「不足為外人道也」

頤和園長廊的蘇式彩畫，桃花源


仇英《桃源仙境圖》

桃花源記 陶淵明

晉太元中，武陵人，捕魚為業，緣溪行，忘路之遠近；忽逢桃花林，
夾岸數百步，中無雜樹，芳草鮮美，落英繽紛；漁人甚異之。復前
欲窮其林。林盡水源，便得一山。山有小口，彷彿若有光，便舍船，
從口入。

初極狹，才通人；復行數十步，豁然開朗。土地平曠，屋舍儼然。
有良田、美池、桑、竹之屬，阡陌交通，雞犬相聞。其中往來種作，
男女衣著外人；黃髮垂髫，並怡然自樂。見漁人，乃大驚，問所從
來；具答之。便要還家，設酒、殺雞、作食。村中聞有此人，咸來
問訊。自云：先世避秦時亂，率妻子邑人來此絕境，不復出焉；遂
與外人間隔。問今是何世？乃不知有漢，無論魏、晉！此人一一為
具言所聞，皆歎惋。餘人各復延至其家，皆出酒食。停數日，辭去。
此中人語云：「不足為外人道也。」 　　

既出，得其船，便扶向路，處處誌之。及郡下，詣太守，說如此。
太守即遣人隨其往，尋向所誌，遂迷不復得路。南陽劉子驥，高尚
士也，聞之，欣然規往，未果，尋病終。後遂無問津者。

"「不足為外人道也」"

Does「不足為外人道也」mean

“It is not worth telling”

or

“Please do not tell the outsiders” ?

In the essay story “桃花源記“written by 陶淵明, this 武陵
fisherman was so lucky to be “accidentally” entering the 桃花源
wonderland. After being kindly and very well treated by everyone
there, the villagers (此中人) politely said to him: “不足為外人道也”,
which they actually hinted to him: “Please do not tell the outsiders.”

He however failed to keep the promise. While he was leaving and on
his way home, he not only "處處誌之", but also went to “郡下”
and “說如此”to the “太守”. No wander when they later tried to
“尋向所誌”, but “遂迷不復得路”

I believe the villagers did not trust this “武陵”fisherman at all. They
very likely followed him on his way out and removed all the "誌", or
marking signs, which had been placed by the fisherman.

When someone kindly ask us “NOT TO”, we should always respect
his or her request and keep the promise. It is a good human nature.

PS

In this short eaasy story, there are also many 成語, which have been
commonly used, such as "落英繽紛", "豁然開朗", "阡陌交通",
"雞犬相聞", "黃髮垂髫","怡然自樂", "無問津者"; and the very popular
slang :「不足為外人道也」

Yeh Tze