魏国有位射手名叫更赢。
There was an archer named Geng Ying in the State of Wei.
他跟随魏王在京台游玩。
He went sightseeing with the King of Wei at Jingtai.
这时有一只鸟在空中盘旋，还不时发出凄厉的叫声。
At that time a bird was circling around in the sky, uttering sad and shrill cries now and then.
魏王抬头看了一会儿，便对更赢说:
The King of Wei looked up at it for a while and said to Geng Ying:
“你看见那只鸟了吗?你能把它射下来吗?”
"Do you see that bird? Can you shoot it down?"
更赢说:“这只鸟，我不用箭就能把它射下来。”
"I can shoot it down without using an arrow," Geng Ying said.
一会儿，那只鸟飞近了。
After a while, the bird flew near.
更赢拉满弓，拨动了一下弓弦，鸟就应声落在他们跟前。
Geng Ying pulled his bow to the full, plucked the bowstring, and at the sound the bird fell to the ground before their feet.
魏王惊奇地说: “你不用箭就能把飞鸟射下来，你射箭的技术真高明啊!”
The King of Wei said in surprise: "You can shoot down a bird without an arrow. Your skill in archery is really wonderful."
更赢说: “大王，这不是我的技术高明，而是因为这是一只倒霉的鸟。
Geng Ying said: "Your Majesty, this is not due to my good skill, but because this is a bird of bad luck.
你听它叫得那样凄厉，飞得那样疲乏。
You can hear how sadly and shrilly it wailed, and see how tiredly it flew.
它已经负了伤，很长时间找不到伴侣。
It was already wounded, and for a long time could not find its companion.
所以经不起一点点的惊吓。
Therefore it couldn't stand the least fright.
我的弓弦一响，它就以为是被射中了，自己从空中跌落下来。
As soon as I twanged my bow, it thought it had been shot and fell down of its own accord from the sky.
多么可怜的惊弓之鸟啊!”
What a pitiful bird frightened by the mere twang of a bowstring!"