The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

The rich man and his servantMR YIN of Chou was the owner of a large estate whoharried his servants unmercifully, and gave them no restfrom morning to night. There was one old servant inparticular whose physical strength had quite left him, yethis master worked him all the harder. All day long he wasgroaning as he went about his work, and when nightcame he was reeling with fatigue and would sleep like alog. His spirit was then free to wander at will, and everynight he dreamt that he was a king, enthroned inauthority over the multitude, and controlling the affairsof the whole state. He took his pleasure in palaces andbelvederes, following his own fancy in everything, andhis happiness was beyond compare. But when he awoke,he was servant once more. To some one who condoledwith him on his hard lot the old man replied: “Humanlife may last a hundred years, and the whole of it isequally divided into nights and days. In the daytime I amonly a slave, it is true, and my misery cannot be gainsaid.But by night I am a king, and my happiness is beyondcompare. So what have I to grumble at?"Now, Mr Yin's mind was full of worldly cares, and he wasalways thinking with anxious solicitude about the affairsof his estate. Thus he was wearing out mind and bodyalike, and at night he also used to fall asleep utterlyexhausted. Every night he dreamt that he was anotherman's servant, running about on menial business of every