February 2023

古代寓言原是民间口头创作，文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人，可以是动物，也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法，使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现，而还需要自己去理解，思考，这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·半日闲》 有贵人游僧舍，酒甜，诵唐人诗云：“因过竹院逢僧话，又得浮生半日闲”。僧闻而笑之。贵人问僧何笑？僧曰：“尊官得半日闲，老僧却忙了三日。” ——《谭概》 A Moment of Idleness A high official paid a visit to a monastery. The monk in charge, having been notified of this previously, had made meticulous preparations for this occasion. After several drinks, the official recited a Tang poem: Passing by the monastery I drop in to have a chat with […]

古代寓言原是民间口头创作，文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人，可以是动物，也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法，使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现，而还需要自己去理解，思考，这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·猩猩》 猩猩知往而不知来。山谷间，常树十为群。里人以酒并糟设于路侧，织草为屐，更相连结。猩猩见酒及屐，知里人设张，则知张者祖先姓字，乃呼名云，奴欲张我，舍而去。后自再三，相谓曰：“试共尝酒。”及饮其味，逮乎醉。因取屐着之而踬。乃为人擒，无遗者。 Baboons In the valleys in the south there are savage baboons which always go in groups. The local people, knowing their ways, place wine dregs by the roadside, and a string of straw sandals across the road. On seeing the wine and sandals, the baboons set up a loud clamour and turn

古代寓言原是民间口头创作，文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人，可以是动物，也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法，使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现，而还需要自己去理解，思考，这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·翠鸟》 翠鸟先高作巢以避患。及生子，爱之，恐坠，稍下作巢。予长羽毛，复益爱之，又更下巢，而人遂得而取之矣。 ——《谭概》 The Kingfisher The kingfisher is a timid bird. It always builds its nest high up in the tree as a protection against danger. When the fledglings hatch, it is so apprehensive for fear they should fall that it builds the nest lower down. When their feathers begin to appear, it becomes

古代寓言原是民间口头创作，文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人，可以是动物，也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法，使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现，而还需要自己去理解，思考，这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·铁杵磨针》 李白少读书，未成，弃去。道逢老妪磨杵，白问其故。曰：“欲作针。”白感其言。遂卒业。 ——《潜确类书》 Grinding an Iron Pestle into a Needle A schoolboy was playing truant in the street when he saw an old woman grinding an iron pestle on a stone. Being curious, he asked her what she was doing. “I am going to grind it into a needle to sew cloth with,” answered

古代寓言原是民间口头创作，文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人，可以是动物，也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法，使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现，而还需要自己去理解，思考，这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·矮凳》 家有一坐头，绝低矮，迂公每坐，必取瓦片支其四足。后不胜烦，忽思得策，呼侍者，移置楼上坐。 及坐时，低为故，乃曰：“人言楼高，浪得名耳。” ——《雅谑》 The Low Stool Yu Gong had a very low stool. When he wanted to sit on it, he always placed bricks under each leg. Later he found it very troublesome and hit upon an idea. He ordered a servant to take it upstairs. But when he sat on it again,