中国成语寓言故事24:Cao Shang Acquires Chariots曹商得车(双语)
There was a man named Cao Shang in the State of Song.
宋国有个人,名叫曹商。
Once, he was sent on a mission by the King of Song to the State of Qin. Before departure, the King of Song bestowed upon him several horse-drawn chariots. Upon arriving in the State of Qin, Cao Shang won the favour of the King of Qin. Consequently, the King bestowed upon him 100 chariots.
一次,他受宋王的派遣,出使秦国。临行时,宋王赐给他几乘车马。到了秦国,曹商很得秦王欢心,于是秦王又赐给他百乘车马。
Soon afterwards, Cao Shang returned to the State of Song. One day he met Zhuang Zi and said proudly:
不久,曹商返回宋国。一天,他见到庄子,得意洋洋地说:
"In the past, I lived in poor streets and humble alleys. I was very poor, and made my living by making shoes. I was sallow and thin. This was my weak point. Now, relying on my clever tongue, I have touched the heart of the King of Qin, who is the sovereign lord with 1,000 chariots. He bestowed upon me 100 chariots. This is my strong point."
“过去我身居穷街陋巷,非常贫困,靠编鞋过日子,面黄肌瘦,这是我的短处。现在,我凭着三寸不烂之舌,打动万乘之主的秦王,赐给我车马百乘,这是我的长处。”
When Zhuang Zi heard this, he gave a snort of contempt and said sarcastically:
庄子听了,嗤之以鼻,讽刺他说:
"I heard that the King of Qin was ill. He let the physicians treat him, and rewarded them according to their contributions: those who sucked pus and ate sores would get 1 horse-drawn chariot; those who licked the piles would get 5 chariots. The more filthy the illness you treat, the more chariots you would get. You have probably licked his piles; otherwise, how could you acquire that many chariots? You had better go away!"
“我听说秦王有病,让医生治病,实行论功行赏:吸脓吃疮的,可得车马一乘;舌甜痔疮的,可得车马五乘。治的病越肮脏,得的车马越多。您大概为秦王甜过痔疮吧,不然怎么会得到那么多车马呢?您还是给我走开吧!”(编者注:如果喜欢本文章可以点击文章右上方的关注或者右下角的赞哦!感谢各位读者。)
本文地址:http://www.dioenglish.com/writing/story/14273.html