问其故，曰：“无所可用。
When Zhuangzi asked him why he did not care to cut it, the woodcutter said, "It's useless." Zhuangzi said, "This tree will live out its natural life-span because it is worthless." Zhuangzi stayed overnight in the home of an old friend after he left the mountain.
”庄子曰：“此木以不材得终其天年。
His friend was so delighted that he told his boy servant to kill a goose and cook it.
”夫子出于山，舍于故人之家。
The boy servant asked, "Which should I kill, the one that cackles or the other that does not cackle?" The host said, "Kill the one that does not cackle." On the following day, the disciples asked Zhuangzi, "Yesterday the tree on the mountain would live out its natural life-span because it was worthless; and now the goose in the host's house was killed because it was worthless.
故人喜，命竖子杀雁而烹之。
Would you rather be worthful or worthless, Master?" Zhuangzi said with a smile, "I'd rather be somewhat worthful and somewhat worthless.
竖子请曰：“其一能鸣，其一不能鸣，请奚杀？
To be somewhat worthful and somewhat worth- less seems to be all right, but in fact not.
”主人曰：“杀不能鸣者。
Therefore, I cannot avoid trouble.
If I can follow the natural course of events and wander freely, I shall have no trouble at all.
”明日，弟子问于庄子曰：“昨日山中之木，以不材得终其天年，今主人之雁，以不材死；先生将何处？
The perfect man is free from praise or blame, appears and disappears at will, and adapts himself to the times without sticking to anything.
”庄子笑曰：“周将处乎材与不材之间。
He goes up and down in perfect harmony with na- ture, wandering freely in Tao, which is the origin of everything.
材与不材之间，似之而非也，故未免乎累。
He is the master of everything who is not mastered by anything.
若夫乘道德而浮游则不然，无誉无訾，一龙一蛇，与时俱化，而无肯专为；一上一下，以和为量，浮游乎万物之祖，物物而不物于物，则胡可得而累邪！
How then can he have any trouble?
此神农、黄帝之法则也。
This was the way followed by Shennong and the Yel- low Emperor.
若夫万物之情，人伦之传，则不然。
But this is not the case with worldly tastes and human relationships.
Where there is union there is separation; where there is completion there is destruction; where there is honesty there is hindrance; where there is honour there is reproach; where there is accomplishment there is failure; where there is capability there is undermining; where there is incapability there is bullying.
合则离，成则毁；廉则挫，尊则議，有为则亏，贤则谋，不肖则欺，胡可得而必乎哉！
How can you have something for sure?
悲夫！
Sad indeed!
弟子志之，其唯道德之乡乎！
My disciples, keep it in mind that nature is the only thing you can rely on!" When Shinan Yiliao paid a visit to the Marquis of Lu, the latter looked worried.
”
市南宜僚见鲁侯，鲁侯有忧色。
Shinanzi asked, "Why do you look worried?" The Marquis of Lu said, "I have been studying the ways of the former kings and carrying on their cause.
市南子曰：“君有忧色，何也？
I have always respected the holy spirits and honoured the sages.
”鲁侯曰：“吾学先王之道，脩先君之业；吾敬鬼尊贤，亲而行之，无须臾离居；然不免于患，吾是以忧。
I earnestly practise all these points without a moment's relaxation, but still cannot avoid trouble.
That's why I'm worried." Shinanzi said, "Your way of avoiding trouble is too superficial!
”
市南子曰：“君之除患之术浅矣！
Living in the mountain forests and hiding in the caves, the furry foxes and spotty leopards are quiet indeed.
夫丰狐文豹，栖于山林，伏于岩穴，静也；夜行昼居，戒也；虽饥渴隐约，犹旦胥疏于江湖之上而求食焉，定也；然且不免于罔罗机辟之患。
Coming out at night and staying in the caves at daytime, they are cautious indeed.
是何罪之有哉？
Seeking food around the distant rivers and lakes although they are thirsty and hungry and tired, they are prudent indeed.
其皮为之灾也。
However, they cannot avoid being trapped and snared.
今鲁国独非君之皮邪？
What on earth are their faults?
吾愿君刳形去皮，洒心去欲，而游于无人之野。
Their misfortune comes from their fur and skin.
Isn't the state of Lu your fur and skin?