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

Homecoming 1 and 2There was once a man who, though born in Yen (thenorthernmost State of ancient China), was brought up inCh'u (by the left bank of the Yangtsze), and it was onlyin his old age that he returned to his native country.On the way there, as they were passing through the ChinState, a fellow-traveller played a practical joke on him.Pointing to the city he said: “Here is the capital of theYen State." On this the old man flushed with excitement.Pointing out a certain shrine, he told him that it was hisown village altar, and the old man heaved a deep sigh.Then the fellow-traveller showed him a house and said:“This is where your ancestors lived," and the tears welledup in the old man's eyes.Finally, a mound was pointed out to him as the tombwhere his ancestors lay buried. Here the old man couldcontrol himself no longer, and wept aloud.But his fellow-traveller burst into roars of laughter. “Ihave been hoaxing you," he cried; “this is only the ChinState."His victim was greatly mortified; and when he arrived athis journey's end, and really did see before him the cityand altars of Yen, with the actual abode and tombs of hisancestors, his emotion was much less acute.