成語故事之妻子勸夫「中英對照」

才智咖 人氣:3.03W

Yan Zi was a famous prime minister of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period.

成語故事之妻子勸夫「中英對照」

晏子是春秋時期齊國有名的相國。

One day, Yan Zi went out in a carriage driven by his coachman.

一天,晏子坐著馬車外出。一位車伕為他趕車。

The coachman's wife had never seen Yan Zi before and wished to have a look at him. She peeped from behind the door.

車伕的妻子從來沒見過晏子,很想看看。她就從門縫中偷偷地觀看。

"Ah, here comes Yan Zi!" She got the impression that though he was the prime minister of the State of Qi, he talked and behaved with great modesty.

“呵,晏子出來了!”她得到的'印象是:晏子身為齊國相國,但是言談舉止顯得非常謙虛。

But her own husband? Haughty and arrogant, he sat under the big canopy driving the carriage for Yan Zi, yet considering himself unexcelled in the world. She was much ashamed of her husband.

可是,自己的丈夫呢?他坐在車上的大傘下為晏子駕馭馬車,卻趾高氣揚,不可一世。妻子看了十分羞愧。

As soon as the coachman returned home, his wife asked for a divorce. The coachman was baffled, unable to make head or tail of this, and asked angrily: "A divorce? What is your reason?"

車伕一進家門,妻子就提出要和他離婚。車伕一時莫名其妙,摸不著頭腦,便生氣地問:“要離婚?你的理由是什麼?”

The wife answered: "Yan Zi is less than 6 chi (Chinese unit of length, 1/3 metre) tall, but his heart is filled with aspirations and his mind with knowledge. Though he is the prime minister, he is courteous and treats people prudently when he goes out. "

妻子回答:“晏子雖然身高沒有六尺,但是他胸懷大志,滿腹經綸。他身為相國,外出時,對人彬彬有禮,謙虛謹慎。”

"But what about you? You are fully 8 chi tall, but you forget that you are only a coachman. By the side of the prime minister, you dare to look so cocky, consider yourself always in the right, and brandish the whip to urge the horse on in utter complacency. You are so immodest that I can't live with you any longer."

“你呢?身高足有八尺,可是你忘了,你不過是個車伕,卻在相國身旁神氣十足,自以為是,揮鞭催馬,得意忘形。你這樣不知謙遜,我不能再和你生活下去了。”

Upon hearing his wife's words, the coachman felt much ashamed. Thereafter he became very careful and prudent in doing things and treated people modestly.

車伕聽了妻子的話,覺得很慚愧。從此,他做事小心謹慎,待人謙遜。

Yan Zi noticed the big change in the coachman's behavior and couldn't understand why. So he asked the coachman.

晏子看到車伕變化很大,不知為什麼,就詢問車伕。

The coachman told Yan Zi his wife's criticism in detail. At this, Yan Zi was deeply moved. Later Yan Zi recommended him to be a da fu (a senior official).

車伕把妻子對自己的批評一五一十地告訴了晏子。晏子聽了,感嘆不已。後來,晏子推薦這位車伕出任大夫。