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Confucianism -> Lunheng -> Daoxu -> 17

儒书言：It is chronicled in the books of the Literati
卢敖游乎北海，that Lu Ao, when wandering near the "Northern Sea,"
经乎太阴， passed the "Great North,"
入乎玄关，and through the "Dark Gate"
至于蒙谷之上， entered upon the Mongolean plateau.
见一士焉，There he beheld an individual
深目玄准，with deep eyes, a black nose
雁颈而戴肩，and the neck of a wild goose. Lifting his shoulders,
浮上而杀下，he soared up, and rapidly came down again,
轩轩然方迎风而舞。 gamboling and disporting all the time against the wind.
顾见卢敖， When he caught sight of Lu Ao,
樊然下其臂， he suddenly took down his arms,
遯逃乎碑下。 and sought refuge under a rock.
敖乃视之，Lu Ao saw him there
方卷然龟背而食合梨。 resting on the back of a tortoise and eating an oyster.
卢敖仍与之语曰：Lu Ao accosted him saying,
“吾子唯以敖为倍俗，"Sir, I believe that, because I have given up what the world desires,
去群离党， separating from my kindred and leaving my home,
穷观于六合之外者， in order to explore what is outside of the six cardinal points,
非敖而已？ you will condemn me.
敖幼而游， I began travelling in my youth.
至长不伦解，When I had grown up, I did not care for the ordinary duties of man,
周行四极， but managed to travel about.
唯北阴之未闚。 Of the four poles the "Great North" is the only one which I have not yet seen.
今卒睹夫子于是，Now unexpectedly I find you here, Sir.
殆可与敖为友乎？” Shall we not become friends?"
若士者悖然而笑曰：The stranger burst out laughing and said,
“嘻！ "Why,
子中州之民也， you are a Chinaman.
不宜远至此。 You ought not to come as far as this.
此犹光日月而戴列星，Yet sun and moon are still shining here. There are all the stars,
四时之所行， the four seasons alternate,
阴阳之所生也。 and the Yin and the Yang are still at work.
此其比夫不名之地，犹㟮屼也。 Compared to the "Nameless Region" this is only like a small hill.
若我南游乎罔浪之野， I travel south over the "Weary Waste,"
北息乎沉薶之乡， and halt north in the "Hidden Village."
西穷乎杳冥之党， I proceed west to the "Obscure Hamlet,"
而东贯须蒙之先。 and pass east through the "Place of Dimness."
此其下无地上无天，There is no earth beneath, and no heaven above.
听焉无闻， Listening one does not hear,
而视焉则营； and to the looker-on the objects flit away from sight.
此其外，Beyond that region
犹有状， there is still shape.
有状之馀， Where that ends,
壹举而能千万里， one advances ten million Li by making one step.
吾犹未能之在。 I could not yet get there.
今子游始至于此，You, Sir, reached only this place in your travels,
乃语穷观， but speak of exploring.
岂不亦远哉？ Is not that an exaggeration?
然子处矣。But, please, remain.
吾与汗漫期于九垓之上， I have to meet Han Man on the ninth heaven,
吾不可久。” and cannot stay longer."
若士者举臂而纵身，The stranger then raised his arms, gave his body a jerk,
遂入云中。 and off he went into the clouds.
卢敖目仰而视之，Lu Ao stared after him,
不见， until he became invisible.
乃止喜，His heart was full of endless joy
心不怠， and at the same time he was grieved,
怅若有丧， as though he had lost somebody.
曰：“吾比夫子也，"Compared with you, my master, said he,
犹黄鹄之与壤虫也， I am nothing more than an earth-worm is to a wild goose.
终日行， Crawling the whole day,
而不离咫尺， I do not advance more than some feet,
而自以为远， but myself consider it far.
岂不悲哉？” It is pitiable indeed."

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