Chinese Fables Bilingual Edition No. 38: Song People Xianyu

2015-06-27 「 1064 words / 2 minute 」
Chinese Fables Bilingual Edition No. 38: Song People Xianyu.jpg
story
宋国有一个人,喜欢奉承别人。
There was a man of the State of Song who liked to curry favour with others.
有一天,他得到了一块未经雕琢的玉石,便去献给宋国大臣子罕,
One day, he got a piece of uncarved jade and went to present it to Zi Han, a minister of the State of Song,
想讨好一番。
with the intention to ingratiate himself with the official.
子罕执意不受。
Zi Han adamantly refused to accept it.
于是,那人便花言巧语地说:“这是一块珍奇的玉石啊!
Thereupon, this man said in honeyed words:"This is a piece of rare jade.
我把它当做宝贝,适宜于做君子的器皿。
I regard it as a treasure suitable for a gentleman's utensil.
要是落在老先生你的手中,挂在你的身上,放在你的餐桌上,是最相称、最适合的。
If it gets into the hands of an old gentleman like you, to be worn by you or put on your dining table, that would be most suitable and fitting.
我是一个粗人,不配使用这种贵重的宝物。”
I am an unrefined man, not deserving such a valuable treasure."
子罕回答说:“你把这块玉石当做宝贝,
"You may regard this piece of jade as a treasure," said Zi Han, "
我却不接受别人巴结奉承,并且不把这种行为当做宝贝。”
but I do not accept other's fawning, nor do I regard this kind of conduct a treasure."
那个宋国人自讨没趣,溜了。
The man of Song felt he had asked for a snub and sneaked away.