trouble, and the Prince of Wu sent a general to fight a naval battle with Yueh at the beginning of winter. The latter was totally defeated, and the stranger was rewarded with a piece of the King's territory. Thus, while the efficacy of the salve to cure chapped hands was in both cases the same, its applications were different. Here, it secured a title; there, the people remained silk-washers. Now as to your five-bushel gourd, why did you not make a float of it, and float about over river and lake? And you complain of its being too flat for holding things! I fear your mind is stuffy inside."
惠子謂莊子曰：“吾有大樹，人謂之樗，其大本擁腫而不中繩墨，其小枝捲曲而不中規矩，立之塗，匠者不顧。今子之言，大而無用，眾所同去也。”
Hueitse said to Chuangtse, "I have a large tree, called the ailanthus. Its trunk is so irregular and knotty that it cannot be measured out for planks; while its branches are so twisted that they cannot be cut out into discs or squares. It stands by the roadside, but no carpenter will look at it. Your words are like that tree -- big and useless, of no concern to the world."
莊子曰：“子獨不見狸狌乎？卑身而伏，以候敖者，東西跳梁，不闢高下，中於機辟，死於罔罟。今夫斄牛，其大若垂天之雲。此能為大矣，而不能執鼠。今子有大樹，患其無用，何不樹之於無何有之鄉，廣莫之野？彷徨乎無為其側，逍遙乎寢臥其下。不夭斤斧；物無害者，無所可用，安所困苦哉！”
"Have you never seen a wild cat," rejoined Chuangtse, "crouching down in wait for its prey? Right and left and high and low, it springs about, until it gets caught in a trap or dies in a snare. On the other hand, there is the yak with its great huge body. It is big enough in all conscience, but it cannot catch mice. Now if you have a big tree and are at a loss what to do with it, why not plant it in the Village of Nowhere, in the great wilds, where you might loiter idly by its side, and lie down in blissful repose beneath its shade? There it would be safe from the axe and from all other injury. For being of no use to others, what could worry its mind?"
《逍遙遊》莊子翻譯：林語堂
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