中國成語寓言故事74:Knowing Oneself自知之明(雙語)
In ancient times a man named Zou Ji, 8 chi tall and impressive looking, had served as the prime minister of the State of Qi.
古代齊國有個人名叫鄒忌，身高八尺，相貌堂堂，曾經做過齊國的相國。
One morning, he tidied his clothes and hat, looked into the mirror, and asked his wife:
一天早晨，他整整衣服帽子，照照鏡子，問妻子:
"Look, who is more handsome, Xu Gong living in the north of the city or I?"
“你看，我跟住在城北的徐公比，誰長得漂亮?”
His wife replied:
妻子回答說:
"You are far more handsome. Xu Gong is no match for you!"
“你漂亮多了。徐公哪里比得上你呢!
Xu Gong of the north of the city was a well-known handsome man in the State of Qi. Zou Ji really didn't believe he was more handsome than Xu Gong. So he asked his concubine:
城北的徐公，是齊國有名的美男子，鄒忌真的不相信自己比徐公長得漂亮。于是，又問他的妾說:
"Look, who is more handsome, Xu Gong or I?"
“你看，我同徐公比，哪個漂亮些?”
His concubine also said:
妾也說:
"Xu Gong is no match for you!"
“徐公怎么比得上你漂亮呢?”
The next day, a guest came to discuss some matter with him. Zou Ji asked his guest the same question:
第二天，有個客人來找他，跟他商談一件事情，鄒忌又問客人說:
"Who is more handsome, Xu Gong or I?"
“我與徐公誰長得美呢?”
The guest answered positively:
客人肯定地回答說:
"Xu Gong is not as handsome as you."
“徐公不如你美。”
Another day passed and Zou Ji met Xu Gong in person. He stared closely at the other for some time and carefully compared him with himself. He really couldn't see that he was more handsome than Xu Gong. Later, he again looked into the mirror. The more he looked at himself, the more he felt he was not as handsome as Xu Gong.
又過了一天，鄒忌見到了徐公。他緊緊地盯著他看了一陣，又把自己和他仔細地比較了一番，實在看不出自己比徐公漂亮。后來，再去照照鏡子，越看越覺得自己不及徐公。
Zou Ji was rather restless in his mind. At night, lying on the bed, he pondered: He was not as handsome as Xu Gong, but why did these three persons say he was more handsome?In the end, he came to understand the reason:
鄒忌心里很不平靜。晚上，他躺在床上，想來想去，自己本來不及徐公，為什么這三個人都說自己美呢?最后，他終于明白了:
"My wife says I am handsome because she shows favouritism to me. My concubine says I am handsome because she is afraid of me. My guest says I am handsome because he wants to curry my favour."
“妻子說我漂亮，是因為偏愛我;妾說我漂亮，是因為怕我;客人說我漂亮，是因為有意討好我。”
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