中國成語寓言故事05:A Sarcastic Retort反唇相譏(雙語)
Yan Zi of the State of Qi was sent on a mission to the State ofChu. The King of Chu intended to humiliate the State of Qi toYan Zi's face.
One day, the King of Chu gave a banquet for Yan Zi. Just
齊國的晏子出使到楚國，楚王有意要當著晏子的面侮辱齊國。
when they were enjoying it, two petty officials brought a convictto the King.
一天，楚王擺了酒席招待晏子。正當他們吃得高興的時候，兩個小官押著一個犯人來見楚王。
Deliberately the King of Chu asked:
楚王故意問道:
"What crime has this man committed?"
“這人犯了了一么罪?”
One of the petty officials answered:
小官回答說:
"He robs."
“他是一個強盜。”
Again the King of Chu asked:
楚王又問:
“Where is he from?"
“他是哪個國家的人?”
The petty official answered:
小官回話:
"He is from the State of Qi."
“他是齊國人。”
The King of Chu turned to Yan Zi and said:
楚王回頭對晏子說:
"So the people of the State of Qi are used to committingrobbery."
“原來齊國人是慣于當強盜的。”
Yan Zi stood up and replied:
晏子站起來答道:
"Your Majesty, I heard that when orange trees grown in thesouth of the Huai River are transplanted to the north of Huai River,they become trifoliate orange trees. Outwardly the leaves of orangetrees and those of trifoliate orange trees look alike, but the tastesof their fruits are entirely different. Our people of the State of Qinever commit robbery, but once they come to the State of Chu,they start to engage in criminal activities. I think, maybe this isthe effect of the environment and climate here."
“大王，我聽說生長在淮南的橘樹，移植到淮北就會變成積樹。從外表上看，橘樹和積樹的葉子是一樣的，但是這兩種樹的果子的味道卻完全不同。我們齊國的老百姓從來不做強盜，一到楚國就干起犯罪的勾當來了。我看，這也許是受這里的水土環(huán)境的影響吧!”
As the King of Chu heard this, he was struck dumb withshame.
楚王聽了，羞愧得連一句話都說不出來。
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