the joy of fishes

[desmond dillon]

   

(Edited version)

Chuang Tzu and Hui Tzu were walking by the Hao River.

Chuang said: 'See the fishes leaping and darting in the stream.

Look how happy they are!'

Hui replied: 'Not being a fish yourself, how do you know the fishes are happy.' 

Chuang said: 'Not being me, how can you know that i do not know

that the fishes are happy.'

Hui made his case: 'If i not being you, cannot know what you know,

then surely you, not being a fish,

cannot know what they know.'

But Chuang replied: 'in the words of your original question, which was,

How do i know that the fishes are happy.'

You acknowledged that this is something i do indeed know.'

'i know the joy of the fishes by my own joy,

walking past them on the same river.'

by Chuang Tzu           circa: 300BC

**