Gems of Chinese Literature/Ch‘ü P‘ing-The Fisherman’s Reply

by Ch‘ü P‘ing

When Ch'ü-p'ing was dismissed, he wandered away to the banks of a river, and there poured forth his soul in verse. His colour changed. His body wasted to a skeleton.

One day a fisherman accosted him, saying, “Are you not his Excellency the Prime Minister? What has brought you to this pass?”

“The world,” replied Ch'ü-p'ing, “is foul; and I alone am clean. There they are all drunk, while I alone am sober. So I am dismissed.”

“Ah!” said the fisherman, “the true sage does not quarrel with his environment, but adapts himself to it. If, as you say, the world is foul, why not leap into the tide and make it clean? If all men are drunk, why not drink with them, and teach them to avoid excess? Of what avail are these subtle thoughts, these lofty schemes, which end only in disgrace?”

“I have heard,” rejoined Ch'ü-p'ing, “that the bather fresh from the bath will shake the dust from his hat and clothes. How should he allow his pure body to be soiled with the corruption of earth? I am willing to find a grave in the bellies of the fishes that swim in this stream: I will not let my purity be defiled by the filth and corruption of the world.”

The fisherman laughed, and keeping time with his oar, sculled off, singing,―

My tassel I'll wash if the water is sweet;
If the water is muddy 'twill do for my feet.