Adding Feet to a Snake While Drawing It
A native of Chu after worshipping his ancestors gave his retainers a pot of wine.

One of the retainers said: “It’s insufficient for all of us, but too much for

one of us. I suggest, therefore, that we draw snakes on the ground, and the one

who first finishes drawing the snake will win the pot of wine.” When one

retainer had completed his drawing, he took the pot to drink. As he held it in

his left hand, he continued to draw the snake with his right hand, saying: “I

can add feet to it.” While he was adding feet to his snake, another man who had

then drawn his snake snatched the pot from his hand, protesting: “No snake has

feet. How can you add feet to it?” Then he drank the wine.