XXI.
A CHINESE FABLE[44]
.
["The king of TSU being informed
of the great reputation of the philosopher
CHWANG-TSE, deputed certain
Mandarines of his court with rich presents
of gold and silk, to invite him to
come and take upon him the office of
Prime-Minister. CHWANG-TSE
excused himself by the following fable,
"A heifer, appointed for sacrifice, and
delicately fed for a long time, marched in
pomp, loaded with all the ornaments of a
victim: in the midst of her triumph, she
perceived on the road some oxen yoked and
sweating at the plough. This sight redoubled
her pride: but when she was brought
into the temple, and saw the knife lifted up
ready to slay her, she wished to be in the
place of those, whose unhappy lot she had
despised.
