HAPPY AND FREE EXCURSION (4)

1 At any rate Huizi was a scholar. Listening to Chuang Tzu’s remark, he spoiled his tolerance and said to Chuang Tzu,

2“What you said is theoretic prate. In consequence your students become lesser and lesser. Listen, there was an old tree of hundreds years, very high and big. It grew overall knag and crooked branch and trunk. The trunk could not be used as the beam and the branch not as the furniture or household utensils. Carpenters would not be bothered to touch the tree even if it were placed in the middle of road, and free for anyone to take. What for even if it is only big.”

3 Chuang Tzu detected Huizi’s slight sulk but he didn’t care it in argument for truth. Chuang Tzu said,

4“Only usefulness seems not good. Have you never seen weasel? It is so nimble, crouching down and furtively in wait for its sudden prey on unwary beastie, such as chicken and mice. In chase of its preys it spring up and down between roof and fence with ease and fearlessness. However, someday it eventually gets caught in and dies in a snare set by hunter.

5 Such a huge body had yak. Though it is not as agile as weasel in preying on mice, who dared to offend it on the wild field?

6 Now that you have such a big tree, why are you afraid of its uselessness? Why not plant it on grassland where people wish there would be a shade for rest. Carpenter doesn’t like the old tree, nor do bugs eat. It couldn’t be used as lumber so people don’t sneak felling it stealthily. What do you worry about?

7 Chuang Tzu sensed that they would fall into quarrel if the argument went on, so he diverted the topic to quit the argument about usefulness and uselessness.