中國成語寓言故事06:Jing Gong Prays for Rain 景公求雨(雙語)
One year it did not rain for a long time in the State of Qi, and there was an extremely severe drought.
有一年，齊國很長時(shí)間沒有下雨，發(fā)生了特大旱災(zāi)。
Jing Gong, the King of Qi, was very worried. He wanted to offer sacrifices to the mountain deity to pray for rain. His prime minister Yan Zi said to him:
國王齊景公心里非常焦急，他想去祭祀山神求雨。宰相晏子對(duì)他說:
"Your Majesty, don't do that. It is no use to beg the mountain deity for mercy. The stones in the mountains are like his bones and sinews; the soil in the mountains is like his muscle; the grass and trees in the mountains ane like his hair. When it doesn't rain for a long time, the hair of the mountain deity will wither and his muscles will be seared in the sun. Won't the mountain deity be anxious for rain too? If he could make it rain, it would have rained long ago."
“大王，不要去，求山神沒有用處。山上的石頭，就好像山的筋骨;山上的泥土，就好像山的肌肉;山上的草木，就好像山的毛發(fā)。長久不下雨，山神的毛發(fā)也枯死了，肌肉也曬焦了，山神難道就不著急要雨嗎?如果山神能夠使天下雨，那么雨早已下了。”
Jing Gong said:
景公說:
"All right, we won't beg the mountain deity. Then how about begging Hebo (the river deity)?"
“不求山神也罷，那么去求河伯吧!
"Your Majesty, it's no use either," replied Yan Zi. "Water is the territory of I-Iebo. Fish and soft-shelled turtles are his subjects. When it hasn't rained for a long time, the water in the river will dry up, which means that Hebo will lose his territory; his subjects like fish and soft-shelled turtles will all die of thirst. If Hebo could make it rain; it would have rained long ago. What is the use of praying to Hebo?"
晏子又說:“大王，不行。水是河伯的國土，魚鱉是河伯的百姓，天不下雨，河里的水干了，就等于河伯的國土喪失了;河伯的百姓，像魚呀，鱉呀，也統(tǒng)統(tǒng)要干死了。如果河伯能夠叫天下雨，那么雨早就下了。去祈求河伯又有什么用呢?”
Convinced by Yan Zi's words, Jing Gong no longer prayed to the deities for rain.
景公聽了晏子的這番話，就不再去向神求雨了。
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