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

description, and subjected to every possible kind of abuseand ill-treatment. He would mutter and groan in hissleep, and obtained no relief till morning came. Thisstate of things at last resulted in a serious illness, and MrYin besought the advice of a friend. “Your station inlife," his friend said, “is a distinguished one, and youhave wealth and property in abundance. In these respectsyou are far above the average. If at night you dream thatyou are a servant and exchange ease for affliction, that isonly the proper balance in human destiny. What youwant is that your dreams should be as pleasant as yourwaking moments. But that is beyond your power tocompass." On hearing what his friend said, Mr Yinlightened his servant's toil, and allowed his own mentalworry to abate; whereupon his malady began to decreasein proportion.The deerA MAN was gathering fuel in the Cheng State when hefell in with a deer that had been startled from its usualhaunts. He gave chase, and succeeded in killing it. Hewas overjoyed at his good luck; but, for fear of discovery,he hastily hid the carcass in a dry ditch, and covered it upwith brushwood. Afterwards, he forgot the spot where hehad hidden the deer, and finally became convinced thatthe whole affair was only a dream.